I posted a thank you a few weeks ago and told everyone about the success we are having with the processing and cognitive enhancement and reading program we are doing. Yes, they are PACE and Master The Code. We seem to be moving along fine but, I some questions about Master The Code.
Are there any supplemental reading materials that people have found to go with the “chunks” that Master The Code works on? My son learns better if we reinforce the day’s lesson with more material. Maybe, the material could come from some other program or maybe, its a series of books available somewhere?
The tutor told me there is a spelling component to Master The Code but I don’t see it. Last week when I was sitting in on his session the tutor told me they are supposed to substitute all the “chunks” (for lack of a better word) when a word looks wrong and his brain would tell him which one the right one is. For example, my son spelled girl “gerl”. Given the sounds they were working on this was a correct phonetic answer but it was wrong and to him it didn’t appear wrong. Is there a spelling component to Master the code? How do I help him with spelling when he doesn’t seem to recognize that he spelled the word wrong?
Nancy3
For the type of spelling problem you describe, I would recommend Sequential Spelling by Avko. SS works on spelling subskills, including development of sensitivity to spelling patterns in words. Your MTC trainer is assuming spelling subskills that some students do not develop automatically, even with PACE. A targeted program such as SS works on the specific subskills necessary for spelling. Website for this program is http://www.avko.org. I would wait on starting SS until after MTC is finished, so as not to overload the student. When you are ready to start SS, post here again for hints on how best to use SS for the age of your child.
MTC does have a spelling component, but its primary emphasis is reading. While some children will automatically pick up the spelling with the reading, others require an entirely different approach for spelling. That is what makes Sequential Spelling very valuable.
I don’t know of any reading materials that would follow the sequence of the MTC patterns. Rewards from Sopris West uses a chunking approach, but it is a reading program in its own right. I wouldn’t use it simultaneously with MTC, although it could be quite a useful follow-up. Rewards includes fluency work in the last half of its program (repeated readings of texts), so it includes application practice of the sounds learned. Rewards is entirely scripted, so it’s easy for a parent to do at home with a child. There are 20 lessons and the entire program takes less than 30 hours to complete. Website for that program is http://www.rewardsreading.com. Again, though, I would wait on Rewards until after MTC is finished.
Nancy
Correcting spelling: It depends on what stage he has reached. If he is still a beginner, fighting to get those first couple of hundred words of reading, don’t fuss over spelling. Once he has a sound basis and some confidence, tell him “There are three ‘er’s, e-r, i-r and u-r. Can you remember which ‘er’ is in ‘girl’?” After he is pretty good, you just point to the e and “ahem”.
I think i have sent you my tutoring notes with suggestions on various reading resources. I use old basal readers which have the advantages of consistent vocabulary and lots and lots of text to practice on.