LATEST PRESS RELEASE:

 JULY 9: 2009

The THRASS Synthetic  Phonics Programme:  Unlocking the Door  to Literacy for  Children  with Dyslexia

In his recent report on the identification and teaching of children with dyslexia and literacy difficulties, Sir Jim Rose has identified the need for specialist teachers for children with dyslexia and for courses for teachers on selecting and teaching literacy intervention programmes. There is, however, no need for expensive new specialist programmes, as THRASS is a synthetic phonics programme that already has a proven track record for unlocking the door to literacy for all children, including those with dyslexia. ... read more

PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASE:

MAY 28: 2009

THRASS British Phonics Pilot in Nigeria Becomes Victim of Its Own Success

The THRASS British phonics pilot in Nigeria has been running for just four months but it has already proved so popular that it has become a victim of its own success, with the children in what should have been the control groups insisting on joining the children in the THRASS experimental classes.  .... read more

For a full list of Press Coverage visit the THRASS News Media Centre.

LATEST VIDEO:

South Africa

July 2009

Genesis Educare School, South Africa

In the video Debbie Bezuidenhout, who teachers pre-school children at Genesis Educare School, Johannesburg, tells us how much the children love the THRASS SING-A-LONG songs. At first she was a bit apprehensive about them taking part in the THRASS Family SING-A-LONG concert at Linder Auditorium in May 2009 because they were so much younger than other children. However, they started teaching the children three months beforehand and when they got to the auditorium for the concert not one of them was nervous. They just went on to the stage and had a wonderful time, as we can see from their performance of ‘Saw you in the sun’.  .... read more

PREVIOUS VIDEO:

South Africa

June 2009

Teaching THRASS at George Randell TalkTogether School (THRASS Absa TalkTogether Project) Student teachers from the University of Fort Hare come to George Randell school twice a week as part of the THRASS Absa TalkTogether Project and the THRASS lessons start immediately after devotions. In some classes there are three students and in others four. The students do whatever the class teacher does but sometimes the students have ideas for lessons and it is the teacher who then becomes the student.  .... read more (about the Part 1 and Part 2 videos)

OTHER VIDEOS:

Europe:

June 2009

Oxley Park & Uni of Northampton

In the video we see a group of student teachers from the University of Northampton teaching THRASS at Oxley Park Primary School, Milton Keynes, England, which is a centre of excellence for the teaching of THRASS.  ... read more For a full list of Videos from many different countries - Click Here

South Africa

May 2009

THRASS FAMILY SING-A-LONG at LINDER AUDITORIUM In the video we see the lead up to the concert that took place on 31 May 2009 and hear from teachers and parents just how much children have been practicing and looking forward to it. They have been really invigorated and enthusiastic and have loved every minute of rehearsals. And they are really excited about joining together with so many other children from different schools. In the concert 10 school choirs from Gauteng joined together to sing either the 24 Consonant Songs or the 20 Vowel Songs from the THRASS SING-A-LONG CD. The schools rehearsed on their own and, for the concert, 300 children sang before the interval and 300 sang after it.

LATEST EVALUATION:

South Africa:

20 Jun 09: North West, S Africa (F15)

"The refresher course has allowed me to feel more confident. I enjoyed reviewing all the resources, in particular. I look forward to Monday when I can put things into practice “ again! "... read more Southern Africa:

28 May 09: Swaziland

"Excellent! I enjoyed every minute. I am enthusiastic about THRASS and very keen to start. Brilliant demonstrations and variations in teaching content. Alan and Hilary are brilliant teachers."... read more

UK:

23 Jun 09: Essex

"Very well structured and interesting. Delivered enthusiastically and clearly. Thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve gained many tools to help our young people make progress in literacy and communication."... read more

International:

07 May 09: Ibadan, NIGERIA

"Very interesting and informative. It is truly English phonics made easy and enjoyable. Very interesting and very stimulating. Alan Davies was great and the programme worthwhile. It will expose Nigerian children to a better way of reading with fun – and turn them into effective and voluntary readers. An eye opener. It makes the teaching and learning of English an easy task." ... read more Too see all evaluations in the UK, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Middle East  visit the Professional Development Courses webcard.

NEWEST RESOURCES:

THRASS ROW, BOX AND NUMBER GRID for locating the phoneme-box and the picture, keyword and keygrapheme on the picturechart.

My THRASS SING-A-LONG Record Book

PICTURE CARDS SORTING SHEET

Download and print the THRASS Picture Cards Sorting Sheet so that your children can sort the cards into their rows (C1, C2, C3 ,C4, V1, V2, V3, V4) and sections... read more For a full list of Resources from THRASS - Click Here

LATEST CALENDAR CHART:

AFRICAN LANGUAGES

Yoruba

Shona

For a full list of Calendar Charts - Click Here

LATEST SONGS FROM SCHOOLS:

19 JUNE: England, London, Ravenstone

"This School Name Song was written by the children at Ravenstone Primary School, Balham, London. The music was written by music teacher, MJ Paranzino."... read more and listen to the song And Finally...

NEWS BOARD CLIPS: 2009:

25 Jun: THRASS Family SING-A-LONG

22 Jun: SMART Board for Holy Rosary

04 Jun:  Toddler Times

20 May:  Cued Speech South Africa

20 May:  TalkTogether Project & Autism

15 May: THRASS Treasure Hunt

14 May:  Yoruba Calendar Chart

ITEMS OF INTEREST:

PR: Literacy for Children with Dyslexia

VID: Genesis Educare School, South Africa

VID: Teaching THRASS at George Randell Part 2

VID: Oxley Park & Uni of Northampton

VID: Teaching THRASS at George Randell Part 1

VID: THRASS Family SING-A-LONG

PR: THRASS British Phonics Pilot in Nigeria

VID: THRASS in Nigeria Part 2

VID: THRASS Open Day, Johannesburg

PR: Zimbabwe Government gives go-ahead

UK COURSES

www.thrass.co.uk/uk2009p.htm

7-8 July: Sheffield (C)

2 Sept: Luton (F)

3 Sept: Birmingham (C2)

28-29 Sept: Hampshire (C)

28-29 Sept: Milton Keynes (C)

5 Oct: Birmingham (F15)

23 Oct 09: Cornwall (F)

2 Nov: Hampshire (C2)

2 Nov: N Yorkshire (F)

27 Nov: Exeter (C2)

2010

21-22 Jan: Essex (C*)

12 Feb: Bradford (F)

24-25 June: Essex (C*)

SOUTH AFRICA AND OVERSEAS

www.thrass.co.uk/sa2009p.htm

13-15 July 09: Ibadan, Nigeria

21-22 July 09: Harare, Zimbabwe (Cp1)

24-25 July 09: Gauteng, Pretoria (C)

27-28 July 09: Nyanga, Zimbabwe (Cp1)

20-21 Aug 09: Durban (C) NAPTOSA

11-12 Sep 09: Joburg (C) NAPTOSA