Brains are not all the same. Teaching is guiding other brains to discover. Children learn to read in different ways. Those who crack the code before they enter formal schooling do memorize stories and crack the code, literally, learning that “tough” means tough no matter how it looks. English is possibly the worst language for phonics, with all the exceptions with our crazy bastardized spelling.
Phonics should be taught because you can’t pick it up on your own. But sight reading, using memory, happens too - it cannot he stopped any more than recognizing colors or patterns can be stopped.
Teaching Reading is about guiding the child through phonics, exposing them through repetition, and HELPING THE CHILD WHO IS HAVING DIFFICULTIES, at their level and with whatever disability they may have to make reading harder. And definitely exposing them to parts of the world that depend on reading, which makes it fun and necessary! Including video games!
FWIW,
My Daughter was reading pre-K.
I attribute this to two things. My wife, her mother, talked non stop and was fairly articulate. Her Non-stop chatter, personally drove me mad, but it went a long way exposing our Infant/toddler to language. Second, we read together every day.
When she was three or four I spent $400 on the “Hooked on Phonics” package. I broke open the box and quickly discovered that my daughter was well beyond all their lessons.
We NEVER engaged in “Baby Talk”.
Kids and people in general learn in different ways. Some are auditory and some are more visual.
There is a need to open our young minds to being more Objective.
After all;
What are Words For; if no one listens anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IasCZL072fQ
What you said goes back to the title of this thread.
There is no WRONG or RIGHT way, there is using what works best given the child. The hardest part is motivating the child to want to learn.