I am working on a book for ASCD tentatively called Teaching with the Brain in Mind. ASCD has put out two books on the brain already. My book will be a lay person's book for all teachers and administrators which will have supporting research in brain compatible learning. There will be a section on music and arts and why they belong in the curriculum for biological reasons and a section on visceral learning, the role of feelings in learning, and a section on the role of movement and physical education. It is due out in this year.
Much whole language is used in New Zealand, but also, teachers use basic phonics.
It isn't an 'either or' situation. My sense at this time is that thematic learning is more attractive to adults than to students. Conceptually, thematic learning makes sense, but it is the hindsight that is often important to us. But that is not the same for children. When children take a walk in the forest, they see the birds and the plants and each of the wonderful discreet pieces, but they don't see the bird in relation to the plant, in relation to the stream.