Thrassing out spelling logic
14 January 2005
In the article on illogical spelling (TES, December 17),
Masha Bell says that "spelling is unpredictable and
illogical" and also that "it is inappropriate to
look to other countries for guidance on the teaching of
reading in the UK".
Last year we became the first school in Africa to implement
the British phonics programme Thrass (teaching handwriting
reading and spelling skills).
Might I suggest that Ms Bell comes to see how Thrass has
been implemented in our school, because we have evidence,
using British standardised tests, of a ratio gain for reading
of 2.5 (up from 1.5) and a ratio gain for spelling of 1.5 (up
from 1.0). These results are impressive, as English is not the
first or only language of many of our pupils. It is surprising
that Ms Bell does not seem to be aware of the programme, which
uses 120 "keygraphemes" to teach the logic between
the sounds and spelling choices of English.
ROB ALTSCHUL
Headteacher Broadhurst Primary School Private
Bag BR114, Gaborone, Botswana
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