Overview of Pure & Complete Phonics: Unlocking the Path to Language Mastery

The Pure & Complete Phonics (P/C-Phs.) manual, crafted by Dr. Robert T. Nash, is a comprehensive tool designed to address reading disabilities. Since 1979, Dr. Nash has dedicated his career to helping students, both bilingual and monolingual, overcome language challenges. The manual, developed over 30 years of meticulous research into the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition, aims to foster language independence by mastering the phonemic sound structure of American English.

The Genesis and Purpose of P/C-Phs.

Dr. Nash's journey began with college-aged students who struggled with reading disabilities. His mission extended beyond mere academic support; he aimed to empower students to comprehend, spell, and use words effectively, build vocabulary, increase reading rates, and understand complex linguistic elements such as morphemes, synonyms, and antonyms. The overarching goal of P/C-Phs. is to enable students to become independent readers, spellers, and writers.

Key Features of P/C-Phs.

1. Phonemic Mastery:

   - P/C-Phs. emphasizes the importance of phonemic structure, teaching students the 12 ways to spell the sound /ā/ and the 11 ways to read the letter 'a'.

   - The program covers 103 distinct phonemes and phonemic units, such as the sound /ks/ for the letter 'x' in "ax."

2. Comprehensive Approach:

   - P/C-Phs. is designed to allow students to read 96% or more of the words in the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary by their sound, without relying on traditional reading and spelling rules.

   - The manual uses direct, explicit phonics instruction to teach the systematic reading and spelling of words by their sequential sound structure.

3. No Blends Approach:

   - Unlike other phonics programs, P/C-Phs. does not teach blends. Instead, it trains learners to hear every distinct sound in words, ensuring precise phonemic awareness.

4. Simultaneous Tri-Multi Sensory Instructional Procedure (STMSIP):

   - P/C-Phs. employs STMSIP to train the brain in making a tri-sensory direct 'sound-symbol' association for each phoneme/grapheme.

   - The manual also incorporates reading comprehension and morphological knowledge by requiring students to write definitions and sentences for each word.

5. Focus on Independence:

   - The skills acquired through P/C-Phs. enable teachers to guide students in reading and spelling, making them independent learners despite the severity of their language challenges.

Instructional Design and Methodology

The Pure/Complete-Phonics manual is structured to teach students the sequential sound structure of words as listed in the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. This approach supports the Alphabetic Principle, reinforcing the connection between sounds and letters.

Dr. Nash's manual is grounded in extensive research conducted over the past century by nationally recognized scholars. The text provides a foundation for understanding the language's sound structure, crucial for remediating language deficits. 

Detailed References:

  - Insights into Direct Instruction for teaching phonemic segmentation, awareness, and phonological processing.

  - Formats for training both students and teachers to use the entire sound structure for encoding and decoding words.

Watch: The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour

Research and Support for P/C-Phs.

The P/C-Phs. approach is supported by significant research, including a pivotal study by the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare in 1966, which explored phoneme-grapheme correspondences in over 47,000 words. This study highlighted the alphabetic nature of English orthography and its predictability, crucial for addressing dyslexia and other reading disabilities.

Researchers Shaywitz (2003) and Wolf (2007) emphasize the importance of mastering the sounds of the English language, underscoring the necessity of phonemic awareness for effective reading instruction. The P/C-Phs. manual, therefore, provides a robust framework for helping students achieve language proficiency and independence.

The Pure & Complete Phonics manual offers a transformative approach to reading and language instruction, enabling learners to navigate the complexities of the English language with confidence and independence. Whether you are an educator or a student, the principles and methodologies outlined in P/C-Phs. can lead to significant improvements in reading, spelling, and overall language competence.

Sincerely, 

Shawn Anthony Robinson PhD 


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