ERIC Number: EJ903763
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1045-988X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Teaching Letter-Sound Connections with Picture Mnemonics: "Itchy's Alphabet" and Early Decoding
DiLorenzo, Kim E.; Rody, Carlotta A.; Bucholz, Jessica L.; Brady, Michael P.
Preventing School Failure, v55 n1 p28-34 2011
The authors explored "Itchy's Alphabet" as an innovative approach to teaching letter-sound connections through multisensory cues. This is the initial demonstration of this instructional method for increasing students' sublexical skills (letter identification, letter-sound knowledge, and phonological awareness). To examine the effectiveness of the program, the authors chose 3 kindergarten classrooms as intervention and comparison classes. The authors chose the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (R. H. Good, D. Simmons, E. Kame'enui, R. A. Kaminski, & J. Wallin, 2002) to monitor early decoding progress because of its unique ability to assess and monitor young children's acquisition of early reading skills. Results show that "Itchy's Alphabet," combined with hands-on manipulatives, was strongly connected to children's grasp of sublexical skills. Test scores indicated gains for all children including those who were at risk, children who received special education services, and typically developing children. (Contains 3 tables, 2 figures, and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Early Reading, Orthographic Symbols, Phonological Awareness, Kindergarten, Reading Skills, Teaching Methods, Cues, Alphabets, Emergent Literacy, Phoneme Grapheme Correspondence, Mnemonics, Program Effectiveness, Intervention, Young Children, Reading Instruction, Scores, Achievement Gains, Reading Achievement
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Kindergarten
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A