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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.