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Exceptionally well-presented. Thanks for all the new ideas and exciting ways for
teaching spelling and reading.
Sensible and practical, and once having been exposed to it you could never
revert to teaching spelling the ‘old’ way. I look forward to applying what I
have learned.
Well-presented. Obviously a huge amount of planning behind it. Once you
understand the basics of different letters making the same sound, then it all
falls into place. Needs to be taught from the bottom of the school up. Useful
for the weaker children. The charts are excellent. I like the rap!
Interesting. Useful. Should have this at teacher training. A must for Grade 1-4.
Alan is a wonderful facilitator.
Alan is vibrant, highly competent, humorous and extensively informative. At last
we have tools and instruments to explain diagnostic problems as well as
providing structure to apply non-threatening corrective measures.
Well-organised. Very interesting and worthwhile concepts. The whole idea makes
lots of sense. I like the idea of studying sounds rather than individual
letters.
Excellent. It should be used in our lower grades as soon as possible. It gives
everybody the broad foundation that is essential for kids. It would be
beneficial for someone like me who would like to use this system, but worry
about the support and back up when implementing it. The school would have to buy
into it and it must be done by all teachers.
Interesting and most informative. Excited about what can be done. Found the
second day could have been a bit shorter, as I felt I had reached saturation by
lunch. Thanks for a great course.
Informative - mind blowing - especially as I have young children of my own who
are at the reading development phase of schooling. There is a lot of content to
master, but very worthwhile. This will certainly help children who struggle with
spelling and phonics. The last two days have been highly informative.
Eye opening. Very interesting and well presented.
Most informative and totally revolutionary. It will work, particularly if the
whole school implement it from the early years. Thank you for your enthusiasm
and easy presentation style.
Very good concept and support material. Not really relevant to my Grade 7, but
important to know what is happening in Foundation to ensure continuity. Well
presented, but long!
Interesting content, but a little drawn out. Alan came across very well and is
able to sustain interest. I liked the concept and felt that I could use it in my
class.
Interesting and beneficial. Quite intense, but on the whole, enjoyable. I am not
sure if I am going to manage it with my Grade 7 class. I think it will be better
for the lower grades. Alan was great!
Very enlightening and interesting. Made so much sense! Loved the variations! So
easy to use, easy to read. The graphics, music, presentation is eye-catching and
attention keeping. Would love to see it implemented.
Most interesting and revolutionary. I really feel that I would like to use this
system but worry about the support back up when implementing it. The school
would have to buy into it and it must be done by all teachers.*
Great! Well done – lots of ideas – easy to use – we’re in!
An enthusiastic and passionate facilitator. I love the charts – really usable –
lovely different ideas. Just wondered if it would not have been divided into
Junior Primary and Senior Primary in some sessions. I’m slightly nervous about
starting it, but need time to revise, learn and familiarise and then will be
okay.
Wow! What an eye opener. It is so wonderful to have what we have been trying to
do written in an easy to use, logical format. It all makes so much sense.
I agreed with everything. I have some concerns about implementation. It will
work if the teacher applies it well.
A wonderful insight into the English language. There was a lot of stuff I have
never learned before. I am very excited about the prospect of starting this at
our school. Alan was an excellent speaker, who inspired me.
An excellent and long-awaited approach to teaching reading, spelling and
writing. I found the course very interesting and informative, but also intensive
as well. I would have really enjoyed seeing THRASS in action i.e. an actual
demonstration with children or a video. I feel that despite THRASS being an
excellent program, it will take a lot more training in order for staff to become
confident in using it effectively and constructively. I think Alan is a
brilliant speaker and presenter whose passion for THRASS should be commended.
At last I am able to direct learners to a very good reference when it comes to
spelling needs! This will empower weak spellers and enable teachers to provide
consistent assistance using a variety of resources and activities across the
grades. THRASS has filled in gaps while affirming good teaching strategies I
have implemented during my teaching.
Useful for the different sounds when teaching reading and spelling. As a parent,
I feel that it would be useful when listening to reading, if the school
purchases the programme. The handwriting is useful, because it lets the child
see the order that the letter is written. Really enjoyable but my mind is really
full of information.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Excellent! I especially like that you celebrate what the learners
already know. It is a great ‘confidence builder’ system. It all makes sense –
pity we didn’t have it twenty years ago!
Excellent presentation of materials. Practical relevant examples of how to use
the materials. Will hopefully overcome spelling/phonics teaching hitches for
teachers and children. Enjoyed your sense of humour.
Good ideas regarding teaching of spelling and reading. Extremely useful and
beneficial being formally and thoroughly introduced to a successful programme
regarding reading, spelling and writing. Enjoyable and feel that I need time to
process all these ideas – there is a great deal of info I need to get through.
Most interesting and eye opening. As the mother of weak spellers, and as a
teacher of many weak spellers, I was relieved to find a solution - one I
understand and that makes sense. Alan is very entertaining and engaging - a
master teacher.
The thinking behind the process is logical and user-friendly. I agree with the
notion that children are being “lied to”, with regards to the sounds made by
letters. I love the ‘revolutionary’ idea that people make ‘spelling choices’,
rather than getting words incorrect. I think that THRASS would help make
children more confident and less daunted by the process of writing and it puts a
group on a more equal footing. I definitely feel that THRASS would produce
better lifelong spellers.
I am most privileged to have been launched into this amazing programme by the
maestro himself. I know that this has empowered me and by using THRASS will
convert many of those children whom I teach. Thank you for your inspiration and
dedication. You and Laola are both passionate about THRASS.
As a bad speller, I feel that THRASS will be a breakthrough for me. I am aware
of how it affects one’s confidence when one is not able to spell. This is why I
feel most excited about implementing THRASS in the classroom. It is wonderful to
have something concrete to work with. Thank you for a great presentation.
I am so happy to have done this. All of your tools work so well and integrate
the whole approach. I am very impressed by your planning as the material is so
teacher friendly and covers all areas. It is a teacher’s delight!
I really believe this programme could be of great use to me, my department and,
most importantly, the children! I found Alan to be an inspiring and extremely
enthusiastic speaker. I look forward to being able to implement this in our
school.*
Very useful – makes lots of sense! Well presented and entertaining. I like the
multi-disciplinary approach.
Excellent. Most informative and practical in nature. I am very excited about
implementing the ideas in my class and grade. The course was interactive and
kept our attention throughout. Many thanks for your ideas and hard work that has
obviously gone into the programme. It will certainly empower both children and
teachers.
Extremely informative and I fear for all those children I have taught over the
past twenty years using alternative methods! Well done on introducing a dynamic
programme that makes huge sense. I trust that during staff development we can
empower each other to put this programme to effective use!
Most valuable. Can’t wait to start but eel a bit daunted by all the material
(not sure if my school will purchase all the equipment). However, I feel that
the ‘Periodic Table’ will be most valuable and useful.
Well presented - enjoyed Alan’s lively and passion. Makes sense and looking
forward to implementing it.
A clear and well structured programme. Makes sense and one can see the many
benefits THRASS would have. Leaves one feeling motivated and enthusiastic to
teach literacy. Made one think about what one is teaching to the learners. A
worthwhile two days – excellent course and fantastic presenter.*
Fantastic concept – makes so much sense. Charts, books etc – stimulating and
easy to use. Alan was inspirational, his passion for THRASS was contagious!
Thank you for developing a programme that incorporates all learning styles.
What a worthwhile course! It was extremely informative. I can’t wait to get back
into my classroom and start implementing it. Alan and Laola were also very good
and very enjoyable. Thank you so much for coming to our schools and for your
excellent presentation. I only wish that my own teachers had known about THRASS!
The course was very interesting. I gained a lot of information. Being a Grade 1
teacher, I think it is most of most importance to implement this at the
beginning in Grade 0. A lot of information as for the spelling, reading being
done simultaneously. A good course all in all.
Loads of practical suggestions on how to implement this programme in the
classroom. I have really enjoyed the workshop and have been inspired. Can’t wait
to start!
A wonderfully exciting course! Can’t wait to see it in action! Alan is an
excellent presenter. Exposing all the donkeys! Would like to see demo’s included
in the two-day course.
Thank you for the enlightenment and enthusiasm. Certainly needs to be introduced
early. I will never allow the teaching of one-letter-one-sound again, as the
incorrectness of this is now so evident. Love the idea of Rap, Music and
Movement for the young learners. We will certainly be dancing around the
classrooms in future.
I found the course a wonderful experience! Thank you. Teaching phonics from an
Afrikaans background, I now find it all making sense. I am looking forward to
many hours of fun with THRASS in my class. *
Most interesting. A revelation. Should transform spelling, reading and writing.
Very empowering and lends itself to dramatization. Bit intensive. Refresher
course later will be great. Looking forward to Demo lessons.
The course has been very thorough – intensive at times – but understand that
there is a lot to get through in two days. This is a brilliant concept – I love
the whole language. The material is very thorough and clear. The raps were
fantastic – the kids are going to love them. I appreciated the question time and
having the freedom to ask questions at any stage. Thank you for your time. I
can’t wait to get into the classroom.
The course was informative and interesting. It was quite demanding in terms of
information received, but time will always be limited. Alan was an interesting
and entertaining presenter who insisted we take part. Good!*
Very informative. Well presented. I would surely use some of it in the senior
phase of our Special School.
Valuable. Made a lot of sense. A user-friendly method that will lead to logical
and functional literacy usage.
Insight into a new method of teaching and understanding phonics and the
knowledge that no one is ever wrong, they have just made the wrong choice. Thank
you for an informative, fun course.
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