The whole language vs phonics debate is heading back into the phonics corner

I was taught under the synthetic phonics system and my reading skills are pretty good when compared to some of the kids today. Even my nieces and nephews had trouble with the whole language method and only learnt to read with motherly intervention. I taught my kid with Montessori sandpaper letters and phonics after she was bottom of her class in reading and that made a big difference in a very short time. 

Reading doesn’t fit in, in the way we learn as most people are visual on the VAK scale. So one would think the a visual method of learning to read like whole language would suit most people but that is not the case. 

Phonics which is basically an auditory system of learning seems to be the preferred method of learning to read. With phonics your child has to say the phonic sounds either in her head or aloud to match them with what she is reading. Then when the phonic sounds match up your child should understand the written word. It is not as easy as that but that is the basic principle. 

Whole language on the other hand the child has to look at the whole sentence and the pictures and try and work out what it all means. There is no code like there is with phonics. I prefer the Montessori phonics method as I have tried it and it works.