Welcome to Trugs

Dubai: Hannah Menzies, eight, understands the sounds that form words with the assistance of Trugs (teaching reading using games) cards that her teacher spreads out for her.

The grade-three student is a regular at the Achievement Centre (ACE), a special learning assistance centre set up by the GEMS Royal Dubai School in Mirdiff within the campus to help students like Hannah who have learning disabilities.

Sue Vig, the principal says there are over 60 students who fall back upon the learning assistance programmes conducted regularly by qualified teachers at the centre.

"Up to 10 per cent of our student population have some or other forms of minor disability. The school, ever since its inception in 2008, has followed a policy of inclusion by having a certain proportion of students who need assistance," said Vig, who herself is dyslexic.

Diane Menzies, Hannah's mother and a dyslexia teacher at the same institution, recalled how her daughter was turned away by other schools because of her special condition. "All my four kids and I myself are dyslexic. I wanted to tell those schools that refused to take them that they are not that bad. Only thing is they need some help to learn."

Barbara Matyus, another parent said her four-year-old son Johnstone has shown tremendous improvement ever since he started attending classes at ACE. "Until last year, it was a battle to get him to read and write," she said.

ACE is managed by five specially qualified teachers who sit down with the children in small focus groups and help them read, write and do their maths. There are also computer sessions that assist in reading and reinforcing learning abilities in addition to special classes for children who find learning English as a foreign language difficult.

Plan of action

But with a few exceptions, educational institutions in Dubai still lag behind in expertise and infrastructure to follow a comprehensive policy of inclusion. Lack of policy guidelines, incentives and funds force schools to turn down students with special needs.

The third GCC Learning Disability Conference which opens on Wednesday in Dubai is expected to develop a plan of action to assist educational institutions in the GCC design curricula and evolve methods of training and effective human resource practices to address the problem of learning difficulties.

Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami, UAE Minister of Education, will open the two-day conference at JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai.

The event, which will also feature a number of workshops organised by Dubai-based Ishara Consultants under the banner ‘Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice,' will conclude tomorrow. Keynote lectures and workshops by world-renowned specialists, psychologists, educators and thought leaders are expected to throw new light on this vital social issue.

Studies have shown that several thousands of children are suffering from different types of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and attention deficit disorder. According to research, these types of children rarely get a chance to overcome their disability.

A number of techniques, procedures and training programmes designed to meet the learning styles and educational needs of those suffering from learning difficulties are expected to emerge from the conference as experts in the fields of clinical psychology and neuroscience, research, and education, besides government officials and parents, deliberate on the issue of chronic learning difficulties.

Written By: Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
Image Credit: Anjana Sankar/Gulf News
Origianl Article : http://gulfnews.com:80/news/gulf/uae/education/conference-to-help-schools-address-learning-difficulties-1.519938

Overseas trade took off after she met UKTI's international trade adviser Mike Puzey, and joined UKTI's Passport to Export programme, aimed at fledgling exporters.

Ms Jeffery has now sold her products in Dubai, Singapore and Thailand and is developing leads in Spain and Portugal.

"I cannot believe I am an international business woman," she said. "Mike Puzey and UKTI opened my eyes to the potential of the games, not just for the UK but for any country where English is taught.

"This gave me the opportunity to expand my business and reach new markets. They are still helping me to grow."

Ms Jeffery was given match funding through Passport to attend a trade show in Dubai and visit schools. Further UKTI support allowed a second trip to Dubai, and visits to Thailand and Singapore.

She also undertook a two-day training course that kicked off her Passport programme. "The confidence I had by the end of the course was unbelievable," she said.

Mr Puzey said: "Joanna has identified her market well and, most importantly, the route to market that works for her."

Contact UKTI on 0845 6060969.

Origianl Article : http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/business/Card-game-wins-new-deals/article-1669164-detail/article.html

She is the author and designer of trugs – teach reading using games. Joanna will begin her presentation with a brief overview of dyslexia in terms of definition, identification and whole school policies. She will then elaborate in more detail on what is meant by phonics and how the decoding of print may be seen as a complicated process. Finally concluding with practical ideas to support students when learning to read.

On 28 September 2009, a full house of 40 DIA parents enjoyed a presentation by a fantastic speaker: Joanna Jeffery, founder of Dyslexia Access UK. Joanna talked about her experience helping children with difficulties learning to read, and demonstrated TRUGS, a board game she designed to make learning to read fun. In about one hour, she made us understand the feelings and distress of a child having trouble reading, showed us some ways to make reading fun, and let us play TRUGS. You probably heard us laughing as we had a lot of fun playing the different TRUGS games!

A tremendous event and a great lady!!!

So what is the magic? The box contains five separate stages with four games at each stage. The first stage is CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, the second initial consonant blends, the third final blends, the fourth ar/or/er and the final stage comprises closed syllables and revises the first four stages. Within each of the stages are four games: 'Match it', for up to four players, where sets of coloured suits may be switched by the use of a joker or using the numbers on the card; 'Take it', is for two players (although I have played it with three), with the objective to build sets of words but by drawing someone else’s colour from the pack you may steal their cards (this leads to much hilarity and enjoyment); 'Guess it', for two players , improves memory skills as it requires guessing unseen cards and remembering which have gone; and 'Use it' for two or more players, is a fun way of building sentences and improving comprehension and vocabulary. The common key to all the games is that you can only play if you are able to read the words as you play.

Also included is a miscue analysis Monitoring Booklet for the adult together with a similar Reading Booklet for the student. There are ten stories altogether, two at each stage, with each story being exactly 50 words. This means that progress can be monitored and assessed throughout the whole process.

If you have been casting around for the ideal game to buy that teaches, is hugely enjoyable and fast, then you need look no further – here you have 20 all in one box!

Review by Polly Bennett, primary school SpLD teacher