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Very
interesting and informative. This comprehensive presentation helped me to
broaden my own perspectives on how to help promote literacy among learners. It
covers a broad spectrum of phonemes which prepares learners for spelling and
reading. The visual and audio resources are excellent to help consolidate
learning. The games and activities will certainly stimulate interest in learning
reading, writing, spelling and other aspects of the curriculum. I would like to
pass on my knowledge gained over the two days to my ECD students so as to
broaden their perspectives on promoting literacy.
Extremely
informative and beneficial to me. The course leader, Laola Altschul, was very
thorough and covered each stage in detail. I now feel empowered in a new way of
teaching handwriting, reading and spelling skills. The resources are bright, the
correct sizes and user-friendly. I look forward to expanding THRASS to the rest
of my staff and move forward to implementing it as soon as possible. THRASS is
great, exciting and dynamic!
As a newly
qualified teacher, I have found this course extremely helpful, as it has taught
me and helped me understand phonics and how to teach it and use it in my
classroom. Laola was enthusiastic and so made learning of THRASS easy and
enjoyable. I look forward to start implementing THRASS with my class as soon as
possible and I’m positive to see amazing and rewarding results and see my
learners grow and become comfortable the English language.
I have
thoroughly enjoyed the course and am looking forward to implementing this scheme
into my teaching. When I first heard about the course I thought it sounded
complicated and confusing, especially if used with the young children in Grade
R. But I have changed my mind and everything makes sense. Thank you Laola, for
presenting THRASS in such an interesting way and helping to make me feel more
inspired about teaching again.
Interactive!
I enjoyed being a part of the learning. The use of materials was clear and
bright and the use of different media was effective. The time spent on each
section was long enough to gain an understanding of it. I have learnt a great
amount and understand the English language a lot more.
I really
believe that this methodology answers many of the concerns and issues that we,
as educators have with regard the decline in literacy. It also enhances the
aural modality, which is sadly lacking! Being a multi-faceted programme it also
will appeal to all the learners. I am looking forward to using the programme.
Thank you Laola, for your dynamic presentation.
A solid
methodology incorporating all areas of learning, in particular phonics,
spelling, handwriting and reading - Wonderful to begin in the foundation stage.
However, it does take a while to familiarise oneself with the raps and phoneme
order! Also, one needs to break out of the mindset of how we are used to
teaching – i.e. initial alphabet, blending etc. Although one can see where there
is an overlap between the old and new methods. I look forward to implementing it
in Grade 4 where the children will experience this new method of learning.
Very
appropriate approach to teaching spelling, writing and reading as it is
interactive and visual. Concept of grouping by sound is appropriate for
current-day children, as they have no history of the language to base their
learning skills on. Also, as we in SA live in such diversity of culture, it
appropriate for phonetic learning. Now, the challenge is for us teachers to
change! Laola’s presentation is excellent – she makes it live. We need lots more
workshops to do it as effectively as she does. I will certainly implement
certain areas of this course.
I am very
excited about the possibilities that THRASS offers. It is very well set out,
which will help with the application of it in the classroom. Lovely that pupils
are fully involved and the teacher is able to extend each one to the level they
are capable of reaching. Only a small number of our teachers were able to come
to the workshop, so there is the need for the other teachers to go on the course
to be able to give all our children the opportunity offered in THRASS.
Wonderfully presented – enthusiasm displayed throughout, which is motivating.
Thank you.
I thoroughly
enjoyed the course. I found it gave good concrete examples as well as being very
practical. I am very excited to go back into the classroom and implement THRASS
better. Laola was fun, approachable and knowledgeable. Very worthwhile!
It truly
makes sense! I would certainly like to try it out as its merits are numerous. I
teach at a school which has largely second language learners and this would
certainly challenge me and my learners. However, it must be done by all members
of staff and not a select few in order for there to be progress and uniformity.
The course was great and our presenter, a wonderfully vivacious and highly
talented lady, who kept my attention the entire time. Hopefully the next time we
meet, I’ll be able to share my THRASS ideas with you!
Thank you for
an interesting, informative THRASS course. I found the material to be exciting
and I look forward to teaching it. Laola was an excellent teacher and we really
enjoyed getting involved.
We will
definitely be implementing THRASS in our classrooms from Monday. We are looking
forward to using a system of teaching handwriting, reading and spelling in an
exciting way that makes more sense of the English language. Laola is an
outstanding presenter who has an amazing knowledge and could answer all our
questions. Thank you for a wonderful course.
Very
informative! A total mindset change from the old way of teaching
phonics/spelling. Laola’s very enthusiastic despite difficult questions. The
computer resources are enjoyable and child friendly. Looking forward to trying
out my newly acquired knowledge.
Very
informative and I learnt a lot more of what THRASS involves. I think it is a
very good way of learning phonics and it equips the child with a lot of skills.
Our school is using THRASS and enjoying it. The children have caught on to the
pictures and are working well with all aspects of THRASS.
I found the
course extremely informative with lots of practical ideas. I would have liked
more practical ideas for the older children. Laola was highly motivated in her
presentation which has rubbed off on to me to go out and start using THRASS
immediately. Laola’s explanations through all the stages were thorough and
easily understood. Thank you for two great days!
Enjoyable and
informative course. I have learnt a lot, but feel I need more practice before I
can get past the “old phonics” system – of initial sounds. I am slightly
concerned – how to help children make correct spelling choices – will do some
extra reading in this area. Great two days. Thanks.
Thank you –
very inspiring and interesting. Phonics has always been such a dry, monotonous
area in my eyes. I trust THRASS will enrich this. I look forward to it. Course
was brilliantly covered.
Very
interesting. At times felt like I needed more specific guidelines per grade. I
liked the interaction there could be between teacher and children with all the
different tasks – i.e. right phoneme, incorrect grapheme. The child still feels
positive about himself even though he got only half correct. The rap is a
wonderful idea for the pictures, but concerned about the pace for the consonants
and vowels [phonemes]. The cost factor is also a concern. Computer programs look
great but to fit into the school day in a busy computer room would be difficult.
At times, feel that I need more guidance. Perhaps need to read the teachers’
guide. A lot to take in, in a short space of time. Please could we see a demo
lesson with children from the school that you are doing the course at.
Great! Most
interesting and informative. Lovely presenter.
Well
presented. Would have preferred to work with pupils during course. Look forward
to starting THRASS in classroom.
The course
was logically presented with good visual/practical apparatus. I was exposed to
the many possibilities this system provides for improving the reading, writing
and spelling of my pupils. It could perhaps have been presented in less time by
not giving so many examples. I did appreciate every question being treated with
respect and fully answered. Thank you.
The course
was divided into logical and manageable sections that enabled a progressive
understanding of the content. The very visual presentation was effective and
allowed for lots of interaction and clarification of the methodology presented.
You varied the fare so well and the time seemed to fly. Thank you so much!
Thank you for
opening my eyes to phonics that makes more sense to me and the learners. Laola
was thorough and very clear in her explanations. Course content was logical and
detailed. Can’t wait to start using THRASS!
The course
was very informative and has generated great excitement, as we now have a
successful, logical methodology to follow; making the teaching of spelling a
positive development in the lives of not only the children, but the educators as
well. Your course also addresses reading and writing, going hand in hand with
spelling. All the information is a refreshing innovation and I cannot wait to
start. Thank you so very much!
The course
has been informative and will be useful for the teaching of handwriting, reading
and spelling. This will be an exciting and innovative teaching tool to implement
in our classrooms. I am looking forward to putting what I have learnt into
practice.
Very
interesting and well presented. Wonderful ideas and resources. Should help a lot
in the teaching of phonics.
Stimulating
course, well worthwhile – can’t wait to start. We learnt a huge amount in 2 days
– would love a “top-up” session in a few months time. Wonderful resources,
gorgeous illustrations and computer programmes. Thank you for a cheerful,
comprehensive presentation.
Very
interesting and worthwhile course. Looking forward to using it in the class.
Would appreciate “refresher course”/inset meeting to ensure correct
implementation. Concerned about accents and how to help children who pronounce
words differently. Would like the rap to be at a slower speed progressing to
faster once children and I have mastered it! Thank you.
Very
interesting and logical teaching method of phonics which would have beneficial
effects on reading and writing. THRASS has been implemented in the Foundation
Phase at our school and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this programme
when the pupils reach Grade 4. A concern which I do have, however, is that by
exposing learners to a number of spelling choices, as to merely learning them,
it may result in confusion. I am sure that the benefits of this programme will
override this confusion!
A most
enjoyable two day course. A lot to absorb and put into practice. It will be
interesting to see how the students that have already started with the THRASS
system have progressed. There is definitely a place for THRASS and I am looking
forward to implementing it in the classroom. Our school is, however, still
holding back due the costs involved, to see how the schools already using THRASS
feel in about a year’s time. Thank you for an informative and enjoyable course.
The course
was informative. I have received valuable training to ensure that my learners
become excellent readers, writers and spellers. I am excited about this method
of teaching and want to implement it as soon as possible.
I found this
whole new approach very interesting and will be using it in my Grade R class.
Having taught Letterland for a few years, it is sometimes difficult to move away
from the single sounds taught, but I’m sure it will not take long to overcome
this. I do, however, feel that the Letterland characters are more attractive to
children. However, I now understand the importance of teaching phonemes in their
correct boxes.
Thank you for
presenting such an informative and comprehensive course. Laola was very
knowledgeable and approachable, and she answered our questions honestly and with
practical examples. I enjoyed my two days and look forward to integrating THRASS
into my therapy programmes.
I have
benefited a great deal from this course. Children are exposed to various sounds
made by letters. This would definitely improve spelling and reading skills. What
a fun way to learn. I would love to implement THRASS in my classroom. Laola
Altschul is wonderful – excellent presentation.
A very
worthwhile course and hopefully will be able to implement into our school.
Enthusiastic presenter who informed the group about this methodology in a most
meaningful manner.
I have really
enjoyed learning more about THRASS. I came with very little prior knowledge and
leave filled with ideas and concepts which I think are very valuable. I am
certainly going to try and put this into practice in my teaching at pre-school,
as well as my own private classes which I run after hours. Being a remedial
teacher, I am going to implement a lot of the principles as well. I can see a
lot of thought has gone into the development of this programme and Laola is an
excellent presenter. Thank you for this opportunity.
Fascinating
and extremely useful – would be keen to use the system if given the opportunity
to do so. Course content very comprehensive – a great deal to grasp in such a
short time. Course material was excellently presented and very thorough – I
suspect it de-mystifies spelling and reading for youngsters and empowers them to
achieve. What a fun way for the pupils to learn. I look forward to pupils who
have developed a new way of listening!
A most
enjoyable and interesting course. The presenter was well prepared and very
knowledgeable about THRASS - A lively and enthusiastic approach. Felt that much
of the content could have been shortened – e.g. not necessary to do the rap so
often and a few examples of each video clip would have been sufficient. Our
school is definitely considering embracing THRASS. Thank you for enlightening
us.
A wonderful
concept – excellently presented. I am so eager and keen to start. For the first
time this year, I am feeling wide awake and ready to be creative. I actually
went home and made new language cards last night. Thank you!
A very
inspiring, informative course. The whole approach has clearly been thoroughly
researched and presented. Manuals/material are of a high standard. The presenter
was dynamic. I suggest that the introduction to the course could be condensed
and more input given to transferring principles of the chart to daily classroom
teaching/how to implement in relation to present teaching practice of early word
attack skills. Thank you so much for your valuable course.
Enthusiastic
presenter. Enjoyable presentation. Interesting approach to teaching writing,
reading and spelling skills. Concerns regarding cost of setting up the school
with all the necessary teaching aids, manual and apparatus for each pupil.
Definitely the way forward!
Very
interesting. The first time I have been on a THRASS course. I have had to make
major mind shifts from how I have been teaching and trained to teach. I am
really looking forward to making my class aware of the THRASS methodology.
A most
worthwhile and interesting course. I look forward to using this method in my
classroom. I really enjoyed seeing the computer programme – it will certainly
benefit the children using it. I appears to be a most logical approach to
teaching spelling/phonics, handwriting and reading.
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