When you have done this, watch the start of the video again. When you have heard the words. "THRASS The Handwriting Reading and Spelling Sequence", rewind the tape and play it back, several times, to practise saying these words at the same time as the soundtrack. Next, turn the sound off and play back and then rewind the tape, several times, to practise saying the words by yourself.

Repeat this procedure with other parts of the sequence, in between practising the THRASS SKILLS, until you can watch the video, with the sound off, and say the seventeen minute sequence at the same time as the original soundtrack.

To help you remember the instructions for forming the letters, which use only the words "around", "up", "down", "lift", "cross" and "dot", use the index finger of the hand you write with to trace the actual blue letters on the screen or to draw the letters in the air.

Throughout this booklet a sound will be bracketed, like ears listening for the sound. For example, the sound at the beginning of "boo" is (b). A letter name will be indicated by two apostrophes. For example, say "bee" for 'b'.

When you come to the " 'b' says (b) boo" parts of the sequence, leave out the " 'b' says" phrases and say only the sound then word phrases e.g. " (b) boo".

As an alternative practice to the numbers sequence, say dates instead of numbers when the sound is off. Say "First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and so on. This alternative will also give you lots of practice at saying the sound that is represented by the two letters 't' and 'h' (as does the word "THRASS"!).

THRASS SKILLS
Besides playing and rewinding the video to practise saying the words, names, numbers and sounds, play and rewind the identical soundtrack on the THRASS AUDIO CASSETTE to practise the THRASS SKILLS (TS). Use the buttons to control the tape until you can perform skills 1 to 9 in time with the soundtrack. Ideally sometimes practise the skills while listening through a headphone system or language laboratory.) Then practise skills 13 to 30 without listening to the soundtrack. (TS25, TS26 and TS29 may also be performed while listening to the soundtrack.)

TS1: Underpoint then say, "The Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Sequence"

TS2: Underline then say, "Lower case Letters"

TS3: Underpoint then name the lower case letters (½ min)

TS4: Overwrite then name the lower case letters (1 min)

TS5: Underline then say, "Capital letters"

TS6: Underpoint then name the capital letters (½ min)

TS7: Overwrite then name the capital letters (1½ mins)

TS8: Underpoint then say the Calendar Sequence (2 mins)

TS9: Underpoint then say the Sound Then Word Sequence (10 mins)

TS10: Overwrite then name the lower case letters and write them in the workbook.

TS11: Overwrite then name the capital letters and write them in the workbook.

TS12: Overwrite then name the Calendar Words and write them in the workbook.

TS13: Overwrite then name the lower case letters and write them in a Spelling Book.

TS14: Overwrite then name the capital letters and write them in a Spelling Book.

TS15: Overwrite then name the Calendar Words and write them in a Spelling Book.

TS16: Underpoint then say "graph", "digraph" or "trigraph"

TS17: Underpoint then say the sounds

TS18: Overwrite then name the graphs, digraphs and trigraphs, say the sounds, and write the letters in a Spelling Book (1-2-3)

TS19: Name then write the Calendar and Sound-Box Words in a Spelling Book (1-2-3)

TS20: Write-Say-Overwrite-Name (W-S-O-N) the Sound-Box Words

TS21: Write-Say-Overwrite-Name (W-S-O-N) Reading Book Words

TS22: Write-Say-Overwrite-Name (W-S-O-N) the Calendar Words

TS23: Dictionary Split 1

TS24: Dictionary Split 2

TS25: Underpoint the Name and Calendar Test (7 mins)

TS26: Underpoint the Sound Then Word Test (10 mins)

TS27: Fill in the Name and Calendar Test from memory

TS28 Fill in the Sound Then Word Test from memory

TS29: Overwrite then name the Joined Writing Sequence (1½ mins)

TS30 Use joined writing to overwrite the Sound-Box, Reading and Calendar Words