relies on &"schemata&" prior knowledge of readers. it begins with whole stories, paragraphs, sentences, words and then proceeds to the smallest units of syllables, praphemes, and phonemes
studying language as a whole. trying to understand the meaning of a reading or listening selection without worrying about the individual components of language.
That fire devastated timber on the reservation , while charring 469,000 acres and destroying 491 homes in surrounding communities .