whole language
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Phonics instruction gets kids in the door, then whole language comprehension needs to take over.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
But the research has become clear: Looking at the pictures or context of a story to guess a word — as is encouraged in whole language or balanced literacy instruction, leads to struggles with reading.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2025
The whole language game exists to conceal that contradiction.
From Salon • Oct. 8, 2024
The teaching of reading has largely been framed as a battle between phonics and whole language.
From Scientific American • Sep. 26, 2023
No, she did, she really did, groaning and grunting and rumbling—she had a whole language of her own!
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
