Linguistics as it relates to teaching children is discussed under the headings (1) Linguistics and Language and (2) Reading and Linguistics. In the first part, many interesting facts about our language are pointed out, along with the manner and usefulness of presenting them to children. While linguists may seem to be communicating mainly among…

This article describes the successful use of the initial teaching alphabet at Lenwood Elementary School in Barstow, California. (PD)

This booklet summarizes forty-two Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.)research reports, highlighting the major features of each study. With minor variation, usually resulting from an absence of complete information, each abstract indicates the number and type of students involved, their grade level, and how they were assigned to experimental or…

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,…

A review of (1) the Tutor-Student-System, (2) Initial Teaching Alphabet, (3) Words in Color, and (4) the Michigan Successive Discrimination Program (MSDP) is presented in this paper. (WR)

Teachers, principals, and other administrators who are considering the adoption of i.t.a. for language arts in the primary grades need objective information about its advantages and its disadvantages. The purpose of this paper is to provide a list of the disadvantages which may be inherent in the adoption of i.t.a. The disadvantages of i.t.a. may…

This is a booklet in the Project IDEALS series which deals with the teaching of reading skills. It generally describes what reading is and what the basic principles of a reading program are. Various methods and approaches to teaching reading are listed; they are the language experience approach, phonic methods, the linguistics approach, programmed…

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…

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…

A handbook and teachers guide to phonics and the initial teaching alphabet (ITA) is given. The use of phonics to teach reading is described with the appropriate rules and steps. The principals of ITA and several practice lessons on using ITA are supplied. (WH)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two methods of reading instruction on children's ability to write original compositions. The subjects for this study were 684 first and second graders. Of the 293 first grade children, 130 were receiving their reading instruction in i.t.a., while the remaining 163 children were working in…

The Cooperative Reading Project's purpose was to examine the relative effectiveness of three approaches to the teaching of beginning reading and the effectiveness of oral stimulation. This monograph reports the results of the last year of the project. The experimental reading treatments were: (1) the Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA), (2) the Words…

This study compared the relative effectiveness of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i. t. a.) program for teaching beginning reading with a matched program using traditional orthography (T. O.). Three waves of first grade students in ten predominately white elementary schools were randomly assigned to i. t. a. and T. O. classrooms. Summary evaluation…

The papers included this volume focus upon the reading problems faced by the child living in urban America. The scope of the papers encompasses such basic issues as "Social Variation in Language: Implications for Teaching Reading to Black Ghetto Children" and "The Training of Reading Teachers for the Disadvantaged." Other articles in this volume…

The Cooperative Language Development Project studied the efficacy of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) in teaching beginning reading and the efficacy of the Peabody Language Development Kits in stimulating verbal intelligence, creative thinking, school achievement, and language development. In this monograph, a post-test and follow-up evaluation…