The advantages of teaching beginning reading with the use of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.) and some of the questions which are raised pertaining to its use are discussed. The difficulties which many children experience in learning to read with traditional orthography (T.O.) are pointed out. These include the variety of patterns for any…

The Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.), devised by Sir James Pitman as a simplified alphabet for beginning readers, consists of 44 characters plus a set of rules for standard spellings of English words using these characters. The characters and rules are designed to ensure easy transition from i.t.a. to traditional orthography (T.O.). In September…

In assessing the effectiveness of the initial teaching alphabet, a survey included the professional opinions of British teachers who have used i.t.a. and a searching critical analysis of the published experimental research on i.t.a. (Author/RK)

A two year pilot project studied difficulties of kindergarten-primary children learning to read via materials printed in the Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) who, because of immaturity, late development, low ability, or inability to speak English, were expected to experience reading difficulty. Of 39 children in the first year of the study, 20 used…

Discusses the hazards that the English language contains for children learning to read, reports the Bullock Report's recommendation to judge I.T.A. on its merits, and describes research findings suggesting that the probability of reading failure is considerably greater when T.O. is used than when I.T.A. is used. (GT)

THIS VOLUME OF THE 1966 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY READING CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS ADVANCES THE THESIS THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL READING PROGRAM DEPENDS ON THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, THE TEACHERS, AND THE PARENTS. TEN ARTICLES DESCRIBE THE ADMINISTRATOR'S ROLE IN SELECTING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SCHOOL READING PROGRAM, IN…

THIS SUPPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTAINS MATERIALS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF READING ABILITY AND READING INSTRUCTION. UNANNOTATED REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED TO 110 DOCUMENTS DATING MAINLY FROM 1960 TO 1966. RESEARCH REPORTS, JOURNAL ARTICLES, CONFERENCE PAPERS, AND UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS ARE LISTED. SUBJECT AREAS INCLUDED ARE (1) BASAL READING, (2) THE…

The symposium theme of "Today's Child and Learning to Read" provides the focal point for the 12 papers included in this volume. Each is concerned with an individual area of reading and the relevance of that area to the needs of today's students. Nearly half the articles deal with specific current approaches to reading instruction and their…

TO PROVIDE EDUCATORS WITH BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF ELEMENTARY READING INSTRUCTION, THE LOS ANGELES CITY SCHOOLS PRESENT A COMPILATION OF SELECTED REFERENCES. THE COMPILATION INCLUDES REFERENCES ON SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH, SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES, AND PROPOSALS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF READING INSTRUCTION--READING READINESS,…