THRASS TWO-DAY CERTIFICATE,
WALSALL, MARCH 12-13, 2007

A lively, fun presentation that has brought alive numerous strategies when teaching handwriting, reading and spelling. Alan explained the program using straight forward language, making THRASS usable within every year group. I had a really great time.

Very enlightening, very applicable to KS1 teaching. I feel more confident now as a KS2 teacher.

I have enjoyed listening to all the elements and hope that I can start this week. I can see exactly why it makes sense to spell this way and wish that I had learnt this when I trained to be a teacher.

Very energetic presentation – certainly kept me awake! Lots of information to take in even over two days. I feel I need to use the programme now to become really familiar with it.

Good fun and good resources. Excellent explanations and descriptions. Lots of useful ideas to use in classroom. I enjoyed it a great deal.

A fantastic course that has filled many gaps in my own understanding of phonics. The scheme offers a marvellous way of introducing phonics to the pupils and even to my own pre-school child. Thank you for providing us with the knowledge and resources to finally teach children the way English is, instead of constantly pulling the rug from under their feet when new and “magic” rules are introduced.

Excellent course with lots of information and ideas that make sense! Now keen to put it into practise.

Interesting and informative. Made sense and I could see all the benefits. Having always taught phonics slightly differently should be a challenge remembering! Will use it for SEN children and try out spelling and handwriting suggestions – unless school decrees otherwise!

I now have a better understanding of how to teach phonics to children during all aspects of their school day. Resources are going to be a fantastic asset.

Liked the methods and activity ideas. Well presented, will be very useful with SEN children in KS2. Hard part (for me), re-training pre-taught concepts!

Very informative, I could relate a lot of the ideas to the child I work with and support. I will be using many of them in the future.

Lots of information to take in, will feel happier when working on the programme and getting to grips with the terminology resources.

As a non-literacy specialist, approached the course with some trepidation. Whilst an amazing amount to try and take on board, there was a lot of useful and relevant ideas for my KS2 SEN group. I need to spend time digesting the materials again.

I found it really interesting in how to break down sounds in words, especially difference between blend and digraph. I was also interested in different ways it could be taught, including to KS2.

I will find the resources very useful.

Interesting and at a fast pace. Sometimes a bit mind boggling but explained well, will be useful in Y3.

Found it very informative and agree with the teaching principles behind phonics and spelling patterns. Feel much more confident in delivery and understand the progression within the 10 stages. Would have liked opportunity to play with Phoneme Machine and THRASS IT in order to evaluate it further.

Very informative. Will feel more confident putting THRASS in place with my SEN groups.

Very good course, informative, I found it enjoyable but heavy on the in take of the vast information.

Wonderful two days. Hope budget allows us to get going. Thanks for such wonderful information.

Good, a lot to take in. Very interested in the THRASS foreign language resources.

Very interesting course, after the first day I felt very confident. However, after the second day towards the end I felt lost. Although I do now feel confident and ready to teach THRASS, and feel that my knowledge will develop further as I teach the subject. Thank you for your time and patience!

Inspirational!

Some really good ideas applicable to KS3 as well as primary. Lively, good presentation!

Super two days; really enjoyed the whole thing even though we could have done with an extra day for practical experience. Everything was made clear and the explanations were excellent.

Found course to be fun, can see how it will engage children. Children with special needs will be able to join in and feel part of the class.

The course was very interesting and enlightening. I am looking forward to doing the scheme with my own children and will speak to their Headteacher in the hope that he may take THRASS on board. Alan is an excellent teacher who passes on his enthusiasm to the group.

It is valuable to be taught the basics of English phonetics, as I have never been taught the basics before! Very enthusiastic presentation, great approach, could include more group work/movement (there was a lot of sitting in the same seat), still not sure how to follow the programme when starting it in Y4 with children having no previous experience.

Superbly educational especially first morning, found some areas repeated and became tedious. Would have liked to have done more learning by doing e.g. on the ICT. Maybe to watch a few more videos also to break things up a bit. Very valuable but heavy going.

I liked: 1. The pace-vigour (to use OFSTED speak)! 2. Modelling of good teaching principles. 3. Multi-sensory/fun elements – great. 4. Links for learning - very important teaches are reminded of this. 5. Messages that are useful to keep reinforcing a) Don’t do it unless it is needed i.e. if you can spell it, just do it! b) Be analytical i.e. trace over the problem you have (probably quite a revelation to some).

Practical, clear, informative. Good resources and explanation. Can see possibilities throughout the school. Enjoyable days. Would have appreciated language unadulterated by ‘swear’ words!

Very useful course, which puts common sense into teaching. It was clearly presented in a very interesting and entertaining way. I will recommend it to other teachers.

Very interesting – wish I’d had this at start of teaching career not over a decade into it!

Presenter very well organised, enthusiastic and approachable. Information makes sense when it is told in simple terms. Lovely, bright and easy to use resources. Can see how it can be used easily in schools and especially with special needs children.

Very well presented, it was presented with organisation and enthusiasm. Resources workable and clear and very easy to use. Bring enjoyment into learning. Good for wide spectrum of educational needs.

Valuable, interesting, educational, entertaining and inspiring.

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