Did anyone do 'ita' in the 1970s?

[MaudlinMews]

Yes, I know it was a long time ago but I was discussing this with friends last night (mainly five or more years older than me so they didn't do it).

When I started school in 1973 in the Midlands, we were taught to read using a system called ita (initial teaching alphabet). I could already read as my mother was very bookish but I remember taking a book home and my parents hitting the roof that I was being taught in this way. My mother complained to the school but we continued to be taught in this way and then later transitioned to standard alphabet.

I didn't have a problem making the transition to standard alphabet but I remember a few who did and I just wondered if anyone else did? It seems very odd looking back. I've attached the alphabet for anyone who's curious.

Another here who could already read, so school didn't insist I did ita. However, they didn't have many 'normal' books, or progress is very far, so used to have me listen toy friends read their wacky it's books, and mark their maths too :-/.

Looking back, the introduction of SAT levels was needed really, I moved to another school in top infants, and was massively behind the level they were at in every subject.

Hmm ... interesting. I wonder if it was piloted in certain regions only to see how well it did? Did anyone go to a private fee paying school where this was taught or did everyone go to state?

I remember the Peter & Jane books vaguely, I think my sister had them.

kocher such a shame for those men. Double the struggle.

I was at school in Essex.

I was at school in Essex.

Harlow?

Not Harlow but not far away, a village near Grays. Maybe Essex was a pilot area? I think my Mum said not all schools taught it, it was experimental.

I didn't remember the name, but yes I too remember ITA. I was not taught this way at school but I have a vivid memory of noticing some ITA books on the shelf at our local Library, and asking my mum what they were/why they looked different. I remember her being very scathing about them.

Forgot to add, my noticing them would have been v early 70s.

I wouldn't be surprised if some bright spark were to resurrect it, pass it off as new with a new name and then some government minister were to insist that all teachers now use it in school. Let's face it, that's what's been going on in Education for the last 20 years >>> disillusioned/jaded teacher.

They used it at my primary school, South coast in the 1970's but I could aldready read very well when I first went to school.

The prep school I went to when I was 7 had a lot of refugees from the Catholic primary round the corner which was teaching ITA. It was unpopular with parents!

Yes, in the 60s, it was very confusing. I could read a little before school (skwl), but was told that was wrong and was taught ITA. Then, two years later was told that was wrong and went back to normal english. I don't think I ever trusted a teacher after that.

NE England very early 1980s - some in my school (I joined at a later gate) had learnt using it. Judging by their current spelling on FB posts - it didn't blaze a trail of literacy-related glory!

Yes my children started it when they moved to a new infant school in the mid seventies. My DD's teacher was Miz Humfreez. 😀
I don't think it held them back particularly, they both have careers that involve high-level literacy skills.
Very glad I didn't have to teach it!

Another bit of Essex, we used it but I think our teachers were very lazy about using it and really expected us to learn via a "look say" method rather than the phonics of ITA. I say this because I remember a "researcher" coming in to work with a group and her being shocked we didn't get the sound difference of the two "a" letters.
My Mum was initially supportive but ended up teaching me to read herself using the Ladybird books my cousins used (the 1a etc ones). I didn't really struggle using both systems.
But later on I was one of the few children to not need "remedial reading".

Born 1967 in north east England, I learned to read using ita. I quickly moved onto TO, there was quite a lot of competition for who moved up first etc! My brother didn't use it (4 years younger) and he really struggled with reading and writing so maybe it would have helped him? Who knows, my parents weren't very kenn I remember as it meant I couldn't use library books from our local library

Keen! Haha, typo not Ita fault

Yes, started school in '68 but could already read. Can't remember much more about it tbh.

I started infants in the mid 70s but we learned using phonics. We did also have flash cards though. The head teacher was approaching retirement so perhaps preferred to stick with traditional methods that had always worked rather than try something new fangled.

I think it was very patchy. I did my PGCE in 1975 and remember being taught about it and discussing the research. I suspect it may have depended on the whim of headteachers or local inspectors of English. There were some er interesting ones in post then. Teaching in the seventies was very free and easy (though formal class teaching was often frowned upon) and you could try out ITA, endless work cards for maths, different handwriting styles, the integrated day, totally topic-based teaching etc.

Yes I was taught that in 1969 in Aberdeen and remember going to the public library with my mum and there being a tiny selection of ITA books. Moved school and had no problem with reading

I started school on the Wirral in 1969. I had a year of ITA, then my Dad was transferred to Buckinghamshire. I had to start all over again and had to put in a lot of hours at home with my Mum, to catch up.

I went to one school that taught it in Herts, then another within 2 miles that didn't, so not sure who decided which did it, or how!

Born 1966 live in the south west, I still know the ita letters and can write using them. I’m very self conscious about my spelling and don’t like writing in public.

I was taught ITA in the North East UK around 1967-70. Had no problems with it and found it easy to switch to normal English. I still remember wanting to read a "proper" book and suddenly almost like a switch clicking the new book made sense.
I read very quickly (and absorb the info :-) ) and I'm pretty sure ITA is to thank for this ability.

So trialed pretty much everywhere then.

Anyone else’s school Catholic?