What is the critical view of the "whole language" approach?

The whole language approach is centered on the idea that reading and writing should be taught in a way that emphasizes meaning and encompasses the use of real texts, rather than focusing solely on sound-letter correspondences. This approach promotes a holistic understanding of language, encouraging learners to engage with texts in meaningful contexts. However, a critical view of this methodology highlights that while it fosters a broad appreciation for language, it can also overlook the importance of systematic and explicit phonics instruction. This can lead to gaps in foundational reading skills, particularly for students who may need more structured support in decoding words. Thus, while whole language promotes an integrated view of literacy, the critique is that it may not provide the systematic phonics instruction that some learners require to develop strong reading skills.