About TRUGS Teaching Reading Using Games

Who is behind Trugs?

Joanna Jeffery, Cert Ed, Dip (dys), AMBDA, MA. from Dyslexia Access in Plymouth, Devon.

How did trugs come about?

Trugs was conceived by Joanna Jeffery who wishes to help all those with reading difficulties.

So, by playing the card games within trugs, it gives the child's brain the opportunity to learn to decode successfully and to crystallise the patterns and sounds, thus unravelling and making sense of what appears to be obscure.

Trugs is a phonically structured system that unlocks the mysteries of print. It is multi-sensory and fun leading to success in both reading and enjoyment.

Tell me more

In 1975, Joanna started teaching in Bristol and found that a child in her class, aged eight, could not read. Unfortunately she did not know how to help him so she started on the long road of discovery.

Then …….

In 1978 she opened a dyslexia unit within the school, which she ran for a few years. Since that time she has taken further teaching qualifications and set up and run three more dyslexia units within the State System and Private Sector. She has run courses and spoken at conferences, all in her quest to help children learn to read. Now, above all, she wishes to pass on what she has learned about the teaching of reading. This she has done by creating trugs.

Joanna has devised and designed the phonically structured card games called trugs that enables teachers and parents to teach their children to read through fun, laughter and enjoyment – one of Joanna’s mottos!

Joanna runs Dyslexia Access, a tuition and assessment centre in Plymouth, Devon. However, trugs is not only for those children with dyslexia. It is for all styles of learning and importantly ALL ages.

There are deliberately no distracting pictures, clowns or gimmicks. Trugs is fun card games that enable a person to learn the skills required to learn to read.

A life long ambition

So please don’t hesitate to contact Joanna at with any news, views, concerns or questions that you might have.

Alternatively come and meet her in 2008 at:

NASEN Special Needs London www.teachingexpeditions.co.uk 17th & 18th October Stand 23 a