Whole language

The whole language method is a method of teaching reading to children. Whole language is also known as the "look-say" method.

The whole language method is in contrast to the phonics method. Phonics teaches the individual components and sounds (or phonetic building blocks) which make up words, enabling the student to then determine the correct pronunciation, and often the meaning, of most words with relative ease. The whole language method requires the student to recognize and learn new words as whole words, and rely on the context in which they appear, rather than on their phonetic building blocks, to determine their meanings.

The whole language approach is criticized by many conservatives and homeschoolers, who prefer the phonics method.