An analysis of the national literacy decree: reflections about the phonic method

Abstract

This article aims to present a contextualization of the history of literacy methods in Brazil and a reflection on the phonic method implemented by decree in the National Literacy Plan. The aim is to show, from Mortatti’s (2006) studies, that the discussion about a salvationist method has existed since the school was universalized in the late nineteenth century and the implementation of one method over another has been advocated. The National Literacy Policy bets on the phonic method to eradicate illiteracy in Brazil and this article, which reflects on this method that defends phonological awareness as a prerequisite for the subject to be literate, and on the purpose of showing that the choice of the literacy method must be linked to the individual need  and to the appropriation of reading and writing surpassing the instrumentalization process.