This is what I've been mulling while reading this whole piece.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not directly involved with teaching children how to read
I was thinking about how I learned to read -- but its too long since I did. However, I have two children (9 and 11) who read both English and Japanese, and I think the only consistent variables in their reading journeys are
- time on task
- teacher/adult support
I did not teach them phonics. But I did teach the alphabet.
I remember teaching them phonics as part of reading a book though. I.e. sounding out the letters of words as phonics in order to get the full word.
I guess another thing that is important is finding books that are suitable for the level of the child. Too difficult and they lose interest...
(Just some thoughts)
EDIT:
In other words -- I think the dogmatic "THIS METHOD IS BEST" approach is misguided.