Whole language emerged as a grassroots movement in the early 20th century that aligned with progressive education philosophies. It proposed that reading and writing skills are acquired naturally through exposure to print rather than explicit instruction in phonics. However, systematic phonics instruction has been shown to help children learn to read more effectively than non-systematic or no phonics according to the National Reading Panel. Phonological awareness, including skills like rhyming, blending, and segmenting sounds, should be explicitly taught in addition to synthetic phonics for reading mastery.