Phonics

In "Strategies used for phonics instruction in early childhood classrooms," Morrow & Tracey (1997) examine patterns of phonics instruction in early education. The authors first provide a history of phonics instruction, noting that phonics instruction stretches back as far as the 18th century. Since then, the debate between phonics vs. whole word reading instruction methods has been ongoing and unresolved. Whole word, or whole language, instruction suggests that phonics should ideally be taught within the context of reading for content and meaning. In other words, phonics instruction should not be a separate intervention. Educators and parents in favor of phonics believe the opposite: that phonics should be taught in a "direct" and "systematic" way (Morrow & Tracey, 1997, p. 645). Morrow & Tracey (1997) note that there is a third, middle way, called "centering," which blends both of these reading instructional strategies for optimal learning. The purpose of the...
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