Decipher That Code & Read Part Three

Decipher That Code & Read! Part Three:    A Master Teacher Proves Phonetic Rock is the way!

Those of you who’ve read my other two articles, and follow the education paradigm  are aware of problems with No Child Left Behind. It’s been noted recently that the NCLB Act is not all it was promoted to be and hasn’t lived up to its’ very lofty goals.  Perhaps the next administration will have a better handle on how this program should proceed. One of the candidates, Obama, will push for early childhood education. A program that has always been underfunded.

It’s been nearly half a century that scholars have been arguing about the poor state of reading and math skills among USA youth. Perhaps there is too much emphasis on possessions and not enough about the possession of skills that sustain us all throughout our lives. We’ll confine our discussion to reading skills and leave the math to others. Perhaps the term ‘dumbing down’ is not as much of a cliché as we think. Or that there is a collusion between teachers and unions to call the shots. Like it or not, there are problems but they are much more complicated and involve almost everyone in some way, shape or form. Perhaps the true definition of dumbing down is given up; or tried & failed. Unfortunately while the population grows at an astounding rate, most folks find it difficult to put into words the frustration they feel about the situation. How to read has become an industry unto itself  with everyone selling an idea, a concept, or a method.

In 1962 a master teacher first started thinking about Reading and Phonics while employed by the Grolier Society demonstrating and selling teaching machines.  Where, after 10 years she became their #1 salesperson for two straight years. She believed in their products and started thinking how such a program could benefit preschool or beginning readers. She began to work out a solution that was simple, inventive & colorful.

                A firm believer in learning the relationship between letters and sounds, she used this philosophy to develop her way to use the ‘schwa’ universal  sound to help unlock the reading code known as ‘decoding”. After realizing the need for early reader to understand what they were learning. The Master Teacher’s remarkable phonics program could present a perfect foundation for reading. . The Master Teacher came had a plan

                Her first step was to decide the best way to reach students and that way is through music. Most youngsters know the theme songs to movies they enjoy and can sing them unabashedly. If they could only enjoy learning to ‘decipher the code, and read”, with music; then reading would be a breeze. Who knew that standards would relax even further and that reading would/could become a lost art!

                In teaching the five big vowels, a clever way to introduce the Vowels visually was through the Vowel Phonic-Graph.  This Phonic-Graph  relates the vowel sounds in a geometric shapes  adding new dimensions to  vocabulary.  She went back to school and honed her musical skills. She played piano, and read music so all she needed was a brush up. She went to work and wrote 32 songs of words and music; the 26 letters plus wrap up and review songs. She set up the scene for a narrator (a teacher) the kids (a group of school aged children), and the singers. Phonetic Rock was taking shape.

By 1972, She’d  shopped the project to ministers, teachers, etc and  had a sponsor who financed a two record set along with the workbooks for the 1^st release of Phonetic Rock. When the 2 record set Phonetic Rock came out it caused somewhat of a stir. However, a product had already begun hogging the spotlight called Schoolhouse Rock. At this time, she copyrighted the project and began a group called the “Friends of Multi Learning” who helped her plan and execute the proof that the system does work! Results were phenomenal! Using Phonetic Rock in a Federally-funded two-year study project, children doubled/tripled their Reading Code Test scores after five (5) months instruction.

                The Friends were a group of retired teachers & reading specialists who trained high school students to  go into the public schools and provide improved reading skills for new readers & remedial groups.  She knew that Phonetic Rock could be used as a means of enlightening & motivating at risk, ghetto,  and under-achieving students. Each letter of the alphabet is a song. Her wall of phonics began as an interaction between Mrs. woody, as the narrator,   and the kids, her students. . She was ably assisted by the ‘kids’ the ‘duo’ the child star and the Motown band!  The group worked hard and the recording session went well.                                

In 1989, she presented an updated version that became a 5 part reading system. Phonetic Rock reading system had a cassette, a lyric booklet, a manual with picture words; the Phonic-Graph & a vowel play strip. She marketed the package to schools and interested parents in California culminating a period from 1962 to 1989 when she passed away while promoting Phonetic Rock.  The  5 part set charmingly whimsically set up, she was again out done  outdone by “hooked on Phonics” As far as we know her product was the cleverest using custom-made music to emphasize  the learning process. Not the overdone use of Public Domain songs. She wrote a different song for each letter of the alphabet along with review songs & a final wrap-up. The Narrator/teacher handles the description of each letter and calls upon the kids to emphasize certain portions that need repeating. The interaction between the music, the kids, the singers & the narrator put on quite an audio show.  

.   The genius of the idea that makes it work so well is that the teacher/narrator introduces the children to the letter & asks what sounds they heard? The children  answer & the T/N explains how to place your mouth; to make that sound.  Students then listen to the letter  song. After the song there is  further reinforcement of the rule, when  the N/T comes back and talks about any differences or exceptions that may occur. All the vocabulary presented in reinforced in the Activity Book.

                 She began her journey shortly after retiring, with pension, from the Los Angeles Unified School district. She began by honing her musical skills which came with a generous knowledge of sight reading and piano playing. Often for her offspring who loved to hear her play Debussy’s “Claire de Lune”. She also once gave Dave Brubeck’s solos a serious try along with a case of coca cola which she says made her sick. I’m not so sure which and in what order!

                Emily L Woody, product of South Central Los Angeles graduated Jefferson High School in Watts, from UCLA in 1936 and received an M.A. from Loyola University in Los Angeles. She went straight from HS to UCLA, had a child, and taught until the 60’s. She was a master teacher and taught music and had a Credential to give IQ tests. I believe giving these tests made her realize that some children are at a disadvantage taking these tests the way they were set up and that if they had the reading abilities needed to succeed in life at an early age, their lives would improve 100%  In Phonetic Rocks’ 1^st identity, she assisted the record company on Phonetic Rock’s initial introduction and its’ components.

 And upon release sometime later as a 5 part set charmingly set up, she was to be outdone by “hooked on Phonics” As far as we know her product was the cleverest using custom-made music to emphasize  the learning process. Not the overdone use of Public Domain songs. She wrote a different song for each letter of the alphabet along with review songs & a final wrap-up. The Narrator/teacher handles the description of each letter and calls upon the kids to emphasize certain portions that needs repeating. The interaction between the music, the kids, the singers & the narrator put on quite an audio show.  

At the time of her passing, it was noted by then Mayor Tom Bradley of her good works for the community as an educator & a Civil Rights Advocate. She was written up in the Los Angeles Times and her achievements were noted by the Hon. Julian C. Dixon in the “Congressional Record”.

By 2003, MLEco had  been promoting  Phonetic Rock for almost 10 years. Her daughter & son-in-law have been  providing quality additions. Her 5 part system has been extended to take advantage of many items that the system is jam packed with. . We have separated out all the aspects of the system, the CD, the Song Book, the work Book, the Crosswords, the Blocks, and the Book are all combined to assist in the learning-to-read process. Many older students benefit from the review and practical rules outlined that older students can relearn. benefit fro the review how to pronounce words, and put pictures together with words. Realizing that the narrator/teacher interaction with the kids is a major part of the learning process, we are readying a new CD that will include these welcome additions.

Reading skills can be developed with practice, knowing the correct rules; knowing how to place your mouth to make the sounds and following the instructions of the narrator/teacher. These skills, according to Mrs. Woody, are what separate good readers from bad readers & therefore underachievers.  A PLAN  is Article four our last section and will follow shortly..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information visit our website at www.phonetic-rock.com You will find Pictures describing the various compartments of Phonetic Rock

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