Stephen Parker

Background During the quarter century, 1975 - 2000, the dominant method for teaching reading in the English-speaking world was Whole Language. Its main characteristics were: Immersion in so-called "real" books. This was in opposition to the artificial Dick and Jane readers of the 40s, 50s, and 60s in the US ( Janet and John in the UK, John and Betty in Australia). This immersion was supposed to lead, easily and naturally, to reading - just as earlier in the child's life, imme