English is a compounding language in which root words are modified (changed in meaning) by adding prefixes and suffixes. The rules of the spelling game change at this level, and attention shifts to the syllable unit and spellings for prefixes and suffixes. This new knowledge makes a profound difference in reading and spelling skills and dramatically enhances reading comprehension and vocabulary. Lessons begin with simple compounding of common English words (doghouse, sunset) and gradually build to include Latin and Greek-based words up to six syllables in length. For example, “inform” (a verb) can be changed to a noun by adding the suffix “shun,” spelled “tion,” a suffix used in thousands of words. It has three common spellings: information, aggression, optician, and four rare ones. Once the student learns when these spellings are used (ÔcianÕ always marks an occupation), difficult words suddenly become easy to read and spell. Long, “scary” words like “determination” can be broken down to easily decodable units: de/ter/min/a/tion. Once these patterns are understood, students as young as eight years can learn to read and spell thousands of new words in a just a few lessons. Allographs II Manual contains fifty-nine partially scripted lessons. Sample lessons for the higher levels of the code provide a platform for continuing development using the Student Workbook/Dictionary. Both components are essential to teach this program effectively.

Allographs* Allographs is a revolutionary spelling program based on new discoveries about the structure of the English writing system. Research by the author has revealed that about 90% of words in print are represented by 176 spellings. When these spellings are taught in an orderly way, consistent with the logic of an alphabet code, students of any age can learn to read and spell with relative ease. Allographs lessons are partially scripted and no special training is required to teach this program. Lessons are designed to work for all ages and in any setting ranging from home tutoring to the classroom. Lessons are set out in two programs. Allographs I teaches spellings for common English words up to 3 syllables long. It is designed for students with a reading/spelling age of 7 to 8 years who have some knowledge of basic phonics. Allographs I consists of a Teacher Manual, a Spelling Dictionary with 3,000 words, and a Workbook/Storybook. Allographs II focuses on multi-syllable words and the Latin layer of the spelling code. It is suitable for students with a reading/spelling age of 8 years or higher. Allographs II consists of a Teacher Manual and a student Workbook/Dictionary containing over 3,000 words. NOTE: Allographs uses the spelling standard for U.S. and Canada. A supplement containing UK spellings is provided in the Teacher Manual. *Allographs: “All the written symbols (spelling patterns) to mark each sound in a language.”

A neuropsychologist shows how outmoded methods for teaching reading have resulted in plummeting literacy levels and offers a new program.

Understanding Reading revolutionized reading research and theory when the first edition appeared in 1971 and continues to be a leader in the field. In the sixth edition of this classic text, Smith's purpose remains the same: to shed light on fundamental aspects of the complex human act of reading--linguistic, physiological, psychological, and social--and on what is involved in learning to read. The text critically examines current theories, instructional practices, and controversies, covering a wide range of disciplines but always remaining accessible to students and classroom teachers. Careful attention is given to the ideological clash that continues between whole language and direct instruction and currently permeates every aspect of theory and research into reading and reading instruction. To aid readers in making up their own minds, each chapter concludes with a brief statement of "Issues." Understanding Reading: A Psycholinguistic Analysis of Reading and Learning to Read, Sixth Edition is designed to serve as a handbook for language arts teachers, a college text for basic courses on the psychology of reading, a guide to relevant research on reading, and an introduction to reading as an aspect of thinking and learning. It is matchless in integrating a wide range of topics relative to reading while, at the same time, being highly readable and user-friendly for instructors, students, and practitioners.

The student workbook provides exercises and a special dictionary to teach how syllables are compounded in multisyllable words, as well as the spelling patterns used in a variety of prefixes and suffixes. Over three thousand multisyllable words are included in the lessons.

Horace G. Danner’s A Thesaurus of English Word Roots is a compendium of the most-used word roots of the English language. As Timothy B. Noone notes in his foreword: “Dr. Danner’s book allows you not only to build up your passive English vocabulary, resulting in word recognition knowledge, but also gives you the rudiments for developing your active English vocabulary, making it possible to infer the meaning of words with which you are not yet acquainted. Your knowledge can now expand and will do so exponentially as your awareness of the roots in English words and your corresponding ability to decode unfamiliar words grows apace. This is the beginning of a fine mental linguistic library: so enjoy!” In A Thesaurus of English Word Roots, all word roots are listed alphabetically, along with the Greek or Latin words from which they derive, together with the roots’ original meanings. If the current meaning of an individual root differs from the original meaning, that is listed in a separate column. In the examples column, the words which contain the root are then listed, starting with their prefixes, for example, dysacousia, hyperacousia. These root-starting terms then are followed by terms where the root falls behind the word, e.g., acouesthesia and acoumeter. These words are followed by words where the root falls in the middle or the end, as in such terms as bradyacusia and odynacusis.. In this manner, A Thesaurus of English Word Roots places the word in as many word families as there are elements in the word. This work will interest linguists and philologists and anyone interested in the etymological aspects of English language.