This paper examines the media and political landscapes within which "whole language" is currently constituted in Australia. Through surveying the themes and rhetoric deployed in media texts over recent years, we consider how "whole language" has been taken up as part of a wider media campaign around education generally. We…

This article explores why policy makers in England and Scotland responded so differently to the Clackmannanshire study on synthetic phonics. It suggests that a deeper understanding of the national and local policy contexts can explain Scotland's response. Analysis of the wider context of the Clackmannanshire initiative supports Moss and Huxford's…

The teaching of spelling is outlined and discussed in this pamphlet. Three major steps are described: the prewriting stage, teaching the principle of alphabetic writing--the understanding that spelling requires the sequencing of sounds within a word, and teaching the spelling patterns of written English. The pamphlet concludes that two current…

The article describes a procedure for teaching sound-letter relations and sound blending through a verbal/gestural prompting system and a variation of melodic intonation therapy (in which students learn simultaneously to talk and hum a monotone note). The three-step procedure features demonstration, prompting, and practice. (CL)

Finds that the high percentage of spontaneous, contextual activities used to teach phonic relationships in preschool classrooms dropped off dramatically when children entered kindergarten and the primary grades, where instructional experiences were mostly explicit. Shows that a combined approach to teaching phonics was observed only infrequently.…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 created the Reading First program to help ensure that all students could read at or above grade level by the end of grade 3. The program promotes practices recommended by the National Reading Panel for early reading instruction, highlighting essential components of reading instruction. As required by the…

A discussion of several shortcomings of phonics instruction is aimed at aiding teachers in avoiding such pitfalls as (1) following just one method of phonics instruction whether or not it is helpful to children, (2) treating all children alike and teaching them all the same phonetic elements at the same time, (3) continuing an approach regardless…

With the exploration approach, children learn by doing--not by rote. (Editor)

The author describes a method of teaching initial sounds in words. The teacher writes a story using vocabulary that have the same initial sounds. The stories keep the students' attention and help in the teaching of phonics. (MS)

Argues that problems identified with using phonics do not attack the skill, per se, which phonics provides--being able to independently unlock words. (HOD)

An approach to teaching phonics to children with special learning needs or reading difficulties is presented. The approach utilizes a sounding chart containing "clue boxes" to help children identify how letter patterns sound, and the method sequences generalizations according to difficulty. This article discusses testing, placement, and…

The National Reading Panel's report on reading instruction placed too much emphasis on systematic phonics. The effectiveness of systematic phonics is presented with a comprehensive framework so that there is a clear implication for institutional practice.

Rather than treating phonics as an end in itself, this brief text shows how phonics fits into the overall process of a child's learning to read. It helps students understand how phonics can be integrated successfully into an effective classroom reading program. While it includes a wealth of suggestions for practical classroom applications, the…