The Reading Wars

I learned to read by the phonics approach. I had actually never heard of the whole word approach until this class. It seems impossible to me to teach children to memorize thousands of words. I definitely think after a while, we do memorize a lot of the words but I don't know how children learn to read without initially having to sound out words. I remember having a new letter each week in Kindergarten. We listened to songs about the letter and practiced writing that letter. I just can't imagine teaching in any other way. Learning a few sounds seems so much easier to me than learning thousands of words. I think there is some use for the whole language approach. Some words don't fit into phonics because they are exceptions. When words are exceptions to the phonics rules, I think it is useful for a child just to recognize the word. I don't remember if we did this or not when I was learning to read. I do remember in upper elementary and middle school having questions about things because they were exceptions. I think my teachers usually responded with, "You just have to know it, there is no rule". I guess I was definitely "Hooked on Phonics".
I think we do create sight words automatically and I think a lot of times teachers encourage it. The more we read, the more we are able to just recognize words by just the first and last letter. We don't have to think about sounding out words at all. When I observed in a first grade class, the teacher had a list of instant words. She taught phonics but these words she felt the kids should know without having to sound out at all.
I think symbols impact literacy learning because it allows for students to make connections with the word and the meaning of the word. Symbols also give students a clue about what the word is if they are struggling. Eventually they will no longer need the symbol but at first it I think it would be very helpful to a student.