Welcome back to the second half of our interview with Dr. Guffanti, the inventor of a unique way of teaching reading.

TOS: You utilize something called an ITA, Initial Teaching Alphabet. What does this mean and how does it differ from other phonics approaches?

Dr. Guffanti: Generally, phonics is taught in one of two ways: using a rule-based method, or using an Initial Teaching Alphabet. Most programs are based on teaching rules like "c sounds like k except when it comes before an e, i, or y; then it sounds like s, or except in words like cello …" Unfortunately, when it comes to vowels (which are, of course, in every word) the rules and their exceptions really multiply. Usually, a mom will just sit beside her child and simply tell him what each sound is. If the mom doesn't, then the child guesses; and every time he is wrong, he is less interested in reading. The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development stated, "60% of our nation's children experience formidable challenges learning to read, and for at least 20-30%, learning to read is one of the most difficult tasks they will confront in school." I believe this is because the rule-based methods require guessing, which leads to disappointment.

                The ITA is an alphabet in which each letter has only one sound. This is exactly what the Phoenicians invented 4,000 years ago and it has worked in every language in which it has ever been tried. In modern approaches to teaching reading, the problems associated with the ITA come from the letters or symbols that are used. Before Rocket Phonics, most ITA's did not use normal letters. For example, at the bottom of each page of every dictionary is an ITA of some 50 letters and symbols given so that you will know how to pronounce the words. Those ITA's (pronunciation keys) use an upside-down e, an o with a line over it, etc. One parent said it best: "It is like learning to read twice!" The child learns the ITA alphabet and somehow that makes it easier for him to read the normal alphabet. If the child doesn't transfer his reading skills from ITA to traditional then he has a "transfer" problem. For 150 years, reading experts have known the transfer problem exists and nobody has been able to solve it.

                But Rocket Phonics gets at the roots of the transfer problem. Rocket Phonics' ITA consists of 23 letters and 13 two-letter underlined combinations from the traditional English alphabet. Thus, the child learns just one alphabet and the transition to normal reading is actively worked on from the very first lesson. It's very important that we do nothing to the word itself. This gives the right side of the brain a clear picture of the word, and it will memorize that picture; meanwhile, the left side is decoding and attaching meaning to the word.

                I mentioned earlier that our method has a patent pending. I don't know of any other reading method that has one.

TOS: Does this make the child dependent on the rocket Phonics system of marking sounds, which will differ from how the words appear in print?

Dr. Guffanti: Not at all. We start the child reading with helpers. The helpers show the child how to pronounce words. Then, starting early in the book, we gradually wean the students off the prompts, or helpers. Through the book, we have six lists, each of over 100 common words. After the child gets to each list, those words are then printed in black without helpers. By the end of the Rocket Phonics book, the child will have mastered over 600 sight words, or over 70% of every word he will ever read!

In addition, because these prompts or helpers are below the word, and the word is left intact, every time a child reads a word in Rocket Phonics, he is practicing and developing sight words. A child practices sight words when he reads any writing. It's important to remember that with Rocket Phonics' unique helpers, a very beginning reader can read, effortlessly and after as few as four lessons, sometimes tricky words like one, two, sign, who or what.

TOS: I noticed a distinctive color-coding of some of the materials. Why is this done and how does this help the student?

Dr. Guffanti: We use color-coding in order to let the child know which letters are phonetic and which are not.

                Here's how it works: You tell your child, "In Rocket Phonics, when these sounds are used as helpers, they always have just one sound." See the sample below (in magazine). The helpers are the regular size blue letters, as well as the small black letters below. (In the word why, the helpers are the w, and the ie.) As your child progresses and no longer needs the helpers, we gradually remove them, and print the word in black. Take words like why or what. These are often hard words to read - but not with Rocket Phonics. No more guessing, no more questions, no more frustration. With Rocket Phonics, before you know it, your child is an independent reader!

                Also, Auburn University research showed using different colors increased retention by 57%. So our color-coding improves sight word retention - and gives the student clues for spelling. One tip spelling programs suggest is to write the non-phonetic parts of words in a different color. Our system does that automatically.

TOS: My kids love games. Tell me how Rocket Phonics uses games to help motivate the student.

Dr. Guffanti: Many children will learn to read for school, but avoid reading in their free time. Rocket Phonics' kids learn that reading is fun! A great way for the child to experience reading as fun is to use enjoyable games that also teach reading.

When I get parents whose kids hate reading, I say, "Don't tell them you are teaching them to read; just start with the Play & Read Cards. They will learn to read as you play." Our games, which include go Fish, Memory, Bingo, and the new Rocket Phonics Treasure Hunt, teach the heart of the child as well as the reading skills needed.

TOS: How soon can my child learn to read?

Dr. Guffanti: You child starts reading in the first lesson.

TOS: Are the materials consumable, or can I use them for each of my children?

Dr. Guffanti: You can use them for each of your children, and if they will play with each other, you may find them teaching each other.

TOS: Will Rocket Phonics work for everyone?

Dr. Guffanti: Yes. But in reality, not everyone will want to use this approach. If you don't like games, we don't recommend Rocket Phonics. And if you prefer a method that requires the child to memorize rules before starting to read, we don't recommend it.

TOS: What ages of children would benefit from this program?

Dr. Guffanti: Actually, the deciding factors are skill and heart rather than age. If your child has phonemic awareness and she will play games like Bingo and/or Go Fish, she will benefit. In fact, if your child doesn't have phonemic awareness, but will play Go Fish with you, the program will tell you when to start! In other words, suppose she holds the t or tiger Play & Read card in a Go Fish game. When she stops asking for your t or tiger card, and is ale to ask for a /t/ or tuh card, you know she is developing phonemic awareness.

                (Note: r, sh and ch are a lot easier to hear than they are to say. If you have a child aware of all the sound except one or all of these three, then assume he is aware and go on. If he is still having pronunciation problems at age seven, then consider a speech therapist.) Once he can hear those sounds, it is time to try blending them into words.

                On the other hand, if your child is reading above the second grade level, you are probably not going to need Rocket Phonics, because your child is learning to read her way. We have children as young as three and as old as 13 using Rocket Phonics, and we do have one tutor using it with a young adult.

TOS: How frequently should the lessons be done and how long does each take?

Dr. Guffanti: We prefer lessons daily Monday through Friday, but having lessons three times a week works great too. A lesson usually lasts from 20 minutes to an hour. Sometimes the child wants to keep playing for hours; that's fine as well

TOS: What is included in the Rocket Phonics Kit?

Dr. Guffanti: The Rocket Phonics book of games, jokes and stories, reading level from pre-K to sixth grade; Play & Read cards set with 2 packs of 365 cards each; packet of 50 bingo chips; the Rocket Peeker, a fun focusing tool that allows young readers to look at only one words at a time. Later, children like to use it to focus on one line at a time.; and the supplement folder with teaching tips additional bingo sheets for lessons 1.1-1.5, and progress sheets for Six Common Word Lists.

TOS: How can our readers learn more about you and your program?

Dr. Guffanti: I recommend readers go to our website, www.rocketphonics.com. Readers may email me at DrPhonics@RocketPhonics.com. Of course, they can also call toll free: 1-888-DrPhonics (888-377-4664).

                We offer a free reading test to see if Rocket Phonics is right for your child. Also, if a parent requests it, we even offer free tips and extra activities to help them further tailor the program for their child!

TOS: How exciting! Thank you so much for sharing your enthusiasm for teaching reading - AND having fun!

Dr. Stephen Guffanti is a medical doctor, tutor, teacher, and with wife Maureen, homeschool parent of Stephanie, age 14. Born with a passion for education, Dr. Guffanti, dyslexic and a kinesthetic learner, has focused on creating education that meets the needs of all children. Dr. Guffanti has served as the medical director of a rural clinic specializing in learning disorders.