What approach includes encouraging children to invent spelling words?

The whole language approach emphasizes a natural, integrated method of teaching literacy, where reading and writing are interconnected with real-life experiences. This approach encourages children to engage with language in a meaningful context, allowing them to express themselves creatively. One key aspect of the whole language approach is the encouragement of invented spelling, where children are free to spell words as they sound or feel them, fostering their phonetic awareness and understanding of language patterns. This method promotes a sense of ownership over their writing and helps develop their literacy skills in a more organic way. In contrast, other approaches, such as conventional or holistic spelling instruction, tend to focus more on standardized spelling practices or a broader view of literacy without the same emphasis on playful, creative expression in spelling as seen in the whole language approach.