As a member of the group I feel that the material from the fact sheets were well presented. We reviewed that in reading, phonics helps us understand the sound of a word that is unfamiliar. In spelling, phonics helps us write the appropriate letters for the sounds we hear. In comparison, the whole language approach offers flexibility in learning through giving choices. Reading is a meaning making process.
Students can also help each other to convey meaning of their readings.
Educators consider phonics an essential part of any effective reading program. However, because of the many inconsistencies in the English language, they recommend using additional aids to help a reader improve his or her pronunciation of unfamiliar words. For example, the reader may be taught to identify new words by their prefixes, suffixes, roots, and syllables. The discussions are helpful but by active participation in a classroom one can judge for her the effectiveness of each reading program. The lack of experience, and not being exposed to either of these beginning reading instructions, prevented our group from further elaboration of these subjects.