The process of learning to read can be challenging, especially for individuals with dyslexia. In Doug’s experience as a dyslexic individual who reads, he has found that understanding phonics and word segmentation is key to improving reading skills. His book provides a systematic approach for breaking up words into soundable pieces and determining their pronunciation, which is beneficial for all learners. People are exposed to words from birth, and recognizing their representation in print is just the next step to literacy. Doug shares the method that helped him and provides a tutoring course, using vowel-based rules that show you how to physically dissect words so that they can be read.
It is important to know the difference between “reading” (breaking a word into soundable bits) or “recognizing” (sight reading) a word. The book explores the fundamental components of words, such as phonemes, diphthongs, and digraphs. It demonstrates Doug's scientific vowel method of word segmenting. By understanding how vowels and consonants work together to form words, readers can enhance their reading skills. Additionally, the book explains the complexities of the American language, including unique sounds, word derivation, and construction rules. Words follow rules on how they are formed. Even scientific, medical, and nonsense words have to follow the rules to be accepted as English words.
Through this structured approach to breaking words into soundable pieces, readers can systematically sound out words they are familiar with and go on to tackle new words. Doug also delves into understanding vowel patterns and proper pronunciation, which can be particularly helpful for individuals struggling with reading difficulties. The whole-word method of reading will never work for the word blind. (Word blind was the original description of dyslexia, and is a technical term that means you are unable to recognize the words you see due to a neurological brain glitch that causes improper word image storage.)
Overall, Doug’s textbook provides a clear and methodical approach to reading that can benefit a wide range of readers, including those with dyslexia. By mastering the techniques outlined in the book, readers can improve their reading ability and confidently read unfamiliar words. The key to reading is to invert part of the process. Instead of starting with phonics alone, if the first thing you do is logically vowel segment the word, and only then sound it out, you will never again have to guess how an English word is pronounced.
Are you wondering about the author?
First off I am a dysgraphic-dyslexic with other learning disabilities such as Asperger’s. I learned to read by using the rules contained in my book. That turned my life around. After four years in the Air Force, I went back to school. I earned two degrees an AAEE and a BSEE. After I retired, I looked for that specific reading knowledge that I had learned; it was not available. With our schools failing to teach reading I decided to put my knowledge into print so that our students would once again learn to read.
I now read for fun. I read many books per year and I have written the book “Unlocking Reading” so that others might join me in the fun of reading. There is no question that if this reading method had been used from K to 8 there would be no shortage of readers. That is why you should read and do the tutorial.
Why “Unlocking Reading” is important.
For the last century, our schools have failed to produce readers. Currently, only 12% of adults read one or more books per year. If reading is a problem, you tend not to do it. Reading can be fun, entertaining, and educational, but not for some. Being taught with the wrong method is the primary reason a person does not read well. Our schools have excelled at that. Consequentially, we have a functionally illiterate population.
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How do you make a reader out of a non-reader? The answer is simple. Somewhere along the line, the basics of how to read were lost.
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This book returns to the basics; it contains the nitty-gritty that has been missing from our schools.
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This book contains the lost scientific key to word segmenting and pronunciation.
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The book teaches you how to read the words you hear, say, and use.
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This book will help the learning disabled. It can even inform the public about the rules of word formation and spelling.
Simply put, the English language follows rules. For years that knowledge has been lost to the student. Now that lost expertise is available to everyone. That information and understanding are contained between the pages of this book. I realize that in many cases the book will first have to be read and taught to the student. There are many adults that have a loose handle on reading and they should be able to read, follow, and do the tutorials all on their own.
An Alternate Technology Systems product.