“Balanced literacy.” It means different things to different people. On the importance of explicit, systematic phonics instruction, I agree with Emily Hanford’s arguments in her recent article. I also believe that part of the reason we are still having this debate of phonics versus whole language versus balanced literacy is a matter of definitions. Phonics instruction […]

Kathleen Mikulka
Kathleen Mikulka is Response to Intervention teacher in Maine. She previously taught in Upstate New York, and received degrees in teaching and the teaching of reading from SUNY Albany.