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THRASS TWO-DAY
CERTIFICATE, GABORONE, BOTS,
SEPT 23-25, 2004 |
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Portable
Document Format
A dynamic presentation, Alan. As an educator and a
parent, I am thrilled that there is finally a programme which will provide
consistency and continuity in an area that has been much neglected and much too
‘bitty’ in the past. The support material and resources are great! I am very
excited about the opportunity to teach THRASS!!
A very interesting and informative course. I was a bit sceptical in the
beginning, but very convinced in the end! I am very keen on trying some of the
games, lessons, etc. with my class and bring in this whole thing about letters
in the alphabet making different sounds and not just "a sound". I’m very
impressed.
I was very sceptical but you have convinced me that I did have quite a bit to
learn about phonics. I look forward to starting it. You have also answered all
my questions. I really enjoyed your presentation. You are a great teacher!
This is the first time I’ve understood phonics and the relationship to reading.
I feel highly motivated and can’t wait to get going in the classroom. I am
amazed at how thorough the programme is and can’t wait to get my hands on all
the support material. As English forms the basis of all we do, I can’t help
thinking how lucky we have all been to have been exposed to this! Thank you! I
know the kids will get so much benefit.
Very interesting, structured method of uniting all aspects of literacy –
handwriting, phonics, reading, spelling – which are usually treated too
separately. Very enjoyable.
After the brief introduction at the Special Needs Conference (SNASOB), I was not
in favour of THRASS and felt that it was only for certain children, BUT over the
last few days, I applaud your enthusiasm for what you believe in. I have a
better, clearer understanding of the English language and THRASS. Thank you for
all your wonderful work.
A valuable ‘tidying up’ of the phonic and spelling programme I have taught for
the last two decades. Finally, someone who reinforces the difference between the
teaching of phonics and spelling.
You have opened up a complete mind-shift. The way ahead will be an interesting
and exciting adventure.
Excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it. Things are more clear and I know it is going
to benefit the children greatly. Alan is very easy to listen to and puts across
in a light-hearted way a topic that could have been very boring. I can see this
programme benefiting the whole school as we will be working within a common
framework. Thanks.
Very dynamic! Very enriching. We are going to give the children a wonderful
opportunity by introducing THRASS. We will also improve our spelling! Well
organised and well delivered. I loved the humour, action and dramatisation.
A positive teaching method for children – they never have to be told that they
are wrong rather that they have made the wrong choice. Consistency will develop
throughout the school. The delivery was brisk, interesting, funny, held my
attention, made me want to investigate further and read up material – keywords
will be pasted on my fridge. The course was all embracing and covered the entire
requirements of what is needed to present the material to the children,
extending to IT lessons. Looking forward to class demonstrations on Monday.
After being made very conscientious of the different learning styles of pupils,
I see the value of THRASS. My knowledge of the teaching of phonics was corrected
and enhanced. I can’t wait to get my present class THRASSED - as soon as
possible. I know that they need it and will love it. Thanks for the
comprehensive programme!
I enjoyed the practical demonstrations of how to use each piece of material. The
presentation was given with energy, humour and enthusiasm, which helped keep me
alert – even though the workshops were after a day’s work. Each card, book and
sheet appears to be functional and well planned. With time and experience the
sheets will seem like old THRASS hat. I will be able to get the PATTER down pat.
The speaker was very clear. The programme was very informative. Most of the
questions I had concerning reading, writing and spelling were answered. With
more practice, I am sure I will be comfortable using THRASS in the classroom. I
am proud to extend my knowledge of THRASS to other teachers who did not have the
opportunity.
An awesome programme. It’s amazing how you managed to reach out to each and
every one of us in such a short time. I benefited immensely from the
presentation although I have to say that "seeing" the man in action would even
better my understanding of the whole concept. You are doing a wonderful job.
Well done Alan and thank you!
The presentation was good and all the material is going to be of good use.
An enjoyable course and I look forward to introducing it into the classroom
situation. I still feel a little daunted with some of the areas and feel I need
to spend more time going through the programme.
Interesting and thoroughly presented. I can see how the programme provides a
framework and reference for learning in all the areas. I look forward to finding
out more about how we start and progress with the skills, and how we include all
the methods we already implement. Lots of wonderful ideas. Thanks for the
inspiration!
I loved it! Thank you.
As a teacher of the foundation phase and having personal enjoyment in language
teaching, I was very interested to see how THRASS could enhance what I already
know about phonics. I was pleased that the basic content is the same and I am
fairly ‘on track’. However, I can see some things I need to change and am
enthusiastic to give it a go!
I’ve learnt a lot from your course! I hope I can make a difference!
Confirmed a lot of what I already believed about phonics teaching, but has given
me a new tool to make phonics relevant. In many ways, it went too fast and I
would have preferred doing a short amount weekly and having the opportunity to
put material to use as I went. Now I feel that there is a mountain of resources
to get my head around. My criticism would have to be that there was not enough
practical work. I realise that time did not allow for that.
I really liked the picturechart as this would help me to help children with the
spelling – it would give me markers to guide them with. Some of it I found a bit
too academic but I see it as a tool that I will slowly start to introduce. It
certainly will take time to assimilate it all. You must be a fantastic teacher -
as you certainly kept the interest going.
Very interesting and helpful. Have now realised why children battle in certain
areas (including myself at times!). It feels quite daunting at first, but I
think ‘time’ is a key word in this and look forward to trying this out. Thank
you.
I felt that you were very patronising at times and, as an infant teacher, I also
felt that you portrayed us as of limited intelligence (which I’m sure you did
not mean to do). Letterland is obviously not approved by you but I didn’t think
it appropriate to ‘trash’ it. You were very entertaining and a very good speaker
who held my attention. I would like to talk to you again after spending some
time becoming familiar with THRASS so that more questions may be answered.
I think that you are an excellent speaker and everything you said makes sense.
The course was easy to understand but I think you are patronising. Nevertheless,
well done for an excellent course.
I will learn far more when teaching this. I would like a follow-up or refresher
course perhaps six-months or one-year down the line to make sure I’m on the
track. Your humour was much appreciated and helped with concentration. I had no
idea about a diphthong when I started and now I know. What is also exciting is
the International Phonetic Alphabet.
A well-delivered and informative course. I do believe, however, that staff,
whose home language is not English, might have been left behind from the outset.
Some good ideas have been acquired, making me believe it would be very
beneficial for many children in our school, although the benefits will only be
seen once implemented consistently throughout, which is why my first paragraph
is a grave concern.
A useful course which was clearly explained. It will be helpful in solving some
of the problems that I already have in class. What I liked most was when the
instructor remarked about problems experienced by children who come from
non-English speaking languages. One other aspect that I can comment on is that
of pronunciation. I have benefited a lot from the course. Alan, all you did was
just what we needed and Bingo! - for the kind of instructor you are. Thanks.
Thanks Davies. The presentation was fantastic. As you mentioned it, I noticed
that the knowledge was here in me and your structured programme will be a great
help to improve my teaching. My main concern is uniformity and consistency of
members of the staff. I was relieved when you mentioned that accent doesn’t
affect proper teaching. For it has been a battle for me when I have tried to
raise the point of poor spelling. I’m glad that you spoke about the
International Phonetic Alphabet. I have been taught now to translate code into
words and vice versa during my teaching practise. You are great!
Thanks for an energetic, positive approach – it helped me to stay focused. The
programme makes a lot of sense as I am not primary trained as such. I can see
that it will certainly help me to offer a more enriching experience to my
students – no more boring spelling lessons! I wish something like this was
available in my own mother tongue. I can also see how the programme can help
second language speakers to broaden their vocabulary etc. I’m certainly going to
put my pre-school child through the course as well!
I am eager to read the guide and clarify areas. I am even more eager to start
using THRASS. As a special needs teacher, I am impressed with the programme. It
would give structure to those who don’t have it. It will expose the "code" and
demystify reading and spelling to many of the children in this school – in
particular our ESL students.
Your honesty in seeking the "truth" about reading and spelling humbles me. I
could weep when I think of all the learning disabled children I could have given
more help.
I have benefited enormously from learning phonics as this was not part of my
diploma. I am only sorry that one of my children did not have THRASS. He
struggles with spelling and I feel sure that his spelling attack skills would
have been better. I now feel that I can, within my own classroom, help so-called
problem spellers.
I don’t think everybody is convinced yet but they are well on the way. Your
style and humour keeps the attention of all - especially considering the last
day is on a Saturday! Well done and thank you. I believe THRASS will give a
structure for the new English syllabus which will hold the whole thing together
and allow for progression and coherence.
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