The way that reading is being taught in classrooms has been a topic for debate for countless years. Teachers and policy makers call this the "Reading War", and this war is between those who endorse using phonics and those who promote whole language learning. Both sides of the argument state that their way of learning is "the key to effectively teaching all children to read". This war on teaching methods does nothing to help the teachers and students, and it has become a game of politics. The article "Reading Wars", states that although both sides believe in their cause, "There is virtually no disagreement, though, "that reading is the gateway to learning in all content areas and essential for achieving high standards," as stated in the National Education Association's official reading policy."
According to the article, which can be read here, a complete reading program should be approached like a well-balanced diet. It states that a "Completeness in both diet and reading," said the Task Force, "is achieved by providing diverse components in ratios that are not necessarily equal. In addition, the ratios might vary with individual needs and with development." I thought that this was an interesting analogy, and by providing diversity, students will achieve more. I also think that by promoting balance, students will be encouraged to read more and to think critically about what they read. However, getting the student reading in the first place is the most important thing. After looking at the phonics vs. whole language, what has your experience been with them? Which one do you think is a more helpful learning tool, and what do you plan to use in your own classroom? Lastly, what do you think about keeping a complete reading program balanced? Do you think that reading programs should be standardized or catered to individual students?
I thought this article was very interesting. It's surprising to see this type of controversy over battling ideals of teaching. In either case, both sides view reading as a gateway of learning to all subjects. I really like the idea of comparing reading to dieting, and how we need a complete diet to stay healthy. I agree with the point that we might need more nutrients in some area, and less in others. This is also true for reading and writing. We need to learn about our students, notice their struggles, and adjust accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI think that getting students to read is extemely important as well. I think that reading helps in allmost every aspect of learning. I think that in order to get students to realy learn a lesson you must go from whole to part to whole. you have to teach them what you expect but then break it down into smaler groups such as phonics. also i think that it is important to keep a reading program balanced in order to keep the students from becoming overwhelmed, but still keeping them involved in reading.
ReplyDeleteAs we have discussed in class, whole to part to whole instruction is the most effective way to transfer knowledge to our students. Therefore, I think that instead of warring with one another, the two sides should realize that by implementing both whole language instruction and phonics, they can provide a well rounded and more complete learning environment for their students. I agree that students should be offered a well balanced selection of reading genres in order to engage their interests and provide ample opportunities for them to practice their reading skills. Also, by providing a well balanced reading program, we can capitalize on students' strengths and provide more individualized instruction to improve upon areas a student is struggling with.
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