Which approach to reading instruction de-emphasizes letter-sound relationships and emphasizes recognition of words as wholes?

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Meaning-first, whole-word recognition is the approach being described. Whole Language treats reading as a means to derive meaning from authentic texts, using context, pictures, and prior knowledge to recognize words as whole units rather than decoding every word by sounding out letters. It emphasizes exposure to rich, real reading experiences and relies on learners picking up sight words and patterns through immersion rather than explicit instruction in letter-sound correspondences.

In contrast, approaches like Rime and Word Families center on phonics—teaching the relationship between letters and sounds and using patterns to decode words. The term on its own, Polyphone, isn’t a recognized instructional framework for teaching reading, and it doesn’t describe a method that de-emphasizes letter-sound relationships.