Patricia Fenton: More to progressing literacy development than rigid focus on phonics 2 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM 6 minutes to read A student reading to children. As with any form of learning, literacy needs to take place in a context, writes Patricia Fenton. Photo / NZME Northern Advocate COMMENT I knew it! I always ki-ni-ĕ-wi it would come to this if the phonics first brigade had their way. Reading revolution indeed, and the Janet and John readers in the illustration speak volumes of the full circle we've revolved around with the introduction of new phonics-based instructional reading books. "Mia taps on a mat, Tap, tap, pat, pat …"