Itchy's Alphabet
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The goal of Itchy's Alphabet is to help children living in Canada and the United States improve their literacy. In order to achieve this goal, pictures in the shape of letters are used to provide children with a visual cue to remember.
Each day children receive 90 minutes of instruction. Letters are initially presented in logical letter formations that are used to help children build a schema from one letter to the next. For example, c is presented first, followed by d, a, g, q, and o. Next, a specific book and song, an integrated picture mnemonic, and a hands-on manipulative or movement are used to introduce each letter.
Finally, a flip book is used with two pages for each letter. One page is of the picture of the letter and the second page is the actual letter printed on a transparency, allowing children to make the direct connection between picture and symbol.
Each day children receive 90 minutes of instruction. Letters are initially presented in logical letter formations that are used to help children build a schema from one letter to the next. For example, c is presented first, followed by d, a, g, q, and o. Next, a specific book and song, an integrated picture mnemonic, and a hands-on manipulative or movement are used to introduce each letter.
Finally, a flip book is used with two pages for each letter. One page is of the picture of the letter and the second page is the actual letter printed on a transparency, allowing children to make the direct connection between picture and symbol.
Goal / Mission
The goal of Itchy's Alphabet is to help children improve their literacy levels.
Results / Accomplishments
Children in the intervention condition were significantly more able to recognize initial letter sounds (p= 0.002), to segment words into individual sounds (p= 0.000), and to decode nonsense words (p= 0.004).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Itchy's Alphabet
Primary Contact
Brenda Larson
740 Westpoint Court
Kelowna, BC Canada V1W 2Z4
1-(877)-368-7890
learn@itchysalphabet.com
http://www.itchysalphabet.com/about.php
740 Westpoint Court
Kelowna, BC Canada V1W 2Z4
1-(877)-368-7890
learn@itchysalphabet.com
http://www.itchysalphabet.com/about.php
Topics
Education / Literacy
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Organization(s)
Itchy's Alphabet
Date of publication
2010
Date of implementation
1998
Location
Canada and USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children