[ReagansShinyHair]

"You are right to blame Whole Language."

Whole Language was a terrible idea. I think it originated in California, birthplace of many evil teaching practices. They try everything out there first, make sure it doesn't work and inflicts enough damage on the youth of America, then foist it on the rest of the country. I am glad I escaped Kali.

[SoftballMominVA]

Yes it did originate in CA. The idea was to "surround children with the beauty of the language and by osmosis they would grow to love reading and naturally adapt proper grammar and spelling."
Uh huh. The only good whole language did was to inspire a new generation of children's writers to put out some pretty amazing stuff.
Again, one has to sift through the trash like "Heather has Two Mommies" but some stories are awesome like "Olivia" a pig who loves Marie Callas. Too cute!