SOCIAL SCIENCES

Two Approaches to the Development of Literacy

Introduction4

The Whole Language Approach4

Difference with Phonic Based Approach5

Basics of Whole Language Approach5

Origination of the Concept6

Basic Rationale of the Approach6

Making the Meaning out of the Texts7

Importance of Writing7

Lack of Focus on Grammar and Spelling8

Criticism of the Whole Language Approach8

The Phonics Approach9

Purpose of the Approach9

Cognitive Reading Skills10

Alphabetical Principle10

Importance of the Phonics Methods10

Basic Methodology of Phonics11

Different Approaches Used in Phonics12

Synthetic Phonics12

Analytical Phonics12

Analogy Phonics13

Difference between the Whole Language and Phonic Approach13

Criticism of the Whole Language Approach14

Difference in Approach14

Difference in Demand of Money15

Structure of English Language15

Balanced Perspective16

Effective and Efficacy of Both These Approaches16

Conclusion17

Two Approaches To The Development Of Literacy

Introduction

When one analyzes the history of last five years, there are host of literacy approaches that have evolved with the passage of time. The debate among the researchers, educators parents about the efficiency and effectively of each language is a debate that is not likely to end in the near future. There are drawbacks and advantages of each literacy approach and they are needed to be looked in that context. If one looks at it, there are three main approaches of literacy that are developed and they have dominated the education system. All these theories are part of the education system for the long period of time. Looking at these three approaches, they are referred as “phonics: approach, then there are “balance methodologies” and there is whole language approach as well.

Two general approaches are the major part of the discussion and much research is done on the differences and similarities of the “Phonics Approach” and the “Whole Language Approach”. Much of the research has been done on this subject and there is some sort of controversy when one talks about these approaches. In this paper, the comparison will be carried out between the Whole Language Approach and Phonics Approach. Both these languages have been the part of the education policy for the very long time and even thought both have its fair share of detractors; they have been pretty much the part of the whole literacy perspectives.

The Whole Language Approach

Before carrying out any comparison between these two approaches, it is important to understand what these approaches are all about and what is the basic idea and theme that is discussed in both of these approaches (Schwarzer, 2001, p.59). When one talks about the Whole Language Approach, it talks about the literacy philosophy that was prevailing at that time. The basic emphasize of Whole Language Approach is that children's should be focusing on the meaning as well as the strategy instruction that is the part of each message.

Difference with Phonic Based Approach

It must not be confused with the Phonic Based Approach that is based upon the idea of teaching and reading that mainly focuses on the decoding and spelling of the message. This idea is totally ridiculed in the Whole Language Approach as it is erroneous and sets up the false sense of this dichotomy (Schwarzer, 2001, ...