The first academic skill a child is expected to learn is that of reading. All further education is built not just upon the ability to read, but the habits of study developed by the beginning reader.
Educators do not agree as to the best way to teach beginning reading. They will never agree.
The reading instruction on this site is phonics-based, but it does make use of word lists used by teachers who use “whole word†methods.
Parents of young children do not have time to weigh the arguments of the educational debate. The important thing is to let children know that letters stand for speech sounds. They can learn the exceptions as they progress.
