Education: What constitutes high quality literacy teaching?

Politicians, Educators and Parents have spent the better part of two decades arguing about literacy programs: what works and what doesn't. Phonics? Standardized programs? What is real? What can we believe?
The good news is a consistent stream of educational research results have shown, independent of any political bias, that successful literacy programs share some specific characteristics. I have seen enough solid information to convince me that a strong literacy program must:
USE PHONICS - While there is considerable debate about the true effectiveness of Phonics instruction, research doesn't lie. Every unbiased report ever written acknowledges that a literacy program using phonics is more effective than one without phonics. That said, there is also strong information that a program that ONLY uses phonics is not as effective as one that mixes phonics with some other techniques. The bottom line is good literacy programs utilize several different styles in its approach.
BE SYSTEMIC - A program that works through a coherent plan of instruction, which builds a foundation of knowledge before advancing to higher levels, is far superior to one that is haphazardly done without a thoughtful plan. This sometimes irks my fellow teachers, at the thought of "teaching a system" but organized instruction is conclusively the way to go.
BE FLEXIBLE - Despite the need for structure, the program also needs to have a high degree of adaptability for the teacher and the student. A program might be excellent for a class of 6-year-olds, but will be entirely inappropriate for under-performing teens, or functionally illiterate adults. The teacher needs to have the ability and the freedom to adapt the instruction to fit the needs, interests and abilities of her students.
USE A MULTI-SENSORY APPROACH- Over and again we find that different students learn in different ways. Some learn better when they listen, some by seeing, some by doing things with their hands. The best instruction involves all of the senses in an interesting and varied process that engages all of the students.
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