[homeschool mama]

You're right in that phonics was tossed out for whole language. Some areas in the USA have brought in a 1/2 and 1/2 of phonics/wl.

The public school kindergarten classroom I visited 8 years ago used whole language...what a joke, imo.

I also visited a private school using phonics...guess where my daughter attended kindergarten?

About 5 years ago on a 60 minutes type show, the level of success was documented contrasting phonics and whole language. Phonics won out big time.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yes, "whole language". That is the failed program I was referring too. Did'nt this untested and unproven method originate in Sweden or something?

[ladylib]

Whole language has proved to be a crock, just like "invented" spelling. The teachers who have been trained to use whole language in ed schools aren't going to give up easily, however. They aren't "hooked on phonics."

People wonder why kids hate to read and why they act up in class. It's because a lot of these destructive reading and math programs frustrate them.