Critical whole language practice, like any other pedagogy, is enacted within a particular time and place. We present several features of critical whole language practice (as distinguished from two other variants of critical education: critical literacy and critical pedagogy) and illustrate each with examples from one year in one elementary school…

Disputes the version of whole language presented by Michael McKenna et al. in the preceding article. Argues that whole language is an educational paradigm complete with theoretical, philosophical, and political assumptions and a congruent research agenda. Contends that "paradigm blindness" prevents critics from seeing the legitimacy of…