[NLA] Blame "whole language

[Jody Fernandez]

Tom Wrote:
> 70% of our inner city kids can't read up to par.  This
> is inexcusable.  I don't think it's the teachers, I
> think its "whole language".  See below

It is inexcusable, but...
blaming someone or something does not fix the problem and only focuses
attention away from the real issue.
And the real issue is...
70% of our inner city kids can't read.
Not every individual learns in the same way. Whole language works for some;
phonemic awareness and phonics training works for others. Balanced programs
that allow instruction to be individualized are needed.
On a personal level, my son, could not learn to read via phonics & phonemic
based instruction. Whole language saved him and he is now on scholarship at
a honors university. My daughter functioned very well with phonemic
awareness based instruction.
As an adult developmental reading instructor, I use every tool available
and only wish the K-12 educators had the same opportunity.

Jody Fernandez
University of South Florida
MA Reading Education
ABD in PhD program, Reading Education & Multicultural Literacies






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