Traces the evolution of the first author's philosophy and practice to show how progressive educational practices have come to challenge cultural norms. Discusses multiple literacies, making whole language critical, learners and the real world as curricular informants, interrupting normativity through literature and the arts, and being critical and…

Suggests that whole language is alive and well in Israel, and that like many countries trying to educate multiethnic, multilingual populations, there is a strong interest in whole language as a democratic, innovative pedagogy built on scientific foundations. Notes the Ministry of Education encourages whole language approaches, but the teachers'…