Whats wrong with a balanced literacy approach to reading instruction?
Unfortunately, evidence suggests that programs touted as “balanced” are frequently little more than whole language approaches with, at best, some cursory coverage of the five components of scientifically based reading instruction. A program that attempts to balance a scientific approach with a literature-based approach that is, one that isn’t a whole language program in disguise would meet NCTQ’s reading standard. As long as the program adequately covers the five components without including non-research-based strategies (such as three-cueing systems), NCTQ would not question this approach.
