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The phonics/whole language debate is an interesting one because the debaters always seem to be talking and not listening. Phonics taught within a whole language approach works the best. Some children can not use phonics information -- they don't process the information to help themselves with word recognition or spelling. Other children almost intuitively understand how phonics works and can apply it instantly in figuring out words. If a teacher who is using whole language draws from phonics and other word recognition patterns while exploring language,most of the students in the classroom will gain something they can use. It is the all or nothing-ness of most of the arguments around these methods that I can't understand. I wish we paid more attention to what good teachers have always done --use whatever works. Katherine McManus