Which approach prioritizes teaching reading for enjoyment?

The whole language approach emphasizes reading as a natural process of meaning-making and communication, approached in a way that prioritizes the enjoyment and understanding of text rather than just the mechanics of reading. This method fosters a love for reading by immersing students in literature, encouraging them to engage with stories, think critically, and develop personal connections to the material. By emphasizing the context and overall message of texts, rather than focusing solely on the isolated components of language, the whole language approach nurtures a reader’s intrinsic motivation and desire to read, making reading not just a skill to master but an enjoyable activity.

In contrast, the phonics approach focuses on the relationship between sounds and letters, teaching decoding skills that help students read words. Direct instruction is more structured and often emphasizes explicit instruction and practice, which may not create an inherently enjoyable reading experience. The decoding method similarly emphasizes the ability to sound out words, which can sometimes lead to a more mechanical understanding of reading, rather than fostering a love for the act of reading itself. Therefore, the whole language approach stands out as the one that prioritizes enjoyment in reading.