ABSTRACT
Whole language is a philosophy of how literacy best develops in learners. It represents a perspective on language and learning that is founded primarily on the use of literature programs, big books, predictable books,
book discussion groups, authentic stories rather than basal readers, acceptance of developmental spelling, and emphasis on the writing process. It is based on the premise that human beings “acquire language through actually using it for a purpose, not through practicing its separate parts until some later date when the parts are assembled and the totality is finally used” (Altwerger, Edelsky, & Flores, 1987, p. 145).
