Hornbooks were a teaching tool for children going back to the 1400’s. They often featured the letters of the alphabet as well as small prayers for children to read. This hornbook, part of the Alfred Historical Society collection, is a small paddle-shaped piece of wood with a front plate that includes the alphabet and small prayer reading: “Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name: thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven…”. The hornbook also included two pamphlets, again with the alphabet but with animals representing each letter and other small images and allusions to stories. Though children don’t use hornbooks such as these anymore, primers, as well as many educational games and videos, use this method of teaching. Encouraging children to learn through repetition of letters and sounds is still seen as an effective way to begin to teach them writing and reading.