tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post4991286382320457764..comments2024-01-22T16:37:43.189-08:00Comments on old Ladybird Books: Ladybird Books in ITAHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-28709911089966637192022-05-22T08:52:14.556-07:002022-05-22T08:52:14.556-07:00My 1st grade class in 1964, Powell Wyoming (USA), ...My 1st grade class in 1964, Powell Wyoming (USA), was a test class for ITA. It worked phenomenally well yet was dropped immediately. I often ask my mother why it got dropped and her answer was always due to so many parents protesting it as being akin to "communist" brainwashing.<br /><br />I am confident if one was too follow the progress of my classmates through graded 1-12 a very clear and very positive correlation would be seen. I and many of my classmates were reading standard 12th grade level standard English books in 4th grade.<br /><br />I am convinced the failure of ITA was due 100% to the combination of teachers not knowing how to teach with it and close-minded parents (and administrators) stuck in the world of "that's just not how we do it".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03072747698309471177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-5840548626056327892021-09-14T00:08:50.770-07:002021-09-14T00:08:50.770-07:00My 5 year old granddaughter has just started comin...My 5 year old granddaughter has just started coming home with simple spellings to learn and be tested on (seems too young). The way she wants to spell some words does remind me of ITA which I was taught in around 1968/9 although I don't remeber how long I used that system. I have no problems with general, day to day spellings myself, thankfully. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-42289750972469938662021-07-15T19:43:26.659-07:002021-07-15T19:43:26.659-07:00I was born in 1968 and started school at Becontree...I was born in 1968 and started school at Becontree Heath Infants school in Dagenham, Essex, 1973. I was taught to read and write using ITA. My mother was disgusted when I brought home a reading book with everything spelled wrong and went into the school to complain. She was fobbed off the with the statement "they will have no problem transitioning to reading and spelling correctly". Complete rubbish. The ITA books were taken away after 1 or 2 years and we were supposed to magically be able to spell properly overnight. I don't remember any real help being given by my teachers to transition to correct English and spent many evenings with the help of my mother relearning reading and spelling, fortunately she was extremely good at English. I am far from stupid, can spell and am an avid reader but ITA made me feel like a fool as a child. It is only through hard work and a diligent parent that I am one of the lucky survivors of a terrible idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-32042328674863702892020-06-18T15:46:28.864-07:002020-06-18T15:46:28.864-07:00Like an earlier post I also attended Linaker Stree...Like an earlier post I also attended Linaker Street School in Southport Lancs where ITA was taught. I was there in the early 70s and although I could read perfectly well before I started school I then had to learn this ridiculous language with made-up letters that deliberately used the wrong spellings. Then after a year or two we were then told to forget everything we had been taught and learn standard English instead ready to start junior school. The one thing ITA did teach me at a very early age was that adults could have ridiculous nonsensical ideas and it was good to think things through for yourself rather than blindly trust everything someone told you. That stayed with me.Darren Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06824165176179041338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-39803533409002352442020-06-14T06:32:19.154-07:002020-06-14T06:32:19.154-07:00I was taught to read using ITA and most of my life...I was taught to read using ITA and most of my life blamed my poor spelling on this fact. This was until about 8 years ago when I changed role within my work and took on intense data analysis job. I struggled with this and frustrated by my poor performance, I paid to be tested for dyslexia. It was found that I have always been mildly dyslexic. Perhaps a the combination of ITA and dyslexia is the root cause of poor spelling in children who were taught to read using the Initial Teaching Alphabet.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-16544173364296005492020-04-19T01:59:35.443-07:002020-04-19T01:59:35.443-07:00I only read ITA for first my two years at school, ...I only read ITA for first my two years at school, 1971, 1972 then my family moved house in Feb 73 and the new school I attended had normal books. I don't remember ever having a struggle to read regular books and like the person in the previous comment my English is excellent and was also my top subject at secondary school. I can read the ITA books just as easily now. What a weird time it was. Stay safe everyone. Dr.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14949737442594414386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-42583703057874093632020-04-18T20:27:35.569-07:002020-04-18T20:27:35.569-07:00I remember I.T.A them moving to T.O. I actually r...I remember I.T.A them moving to T.O. I actually remember the day I moved from one to the other and read perfectly. The transition worked well for me and English has always been my top subject. Always remember writing 'Wun dae...'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-48253214268661447582020-01-25T10:41:46.268-08:002020-01-25T10:41:46.268-08:00Hiya to all ITA sufferers,
I was taught to read u...Hiya to all ITA sufferers, <br />I was taught to read using this system at nursery school in Oadby in around 1965-67. I seem to remember being quite pleased I could read before school and I don't remember the transition to the regular alphabet. <br />I do feel that I was a bit slower at completing work than a lot of the class at Sandhurst St. then Langmoor, but maybe that was just me. <br />I've always had trouble with ending words with se and ce, tion and sion, not sure if that is similar to others spelling problems. <br />I've been hunting out books as well, one of those things with getting older and remembering your early days I think.<br />All the best.<br />Marionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-72228284168432604642020-01-06T14:00:39.078-08:002020-01-06T14:00:39.078-08:00I learned ITA entering school in the 1960's an...I learned ITA entering school in the 1960's and did it for a couple of years, then like so many I was just dropped in a regular classroom left to catch up/relearn on my own! As a result, I've struggled my whole life with spelling and pronunciation. Its effected my confidence in many ways. My younger sister was in the program also and she struggles as well. Awful! I've thought about getting tutoring to help, maybe some day. I wish my parents hadn't agreed to it, assuming that's what happened. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-66075336164483355132019-04-19T14:31:30.759-07:002019-04-19T14:31:30.759-07:00I learned ITA in the 60's it was to help with ...I learned ITA in the 60's it was to help with dyslexia it ditroyed me for lifejessyleeme3https://www.blogger.com/profile/17184586245234029723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-7021895065513858532019-01-02T01:48:29.782-08:002019-01-02T01:48:29.782-08:00One key thing that I've noticed recently is th...One key thing that I've noticed recently is that new people ask: "So what's your job/what do you do?" instead of "how's school/college going?" That question really makes me realise that I'm growing up and it makes me wanna scream a bit and show them my entire Disney DVD collection because this girl is always going to be a child at heart. <a href="http://downloadhelp.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Electrical Installation</a><br /><br />jhonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08258690520992269231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-89614069325979768652018-07-13T13:50:41.149-07:002018-07-13T13:50:41.149-07:00I was taught ita at Summerbee school in Bournemout...I was taught ita at Summerbee school in Bournemouth in the late 1960's and I still struggle spelling :( We were not allowed anything but pencils! some a and e where joined together to make i and after 2 years the school dropped it but we were just left with no help to change to TO it was awful and to this day it makes me so mad that we were given no help to change back, would like to strangle the person that invented it :(flowerofshonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131796099890511815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-24801950753256200912018-07-01T06:33:18.005-07:002018-07-01T06:33:18.005-07:00I was taught ita at 5 years old. I found that it f...I was taught ita at 5 years old. I found that it furthered a desire at university that led to me studying phonetics as part of my English degree. I am an English teacher at a secondary school and I think that this way of learning definitely encouraged my progression. I am from Liverpool, England.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />Angelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-4510555367519720432018-06-21T10:04:36.355-07:002018-06-21T10:04:36.355-07:00I was taught ITA in the late 60s at chapel end inf...I was taught ITA in the late 60s at chapel end infants school in east London, My spelling to this day is still very bad.When I tell people about ITA they say they have never heard of it.Many of my friends that I went to school with also still find spelling very hard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-34774137351732752102018-04-05T21:13:59.873-07:002018-04-05T21:13:59.873-07:00I remember using this in the early 70s in Burnfoot...I remember using this in the early 70s in Burnfoot estate school (can't remember the name) in Hawick (in the Scottish Borders) I can't say it ever caused me any problems but that was maybe because We moved to Carlisle where my new school didn't implement it;<br />Any time I've mentioned this to anyone, they've looked at me like I have four heads;<br />I cant quite shake the feeling that we (in the North) were just part of some social experiment at the time, I also remember being 'converted' from using my left hand to using my right, with the result being my hand writing is disastrous. <br />I'd dearly love to get my hands on some of the old books though, just to show my kids, so if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd be most grateful.Kennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-67325021402402840182018-03-18T07:31:55.204-07:002018-03-18T07:31:55.204-07:00I started school in Oldham in 1961. We were the re...I started school in Oldham in 1961. We were the real guinea pigs as this was the first time ITA had ever been used. Learning to read for me was not difficult and the transition to TO aged 7 was seamless.<br />I have never had any problems with spelling or English and enjoy reading.<br />My husband, on the other hand who is four years older than me, learned to read and write the traditional way. He has always had problems with spelling and reading fluently.<br />In my opinion ITA was a very efficient method of teaching children to read and write who would have probably learned the traditional way without any problem. However, to blame ITA for poor spelling and low educational achievement is spurious. These people would have had the same problems with or without ITA. It never did me or my classmates any harm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-1132762986734730262018-02-13T16:18:33.523-08:002018-02-13T16:18:33.523-08:00I remember learning ITA at my first primary school...I remember learning ITA at my first primary school, which would have been 1975-6, in West Kent. I could already ready when I started school, so I don't think it did me harm, but I have friends who swear it messed up their spelling! I moved schools in the summer of 1977 when my parents moved to a different village, and I don't remember ever coming across ITA again, so assume the school where I finished my primary education didn't use it. Interesting!Mel Brocklehursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00117561042175512836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-1857259032838690062017-09-17T20:50:37.144-07:002017-09-17T20:50:37.144-07:00I was in 3rd grade in 1977-78 and we had one class...I was in 3rd grade in 1977-78 and we had one class learning in ITA and another in common Alphabet. We had notes sent home to see if our parents were on board with us learning this new method. I remember the kids in my class got called out once a day for ITA I was so sad I couldn't go. My mother was a school teacher in a different district so I never attended school where she taught, but I remember her answer to that note. Hell no! They are not going to teach you how to spell wrong! I'll be damned if they are gonna start teaching a new alphabet and confuse you after learning standard for 3 years. I am glad that she did now that I am older. I have always been able to spell just about anything and I read pretty fast. I have heard many people that took ITA have difficulty still. Thanks Mom synful69https://www.blogger.com/profile/06780292870394201916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-62822956910624912792017-09-15T12:16:59.171-07:002017-09-15T12:16:59.171-07:00Oh my ITA. I received 3years of this in 70s at Dru...Oh my ITA. I received 3years of this in 70s at Drumlandrig school in Hawick....Scottish Borders.<br />It was some time after those 3yrs that I became able to spell correctly!<br />We were discouraged from reading 'normal books at home which in hindsight was crazy.Hklasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718532292624564273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-30388002846509191042017-09-14T02:58:46.475-07:002017-09-14T02:58:46.475-07:00Hi All, I was taught ITA from the age of 4 to 7 (1...Hi All, I was taught ITA from the age of 4 to 7 (1963-66)near Preston Lancashire. It was strange as there was a normal alphabet displayed on the wall around the class room! Then we had to read miss spelt words with upside down and back to back letters. We had Janet and John books to read. First problem was my parents could not help me as they could not read them nor my older brother and sisters! We moved and I went to a new school and was considered almost backward as I could not read! I was stuck like this for a year until the age off 8 when I'd been stuck on Blue Book one for most if the year and when lined up waiting to read to the teacher the girl in front of me who was on Green Book 6 (12 books ahead of me) and I could read it. Told the teacher I could read that, the disbelief was written all over her face! but she gave me a go and that was the day I could finally read, at the age of 8! Mr Pittman should have been hung out to dry in my opinion. I still cannot spell as I spell things how they sound, still to this day.The school dropped ITA just after I left as I think they realised it was causing more damage than good.<br />Adrian Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-79238530476284864572017-07-28T15:01:36.777-07:002017-07-28T15:01:36.777-07:00I was taught ita at primary school in the 1960s an...I was taught ita at primary school in the 1960s and found it really easy. We switched at the age of seven to (if I remember rightly the green and blue books from number one onwards) spelling was really forced onto us on a daily basis and the switch over was quite simple. We where taught to change the sound symbol to a letter. Personally and talking to friends I started school with, we never had a problem with it. We all found reading and spelling no problem at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-73469718813919594102017-03-28T22:31:28.782-07:002017-03-28T22:31:28.782-07:00Wow this is strange to see how many parts of the w...Wow this is strange to see how many parts of the world used this, I was taught in Millbrae California in kinder and first grade, but I remember no two vowels in any word and no two letters to make one sound. I must have blocked out the special alaphabet as I do not remember that. I have a hard time reading and can not spell. I will say that when we reached high school almost all of my kinder class were back together in a special English class as we were so far behind. I was amazed when a boss of mine more than 15 years my younger had been taught ITA as I thought the state would have dumped it after we all failed. I did not go to college because I struggled so with English, spelling, and reading. Yes that meant I never was able to land a good paying job or career. I can not believe that today their are still schools teaching it and that the organization that promotes it is still around. Please if you gave a child that is being taught this pull them and if you have to home school them, it is cruel to teach this and continue to use children as experiments. My class is living proof that it failed as well as most of those whom have posted here. Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05895076696198042381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-54395236560073837322017-03-15T08:14:18.078-07:002017-03-15T08:14:18.078-07:00I was taught ITA in school till the age of 6, the...I was taught ITA in school till the age of 6, then when I went into the juniors at 7 I was given an English reading book.<br />This was done on purpose to stop working class children going into higher education and getting blue collar jobs. I believe it was successful because what you learn up to the age of 5yrs stays with you, it is your basic programming and can never be changed.<br />This program was designed to mess with children's ability to learn, I would love to have the money to do research on all those who was taught this way and to look at what careers they ended up in. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-18085944080565773862017-02-28T11:58:47.391-08:002017-02-28T11:58:47.391-08:00I run a page at www.facebook.com/InitialTeachingAl...I run a page at www.facebook.com/InitialTeachingAlphabet/. I have a small collection of i/t/a books, including Zip and Wendy, mostly picked up from Biblio. If people are interested they are welcome to peruse my images, including some complete books. Very many people comment that i/t/a ruined their lives, so I am always happy to hear from contributors who have something positive to say about it. It was a genuine attempt to correct a problem that existed with reading in English. The transition to TO was wrongly imagined to be without problems, but it proved a huge problem for many. PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-61582099381052689832017-02-15T01:52:44.348-08:002017-02-15T01:52:44.348-08:00I was the youngest in my family and as a result co...I was the youngest in my family and as a result could read well before I started primary school, competition among siblings is an excellent incentive. <br /><br />However, in 1968, as soon as I started at Lee Manor Infants School in Lee, London, we started to use I.T.A for reading. It was very confusing to me, especially when the teacher wrote these very strange symbols on the board. I found that so long as I didn't think too hard about the words, I could make the right sounds, even though it all looked totally wrong.<br /><br />I'm a bit hazy about how long this lasted at my school. I'm pretty sure that my teacher, the lovely Mrs. Hart, soon realised that I could read perfectly well and that, for me and some others, the I.T.A thing was just a bit of an annoying distraction.<br /><br />I'm interested where others believe that I.T.A has led to them to have difficulties with spelling, that has not been my experience. Now, if I could blame I.T.A. for shocking handwriting........<br /><br />As with many radical methods within education, I would love to see whether the post-implementation study decided I.T.A was a good thing or not. That is, assuming someone bothered to do a follow-up study.Downunder Davenoreply@blogger.com