Alpha Time is a multimedia, multisensory beginning language arts program. It affords each child a variety of oral language and literature experiences necessary for meaningful comprehension of the written word. No entry skills are presumed. All activities and games are based on classroom activities. Alpha Time is in keeping with how young children learn: active participation, visual delight, and fantasy.

Alpha Time introduces the Letter People (personified, huggable letters of the alphabet), each having a special feature or characteristic, illustrating the sound the letter makes (e.g. Mr. M has a munching Mouth and is found in words that begin the same way as "Munching Mouth"). The Letter Boys are consonants. The Letter Girls are vowels. The Letter People are introduced in classifications as follows:

Group I: Since all children come to school with their bodies, we introduce the first five letter people as exaggerated body parts. The letters are made of straight lines.

Mr. M Munching Mouth	Mr. T Tall Teeth	Mr. F Funny Feet	Mr. H Horrible Hair	Mr. N Noisy Nose	Miss A A'choo

 

Miss A comes next, introducing the first vowel. She has a special sneeze, A'choo, from which she gets her short A,
the sound used in most words the children are familiar with.

Group II: Our second group of letter people is related to children's experiences - this time as articles of clothing.

Mr. B Beautiful Buttons	Mr. Z Zipping Zippers	Mr. P Pointy Patches	Mr. S Super Socks	Mr. V Velvet Vest	Miss E exercises

 

 

The next letter person is Miss E, who does exercises with the children.

Group III: Children eat a variety of foods, and these four letter people are all happy thoughts of food.

Mr. L Lemon Lollipops	Mr. D Delicious Doughnuts	Mr. G Gooey Gum	Mr. C Cotton Candy	Miss I Incredible Inventor	Miss O Optimistic Optimist

 

 

 

Inventing Miss I's favorite pastime - she's an Incredible Inventor. Miss O is the Most Optimistic Optimist we know: who doesn't like an optimist?

Group IV: Next come the action people, all of whom do things every child has done.

Mr. K Kicking	Mr. W Winking	Mr. Y Yawning

 

 

 

Group V: Then there are three letter people who carry with them, as many children do, ripping rubberbands, jumbled junk, and an umbrella.

Mr. R Ripping Rubberbands	Mr. J Jumbled Junk	Mr. U Umbrella

 

 

 

Group VI: Last come two letter people who, for the moment, cannot make a sound. One of them is too mixed up, the other too quiet -

Mr. X All Wrong	Mr. Q Quiet