Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

During which decade did the whole language approach become popular in reading education in America?

1. 1970s

2. 1980s

3. 1990s

4. 2000s

The correct answer is: 1970s

The whole language approach gained significant popularity in the 1980s, marking a shift from traditional phonics-based strategies to emphasizing meaning, context, and the integration of language skills. This approach encouraged children to learn to read through exposure to complete texts and a focus on comprehension and the joy of reading. In contrast, the 1970s primarily set the stage for this shift, as there was growing interest in child-centered learning and constructivist theories, but the real momentum for the whole language approach came to fruition in the 1980s.