Which approach emphasizes the understanding and meaning of text as a whole?

The whole language approach emphasizes the understanding and meaning of text as a whole by focusing on the context and the connections among words, sentences, and ideas. This approach encourages learners to engage with texts in a way that promotes comprehension and enjoyment, prioritizing the overall meaning rather than isolating specific elements of language, such as phonics or decoding skills. In classrooms that utilize the whole language approach, students are often exposed to rich literature and encouraged to use their prior knowledge and experiences to build understanding, making reading a more integrated and holistic activity. This contrasts with other approaches that might break down text into smaller parts for analysis, leading to a more fragmented understanding of language.