MTC Premise

Reference Library

The following is the basic premise upon which Master the Code is designed.  This reading program builds on the cognitive training delivered by PACE to fundamentally rebuild a student's reading system in a very short amount of time.

The Master the Code Premise

 

Our basic premise is that anyone can learn to read smoothly and rapidly if:

 

1. The underlying mental skills are in place and mastered. These skills include:
2. Memory (the ability to remember the sound ­ symbol relationship)
3. Phonetic awareness (the ability to hear individual sounds -phonemes)
4. Segmenting (the ability to separate or unglue sounds)
5. Blending (the ability to put together sounds to form words)
6. Auditory analysis (the ability to manipulate or analyze small changes in groups of sounds)
7. It is important to note that all these skills are necessary and trainable

 

The sound codes for the 43 phonemes (individual sounds), as well as the alternative spellings, are taught. Reading and spelling are taught concurrently, as letters and letter-combinations are shown to represent specific sounds in one's own speech.

 

The simple skills are taught before the complex. The sequence of reading and spelling instruction agree with the logic of the alphabet system.

 

These learning principles are applied:

1. Sequence (an introduction of tasks and information from simple to complex in small enough steps so that it can be mastered quickly and easily)
2. Feedback (immediate correction of errors and encouragement of correct responses)
3. Intensity (tasks that are demanding but achievable)
4. Concentration (requiring full attention which means faster results because of less time off task)
5. Stretching (pushing)
6. Loading (adding a task upon a task concurrently thus forcing automation of skills and mastery).

 

This will result in the most rapid mastery and automation of reading and spelling.