Marcia,
I agree that silent reading is as involved in sounds as vocal reading. That was not my own opinion that you quoted. Incidentally, all of my poems are really meant to be read aloud in one's head. They can be read aloud but I prefer them to be absorbed through the skin
My own early education was based on the Montessori method and I simply read like I walked or breathed. It was utterly painless and rapidly became second nature. I'm sure the main part of the teaching was phonics.
Janet
[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited August 16, 2005).]