Alpha-Mania Alumni
Class Prerequisites
- Identify the names and sounds of all the letters of the alphabet
- Read simple high frequency words
- Sound out two and three-letter short vowel words
Due to the success of Alpha-Mania and Alpha-Mania Senior, Ruth Rumack’s Learning Space is proud to announce our new Alpha-Mania Alumni program. Alpha-Mania Alumni is a reading program for children ages 5.5 to 7 who are ready to enhance and expand their reading, writing and spelling skills. This dynamic theme-based program is designed to complement and provide enrichment for the grade one language arts curriculum. Students must be able to identify all letters by name and sound, be familiar with early high frequency words, and be able to sound out two and three-letter short vowel words. Alpha-Mania Alumni students are introduced to complex sound combinations and spelling rules including the silent-e rule, blends, and long vowel patterns. Students are introduced to more complex high frequency words, phonological awareness skills are further enhanced, and story writing skills are developed. As with Alpha-Mania and Alpha-Mania Senior, Alpha-Mania Alumni is based on thorough research and the program is taught by certified teachers trained to encourage every student.
Alpha-Mania Alumni students attend lessons once a week during the school year, offered on weekdays and weekends. Alpha-Mania Alumni can also be taught in your home for private groups.
Who should join this class?
Children 5.5 to 7 years old are encouraged to join this class. Students must be able to identify the names and sounds of all the letters of the alphabet, read simple high frequency words, and sound out two and three-letter short vowel words.
Must my child complete Alpha-Mania and Alpha-Mania Senior before joining Alpha-Mania Alumni?
No. If your child meets the prerequisites, outlined in the previous question, they are welcome to join.
What are the Alpha-Mania pre-reading and reading programs?
All Alpha-Mania programs are based on Phonological Awareness research and on the five predictors of reading success. The emphasis for all three programs is on experiencing and fostering the joy of language and reading. Each level of Alpha-Mania is designed to build a strong foundation of phonological awareness and abilities in order to develop skilled, confident, and avid readers. All three levels are taught through creative play, songs, and crafts, in order to prepare and support children for the rigors of a classroom setting.
What is the difference between Phonological Awareness and Phonemic Awareness?
Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between them.
Phonological Awareness is an umbrella term referring to the ability to recognize, reflect on, and manipulate the sounds in oral language. This includes skills such as rhyming, syllabication, and identifying onsets and rimes.
Phonemic Awareness is the part of phonological awareness that focuses on hearing and manipulating the individual sounds (phonemes) within words. This includes the skills of blending, segmenting, counting and manipulating phonemes.
Why are Phonological and Phonemic Awareness important?
Children who have developed the understanding that words can be segmented into sounds tend to be better readers than those with poor phonological and phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is not a concept that all children discover on their own, however, when children are taught to analyze the individual sounds in words, they can more quickly and accurately connect those sounds to letters and then blend groups of sounds into words when reading. Studies have shown that phonemic awareness skills are often deficient in children who struggle in learning to read and write
For more information, we recommend consulting:
Early Reading Strategy: The Report of the Expert Panel on Early Reading in Ontario, 2003.
The Phonological Awareness Handbook for Kindergarten and Primary Teachers, Lita Ericson and Moira Juliebo, 2000.
The Roots of Learning to Read and Write: Acquisition of Letters and Phonemic Awareness, Linnea C. Ehri and Theresa Roberts, 2006.
How are the Alpha-Mania programs taught?
Each level of Alpha-Mania employs creative play as the main teaching tool, and it instills the joy of letters and words into our students. Interactive activities create dynamic learning experiences for children in all levels of the programs. The main lesson of each class is presented according to a Direct Instruction pedagogy. This highly effective instructional method involves the explicit teaching of concepts in a strategic and systematic manner. This approach greatly enhances student understanding of the concepts presented, and allows for the mastery of new skills. In addition, dynamic themes such as pirates, construction, and detectives enhance each set of lessons.
Is the program the same every semester?
No. Each semester features several different themes, words and key concepts. This means that Alpha-Mania Alumni students who come for more than one session will have a unique experience every semester.
What are the teachers’ specific qualifications?
Each Alpha-Mania Alumni instructor is a certified teacher with B.Ed or M.Ed certification and experience in early childhood education.
Can I stay with my child during the program?
No. Alpha-Mania Alumni is a drop-off program designed to encourage independence and foster positive classroom habits.
What does an Alpha-Mania Alumni lesson involve?
All Alpha-Mania Alumni lessons are comprised of the following key interactive components:
- Circle Time - introduction to the word of the day and its accompanying phonemes and/or spelling rule(s)
- High Frequency Word Activities - expansion of high frequency word vocabulary
- Phonological Awareness Activities - development of skills including: identifying sound positions, sound separation, and sound manipulation
- Reading Strategies - development of higher level decoding and comprehension strategies
- Printing Practice and Story Composition - exercising correct pencil grip, and the mechanics of correct sentence and story composition
In addition to these unique elements, Alpha-Mania Alumni classes include crafts and stories, selected to engage students in the dynamic theme of the day.
What is the program's cost?
Click here to view the schedule, pricing and enrol online
How can I register?
Click here to view the schedule and enrol online or call us at 416.925.1225
Is Alpha-Mania Alumni available for license?
Alpha-Mania Alumni is available by licensing agreement to schools and other educators. Click here to learn about Licensing Opportunities
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