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The most effective way to
Teach Children How to Read
A cutting-edge, research based phonics program that provides children with a visual cue to the letter shape as well as an auditory cue for the letter sound.
View Products See How We Can HelpThe most effective way to
Teach Children How to Read
A cutting-edge, research based phonics program that provides children with a visual cue to the letter shape as well as an auditory cue for the letter sound.
Introducing
Shelina Rajani-Shankar
MEd. (Special Education), University of British Columbia (2003)
Orton Gillingham Canada - Certification in OG Literacy and Math (2021)
Shelina has taught in the BC Public School System (Richmond for 18 years and Surrey for 2 years) as a K-7 classroom teacher, Learning Assistance Teacher, ELL Teacher, and Integration Support Teacher. Shelina enjoys supporting staff with professional development and has done so on various topics at the schools she has worked for in the last 22 years. She has also taught Special Education courses to teachers in the BEd. program as a Sessional Instructor at UBC.
Shelina pursued an OG Certification for Literacy and Math and has been working privately as an OG Practitioner supporting students with dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADHD, and ASD, for 2 years.
Our StoryPopular Products
A 6″ x 6″ flip book on an A-Frame stand with a coil top. The pages flip forward to show first the picture cue, followed by a transparency overlay of the letters to show the connection between the two. One of the best alphabet books on the market today!
Purchase the Complete Set of English Products for a Great Price
Everything you’ll need to start improving the literacy of each of your students.
The Start to Something Great
Large Cards, Blackline Masters, 2 and 5, Itchy, Game Cards, Songs, Teaching Guide, Alphabet BookDesigned to
Support Struggling Learners
Confirmed to support all learners! Learning letters and sounds is one of the most abstract and confusing things we expect young children to do. Our picture cues in the shape of the letters provide a visual concrete connection to the sound and the formation simultaneously, significantly enhancing learning.
Systematic & explicit
Our program is based on a logical order of presentation using an easy to follow format that provides consistency for student learning. Explicit instructions are given for introducing each letter sound and formation along with many follow-up activities.
Multi-sensory
Itchy’s Alphabet provides a visual cue for each letter, songs to stimulate the auditory channels and numerous manipulative materials (Hands-On-Vowels, Stickers, Game Cards, Blending Cards, Drill Cards) to provide a kinesthetic connection.
Research-based
When reviewing the research on embedded picture mnemonics in his best-selling book, Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties, Dr. David Kilpatrick states, “. . .using pictures in which the letter can be logically or meaningfully embedded appears to be more effective than learning letters by themselves or with nonembedded keyword pictures. . . . One set that proved successful in a research study (DiLorenzo et all, 2011) is called Itchy’s Alphabet.”
Fun
Teachers and students have fun practicing the letters and sounds with Itchy’s Alphabet! “We love Itchy” is a common refrain at our display booth at Teacher’s Conventions! Even my Grade 5 and 6 students loved Itchy!
Research-based
Phonics Program
Itchy's Alphabet® phonics program evolved through the thirty four years I worked with children who struggle to learn their letter sounds. These children had been taught the sounds and letter formations in the regular classrooms, using various programs, but had not achieved mastery and were referred for Learning Assistance support.
Sharri T. North Vancouver, BC
I work with children requiring learning assistance, and the picture cues are great.
Angela B. Golden CO
I teach kindergarten and last year I had four children enroll that had IEP’s . . . They came to me with zero letter recognition. . . . They were taken out 4 days a week for a half hour and your program was used with them daily. By the end of November, these kids knew all letters as well as ? of their sounds. We owe this in part to you and your program!!! The connection was made for the kids visually and they celebrated great successes that year. . . . Thank you very much for offering another way “that works”.
Teacher Tammy, WA
I bought a set of Itchy materials from you at an IRA some years back. I loved it and used it and finally gave it away to somebody who needed it badly (another teacher).
"Truly Wonderful"
“I have used Itchy's Alphabet with my Kindergarten class for the first time this year. My students and I love it! Thank you for devising this program. It is truly wonderful.”
Graca H. Fort McMurray, AB
Get the Starter Set
"Truly Wonderful"
“I have used Itchy's Alphabet with my Kindergarten class for the first time this year. My students and I love it! Thank you for devising this program. It is truly wonderful.”
Graca H. Fort McMurray, AB
Get the Starter SetItchy's Alphabet SMARTBoard App
Teachers can introduce each new alphabet letter cue on the SMARTBoard so children see the picture cue, see the letter overlay connection, hear the letter sound and listen to the Itchy’s Alphabet letter song.
This great new app combines our Alphabet Book and Itchy’s Alphabet Songs into one, easy to use application.
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