Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar

I picked up this book from a university bookstore because I was interested in background knowledge in linguistics to help guide reading instruction. This book is a typical "we are right (whole language) and you are wrong (phonics)" debate. The authors refer to themselves as "sociopsycholinguists" which I took to be the new term for whole language teachers. I don't want to waste my time reading about the whole language vs. phonics debate anymore, I just wanted the research and background provided by linguistic study. This book just seemed to be a rehashing of whole language theories; and why they are correct and the phonics approach is wrong with little classroom strategies (which is what I wanted from the book). I wanted different ways I could use to help struggling readers no matter what the theory, I don't feel this was a good book for that.

I found this book very useful. Well put together and the questions/assignments at the end are also appreciated. Extremely valuable as a coursebook or for self-study. No fluff.

The seller gave excellent service and communicated with me quickly. Book as described. Would definately work with again.

Freeman & Freeman have hit a great niche with their book. I don't want or need, a complex linguistics book in the style of Chomsky. Freeman & Freeman take language research and package the relevant "real-world" findings so they will be of use for teachers. Although my interest is for English as a Second (ESL) teachers, I believe every teacher is concerned with literacy, and Freeman & Freeman's book covers what teachers need to know concerning phonics v. whole word instruction, spelling, and grammar. Freeman & Freeman seem to belong to the Stephen Krashen school of language and reading. This is a plus for me, but for Krashen-haters, it probably wouldn't be, and they should look elsewhere. This is "baby" linguistics book--you won't get a section on Chomsky's generative grammar here. I think it would be a good companion volume along with VanPatten's "From Input to Output"--which is a slim volume solely concerned with second language acquisition and has the same conversational tone--and--this is important--their teaching advice and philosophy meshes.