The teaching of phonics involves learning which sounds go with which letters. Children read and write before they learn the detailed rules. In a whole-language program, children are taught the nuts and bolts of language while they are engaged in meaningful reading and writing. Literature-based instruction is the most common type of reading approach. It focuses on giving children wonderful books that will inspire them to read more.
Invented spelling is the way children first attempt to write words based on their sounds.
With invented spelling, young children think first about what they'd like to say. Spelling comes later, as children develop. Teachers find that children using invented spelling write more richly. The Debate and the Balance Educators hotly dispute how children should be taught to read. Despite the debate, research shows that exemplary teachers rarely rely on a single method.