Below is a sample of the Syllabication section from the Multisensory Reading Program Level 3.
The ability to quickly and accurately syllabify words is a key to reading mastery.
- However, traditional rules for syllabifying words can be complex.
- The syllabication exercise in this program uses a simplified method of syllabication that is easily learned and can be effectively applied to the decoding of unknown words.
- Although the system is not 100% perfect due to the exceptions in the English language, it provides a close enough representation that students are easily able to decipher the correct pronunciation (e.g., hipp/op/ot/am/us versus hip/po/pot/a/mus).
Nonsense words are used.
- The use of nonsense words in this program requires students to practice the skill of rapidly breaking words into syllables and recognizing graphemes.
- As a result, students are better able to rapidly and accurately decode unfamiliar words.
- In contrast, if real words are used, students tend to rely on their visual memory of the total word rather than the smaller components within the word.
- As each word is unique, no transference to unknown words is possible.
Each nonsense word is composed of the graphemes being learned plus graphemes from previous units.
- This constant exposure to the graphemes in different contexts further reinforces the learning and retention of sound-symbol relationships.
Students are to read one column each day.
- The first 3 words have already been syllabified.
- Students are to draw in the syllabication line for the next 3 words, reading the syllable for drawing the next line.
- Students mentally break the next 4 words into syllables, ensuring there is a definite break between each syllable.
- Each column contains two real words which the student attempts to locate.
- On the 5th day, students read the last column 3 times attempting to improve the time taken each attempt, with the goal of reading the column accurately in 10 seconds.
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