These skills are also referred to as print-based or decoding skills, even though phonemic awareness is a pre-print or, rather, language processing skill. The present page pertain to the development of constrained skills, which includes print awareness, phonemic awareness, alphabetic knowledge, spelling, and fluency. In fact, we need to focus on a balance of teaching practices. This balance is captured in something known as constrained skill theory.Ĭonstrained skill theory (Paris, 2005) states that literacy development involves the development of two types of skills: constrained skills and unconstrained skills. We no longer need to engage in a battle of phonics vs whole language.
It is relief to know that there is a contemporary consensus that amounts to something like this: reading is a multifaceted skills that requires both technical skills as well as meaningful, diverse usage. 'The Reading Wars are over' is something we would like to proclaim loudly and strongly.
