Part 1 of this article introduced the distinction between other phonics reading programs and Reading Buddy 2.0 that are now available for teaching beginning reading at home or in the home school. This article provides greater depth to the distinctive features of Reading Buddy 2.0 that set it apart from typical phonics reading programs. It also provides answers to some important questions about the innovative approach taken in Reading Buddy 2.0.
What are the so-called secret spelling codes mentioned in Part 1 of this article? How were they discovered? How many of them are there?
Researchers who have studied the course of development of written English over a period of several centuries observed clear patterns in the arrangement of consonants and vowels that enabled proficient speakers, readers, and writers to make very few errors using their language. Thinking that there might possibly be substantial numbers of such patterns, researchers carefully sorted every one-syllable word that can be found in the dictionary into groups according to their spelling codes. In the process, they discovered that only six unique codes were necessary to determine how to spell virtually every word in the entire written English language. As a rule, we can then sort these six spelling codes into one of two definite and predictable pronunciation codes: long vowels and short vowels.
Beginning students have to learn these rules for only six spelling/pronunciation codes. After they have the rules firmly established in their minds, they learn the General and Specific Exceptions to the rules which are visually recognizable, definitely spelled, and predictable. (General Exceptions = vowel + “r’, etc. Specific Exceptions = “igh’, “aw’, etc.) Approximately 5% of all one syllable words do not fit established spelling/pronunciation codes. Only these few (Memory Syllables) must be memorized.
Learning to read English proficiently can be accomplished in several different ways. In the early part of the 20th century, students laboriously memorized the spelling and pronunciation of literally thousands of words. Later, the use of programs based on phonics became extraordinarily popular because they vastly simplified the learning process by reducing the cognitive demands upon the students. As with any new technique, reading teachers discovered that phonics-based programs had a significant issue that limited its usefulness to the pronunciation of consonants. Phonics alone could not guide students in the pronunciation of vowels. Because every English word has at least one vowel, this was a significant shortcoming of phonics-based reading programs.
Reading Buddy 2.0 uses phonics exercises and drills in reading readiness exercises and games to teach students to “read the consonant letters” and to “read the six main consonant blends.” And it also includes a Daily Consonant Warm-up (similar to traditional “phonics”) that allows students to practice their “consonant reading skills.”
But the core focus of Reading Buddy 2.0 is on the six secret spelling codes or rules. The learning of the rules is organized in such a way that beginners quickly grasp one rule at a time before moving on to the next. The software introduces the simplest rules first in the form of a lesson where students learn the basic rule with the help of various memory aids, see and practice the rule being applied to a small set of words, sound out the pronunciation of every letter in the word until they can read it correctly for the teacher, then proceed to learn to spell, type, and to learn the meaning of each word. Afterwards, they have the opportunity to reinforce their knowledge by practicing the rule with a much larger set of words--sometimes nearly 100. When the teacher is satisfied that the student is exhibiting mastery of the rule, Reading Buddy 2.0 can then display a story that emphasizes words that employ the rule just learned for the student to read aloud.
When they have learned the rules, students will have had the experience of reading, spelling, and demonstrating comprehension for over 1,200 words. In most areas of the country, this would place students at the second grade reading level.
And after learning the General Exceptions and the Specific Exceptions, students will have had the experience of reading another 1,200 words. More importantly, they have also learned how to read a total of almost 9,000 one syllable words that have the same spelling/pronunciation codes. In addition, they have learned to read the thousands of stressed syllables that they will find in multi-syllable words.
This article focused on the aspects of Reading Buddy 2.0 that are particular to Level 1 of the software. In the more advanced level, students learn to add stressed and unstressed syllables to the syllables and words they can already read in order to read a seemingly infinite number of multi-syllable words.
Article by Michael Levy