In 1957, Dr. Caleb Gattegno of London University went to Ethiopia on behalf of the United Nations (UNESCO). The city of Addis Ababa was shut down for Christmas when he arrived, giving him time to himself. During this 48 hour period, he learned how to read the local language. While he didn't know the meaning of every word, he could read every sign on the street. When he discovered that it is supposed to take 18 months to teach Amharic, he decided to test his method on others. By associating sounds with color, Gattegno had illiterate ministry employees in their 50s and 60s reading newspapers within six hours. This initial experience provided Gattegno with the beginning insights for further investigation into the challenge of solving illiteracy. Subsequent scientific work was ongoing over multiple decades, in multiple languages, and in different parts of the world. The development of the core insights was non-linear in nature, however the following is a general overview of how events unfolded.
- Work with very young children.
- Work with children with reading problems.
- Work with adolescents and adults of differing backgrounds and severe reading difficulties.
- Contact sessions with students; teaching was observed and discussed.
- Certain elements were identified for further emphasis and focus.
- This gave rise to the development of techniques and materials which were used and refined over a period of years.
- The research evolved from a “study of reading” into a “study of people,” that were engaged in specific activities, that resulted in reading.
- The research was later refined even further as an examination of reading as a separate activity vs. reading as an extension of the learners intellectual and linguistic powers.
- It eventually reached the point where the research came to see that the skill of reading was indeed a by-product of having spent time in specific way. The product was and education of awareness and a deeper connection with one's powers which enable learning.
The first commercial version of Words in Color was made available to the public in 1962.
