Review: Itchy’s Alphabet

Following the philosophy of teaching letter sounds before letter names is Itchy’s Alphabet from ABB Creations.

Meet Itchy. Itchy is a colorful fuzzy Inchworm who helps children learn the short /i/ sound and also the namesake of this multi-sensory systematic program that teaches letter formations and their sounds. This program utilizes unique pictures in the shape of each letter to give children a cue to remember both the sound and shape of the letter simultaneously.

Current research indicates that systematic phonic instruction is necessary for successful reading (National Reading Panel findings). The program emphasizes letter sounds (not names) and lower case letters (not upper case).

The homeschool Starter set includes: Alphabet book, game cards, sticker set, alphabet songs cd, blackline masters 2 and 5, and a teaching guide. Also available is an interactive games CD that gives children a 3 fun formats in which to practice the skills they have learned in addition to other useful components (letter match, initial sounds, memory game). The software even allows parents to select which letters the games utilize so that you can customize it to each student and the skills they need to focus on or, for beginners, the letters they have learned for review.

The alphabet book features a triangle stand that allows you to stand the book up and flip the pages forward, back to front. Each letter of the alphabet is shown as an illustration (/a is an apple on a branch) with a corresponding letter transparency in black.

The black and white Teachers Guide is 36 pages. Here you will find concise clear instructions that give you the lesson objective, read aloud suggestions, introduction of the letter, Follow up activities, Read aloud activities, and words to read and spell.

The sticker set includes a chart for students to indicate which letter sounds they have mastered. Included in the set are two sets of the alphabet stickers A-Z and one chart which you may choose to copy for a 2^nd child.

Alphabet Game cards are included to assist with reinforcing the letter sounds in a fun way. Seven games are described but you could easily use the cards to recreate your favorite card games or make up a few of your own. The purple cards show the standard letters and the yellow cards show the illustrated letter.

Blackline masters are included to teach letter formation, although I found some of the illustrations incorporating arrows in set 5 to be confusing though this may be because my children are already used to another separate handwriting program. That said, you are welcome to instruct your child in the letter formation in any manner that works for you (although it is advisable to follow the order given as each letter builds upon the last) and the blackline masters in Set 2 have worksheets for each letter (upper and lower case) that includes an illustrated picture of the letter and words to the alphabet song to trigger memory.

The alphabet song CD separates each letter of the alphabet so you can play them individually (as separate “songs”) as is outlined in the teacher’s guide. Each tune is catchy and easy to follow along to. My 3-year old daughter was immediately hooked and INSISTED that we listen to the entire CD several times, no waiting for the next lesson for her! All of the words to the alphabet song are provided, complete with illustrations of the letters. While I was initially disappointed that the alphabet song did NOT include the letter sounds, Brenda, the creator, kindly explained to me the reason was that the majority of people tend to be stronger visual learners and children are very concrete, hand-on learners. The skills we are asking them to learn with letters and their sounds are abstract and auditory. This can create learning gaps for many children. Itchy’s Alphabet uses the visual concrete picture cue to create the link with the auditory/abstract sound/letter through its shape. With the songs the goal was to further emphasize the picture cue, through the auditory channel. It is the picture cue, in the shape of the letter, that is the key to the success of the program, so it is important that the children know that cue well, and the song brings in another modality to reinforce that. In Brenda’s experience the words for the corresponding objects (“C is a cookie with a bite out of it”) gave the children the correct sound and it didn’t need to be included within the sound itself. Plus, as Brenda so wisely points out, it is really best for the parents to teach/practice the sound directly with the child so that they can ensure the child is saying the sound correctly.

The homeschool starter set retails for $79.98 and includes activities that are truly geared for individual as well as small group instruction.

This program may not come in a flashy binder and packaging (which no doubt helps keep it affordable) but it should not be overlooked. Each of the components are child friendly and even the most nervous parent will not be overwhelmed with the instructions for implementing this highly effective phonics and writing program.

Visit the website for more information where your child can also play an online game, listen to an audio sample of the program’s Song CD and to read teaching tips to aid you in your phonics instruction.

Karin Katherine is a proud stay-at-home mother of four who feels blessed to be the mother of 5 year old fraternal twin boys and two daughters, ages three and 4 months. As someone who never changed a diaper until she had children, Karin is surprised by the fact that she has been changing diapers for the past 5 years straight with no end in sight! As the 7th of 8 children, Karin feels blessed by her average size (in her mind anyway) family and wouldn’t mind a few more– God willing and her husband notwithstanding. Her biggest homeschooling dream is to one day homeschool across the United States in an RV. Please visit her new blogs Mommy Matters and Passport Academy.