Final answer:
The correct answer is C) Encourages meaning-based reading, which highlights that the whole language approach focuses on the comprehensive and integrated development of literacy skills centered around understanding the semantics of text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The whole language approach to early childhood literacy instruction is C) Encourages meaning-based reading. This educational methodology is founded on the premise that reading for meaning will allow children to develop literacy skills in a more natural and integrated way, as opposed to isolated phonics or decoding exercises. It is characterized by the comprehension and appreciation of text in its entirety, promoting a love for reading through literature, recognizing words in contexts, and understanding the relationship between written language and its meaning. In the whole language approach, children are exposed to a rich literacy environment where they have the opportunity to see and engage with written language in meaningful ways, which can facilitate their ability to understand and use language effectively.