The Progress & Performance of cognitive and phonological training for this level of the MD4 Reading program are shown below by training area. To view all skills trained in each individual area please see the "Skill Training by Area" below.
Area 1 - Optic > Visual Perception
Student has demonstrated more highly trained degree of skill in accurately perceiving the difference between dissimilar types of visual information of average complexity. In this level of training revolves around the recognition of a difference in one pattern among a series of seven complex patterns. These patterns are complex in nature so no time limit is placed on this skill.
Area 2 - Recall > Sequencing & Tracking
Student has demonstrated a more highly attuned ability to accurately differentiate between the sounds of similar sounding words and remember the location of those words on a grid. This accomplishment demonstrates skill in sequencing, phonological awareness, and memory at a moderate level. The ability to correctly sequence information beyond simple letters continues to grow and the student is demonstrating these abilities at a higher level of difficulty and complexity and in a shorter amount of time.
Area 3 - Array > Visual & Auditory Memory
Student continues to build strength in strengthen their immediate, short term and long term auditory sequential memory and demonstrated that they have an initial ability to retain three pieces of information that they have heard only once for a limited amount of time and replicate that data in its correct sequential order three times while experiencing distraction. Iso-sensory techniques have been employed in this process. To the untrained eye it may appear that an inordinate amount of time is being spent on the retention of three pieces of information, however this foundation and the unflinching strength in this area is critical for greater memory capacity at a higher level. This repetition also serves to build confidence in the student’s memory abilities.
Area 4 - Audio > Phonological Awareness & Memory
Student has achieved a degree of elision skills and is able to recognize and remember a syllable when heard and determine if that syllable is present in a second word presented auditorally. Student has demonstrated a stronger ability to use syllables that they have heard to form real phonologically regular words. Multi-sensory tool are being employed to assist in this process. Student may not be completely independent in this area at this time but are beginning to gain proficiency that can be translated to other words containing the same syllables.
Area 5 - Tactile > Visual Motor Integration
Student has demonstrated a higher level of visual perception and visual motor integration skills by being able to reproduce master shapes consisting of five sub-shapes in a specified amount of time. At this level, the student is provided with the sub-shape outlines as a guide. The skills demonstrated are critical to both the reading and writing process. At this time, the integration process is growing but not maximized.
Area 6 - Bamboozle > Eidetic Processing
Student has mastered and been able to retain a list of forty irregular words of a fourth grade level bringing their total words mastered to two hundred and eighty. Student has not been allowed to misspell these words and has been strictly restrained from ingraining incorrect spellings. Multi-sensory techniques have been employed in this process.
Area 7 - Harmony > Phonics
Student has achieved a higher degree of skill in recognizing, distinguishing, and remembering the sound of diagraphs and is beginning to build skills in base word endings and open and closed syllables. The understanding and use of diagraphs, base word endings, and open and closed syllable is critical to fluency and the student will receive additional training in this area.
Area 8 – Swift > Fluency
Student continues to build reading speed and comprehension by reading sentences three times at increasing speeds and answering comprehension questions about the material read. Three hundred and twenty sentence readings have been completed in this level with twenty one hundred completed overall. This process also incorporates the phonics principles trained at this level. Student is not yet reading fluently but is gaining speed without sacrificing comprehension.
Students who have successfully completed the forty training exercises comprising Level 7 of the MD4 Reading curriculum have successfully demonstrated a fundamental level of skills in a wide range of areas and completed two hundred and eighty exercises in total or thirty-five percent of the overall program. The specific skills trained can be found in the "Skills and Abilities Developed" section below. To view specific skills trained in each "Area" of the curriculum please see the “Skills Training by Area" below.