In this article, I illustrate how research from cognitive science and the science of reading can inform research on the science of reading instruction. This purpose is accomplished by focusing on four recently published randomized control trials of instruction designed to teach alphabet letters to 3- and 4-year-old children (N = 342) attending…

This pamphlet deals with the principle of systematizing traditional orthography (TO) to produce initial teaching media and the application of that principle in Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.). Part 1 discusses: three causes of failure in literacy, the need for systematizing TO for the better learning of literacy, TO research with infants,…

Reviews research studies of the i.t.a. and suggests areas for further investigation. (MM)

While it is appreciated that research on many of the details of early language learning is still required, one of the main themes of this paper is that solutions to the major problems of beginning reading are already known. In general, there has been a sufficiency of research, and what is now needed is action to implement the results already…

A SURVEY OF 34 KEY PUBLICATIONS ON THE INITIAL TEACHING ALPHABET WHICH HAVE APPEARED SINCE JANUARY 1967 IS PRESENTED. THE PUBLICATIONS ARE CONSIDERED UNDER THE HEADINGS RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS, THE SECOND BRITISH I.T.A. EXPERIMENT, COMPOSITION IN I.T.A., FUTURE RESEARCH REPORTS, AND THE APPLICATION OF I.T.A. COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED.…

Lecture given before the Annual Conference and Course on Reading (23d, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., July 10-21, 1967).

Contrasts the Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) with traditional orthography in classes for slow readers at the junior high school level. Reports that students using the ITA demonstrated statistically superior reading gains. (HOD)

This study investigated (1) whether symbol-symbol correspondences are learned better when imbedded in whole words or when presented individually and (2) the effect of these two instructional methods on transfer from an experimental transitional writing system (TWS) to traditional orthography (TO). Thirty-five undergraduates were randomly assigned…

A REACTION TO THE CRITIQUE CONCERNING I/T/A PREPARED BY MARSH AND PUBLISHED IN THE "READING RESEARCH QUARTERLY," FALL 1966, IS PRESENTED. IN THE AUTHORS' OPINIONS, MANY OF MARSH'S ASSUMPTIONS WERE FAULTY BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE INFORMATION, AND THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE I/T/A STUDENTS RECEIVED MORE AND BETTER MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTION IS UNFOUNDED…

Lists criticisms and responses to the i.t.a. (MM)

Reports on a visual-auditory analysis of each of the 1575 e-ending words found on the "Rinsland Vocabulary List" to determine whether the e should be considered as a diacritic. (RB)

A REACTION TO JOHN DOWNING'S REPORT ON THE I/T/A READING EXPERIMENT IS PRESENTED. DOWNING ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS ON IMPORTANT VARIABLES, BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE KOLMOGOROV-SMIRNOV TEST. IT IS CLAIMED, HOWEVER, THAT THE TEST USED IS APPROPRIATE FOR SMALLER SAMPLES. A MORE…

AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP OF 461 CHILDREN WAS TAUGHT TO READ WITH THE INITIAL TEACHING ALPHABET (I/T/A) BEGINNING IN KINDERGARTEN AND WAS READING TRADITIONAL ORTHOGRAPHY (T/O) MATERIALS BY THE END OF THE SECOND GRADE. THE CONTROL GROUP INCLUDED 462 CHILDREN WHO WERE TAUGHT TRADITIONAL ORTHOGRAPHY IN A PROGRAM CENTERED AROUND CONVENTIONAL BASAL READING…