Just to let you know that our trugs are going down very
well with students and TAs who are trying them within school. I have students taking some of them home to play! They are quick, easy, motivating games to play within and at the end of sessi...
Just to let you know that our trugs are going down very
well with students and TAs who are trying them within school. I have students taking some of them home to play! They are quick, easy, motivating games to play within and at the end of sessions and as they are playing the games students work hard to work out words without even noticing. I am interested in trying out the monitoring materials too later down the line, as I feel they will allow us to show progress with even our weakest students, which is motivating for everyone!
Philippa Baillie Head of Dyslexia SRB, Norfolk 27.01.12
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Thanks for sending the trugs. It is one of the few games that isn’t a chore to play because the children really get it and enjoy showing that they are improving their reading skills.
As I was opening it in my room Sean (12) who was watching saw w...
Thanks for sending the trugs. It is one of the few games that isn’t a chore to play because the children really get it and enjoy showing that they are improving their reading skills.
As I was opening it in my room Sean (12) who was watching saw what it was and straight away asked if he could play. I was short of time as I run the Youth Club on Fridays at 7pm and hadn’t got in from work until 6pm. When I pointed out that we still had to have our evening meal, his solution was to put Colin on cooking duties and make sure everyone downstairs knew why. Before I had time to make any comment Paul (17)
and Skye (8) turned up and said that they wanted to play. You could say that my room was invaded by bodies within seconds of unwrapping the parcel. Joe (18) had been in his room when we played the game and when later he was told that we had been playing ‘the new’ trugs he wanted to know why no-one told him, so he could play.
The game is just at the right level for Paul and Sean and in fact Sean found it slightly easier than Paul. The words are a little long for Skye but I think I will be able to incorporate both Box 1 and 2 so she will be able to feel that she gets some right (she is eager to play so I think she will soon catch up). We also play with an additional rule that once someone has read the word they have to say what it means and yesterday we had some interesting terminology such as the meaning for gangrene (isn’t that when your legs fall off mum?).
Derrie Evans, Mum, 15.01.12
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Just wanted to say how pleased both my children (4 and 6 year olds)are with Trugs. They just wanted to keep playing! With my eldest, her first
words this morning were..."mum can we play Trugs". I couldn't believe it!
Best regards
Melanie Carpenter, Mum, 21.12.11
We are currently using the TRUGS games with children from years 2 to years 7 . All the children love the games. We are very grateful to you for designing such a well thought out and appealing resource.
Many Thanks
Fiona Ricketts, Ardingly Prep School, 07.12.11
I am enjoying using
the TRUGS the pupils love it!
Many
thanks
Caroline Steward, Kings School Rochester. 25.11.11
The games are a great success - I'm always being asked to
play them!
Marianne Chipperfield, teacher. 01.10.11
Since I have been using trugs we have had the best sessions yet! Edward loves it and looks forward to it, now his parents have bought the home trugs box which he uses for homework. Thanks Joanna it's great!
Jenny Wakefield, teacher Bicester, Oxon 28.09.11
I have
been playing with Box 1 and 2 and must say that they are a huge success. I also
have been going around a few schools in the area and the children have been
proud to show me their new games which their teachers purchased at your talk i...
I have
been playing with Box 1 and 2 and must say that they are a huge success. I also
have been going around a few schools in the area and the children have been
proud to show me their new games which their teachers purchased at your talk in
Ilfracombe. It is wonderful to see children so switched on to reading without
actually realising they are having to work hard. I see adults and children
laughing together and enjoying the sessions. I rarely see this when I pass
people 'hearing children read'. Thank goodness you have produced these games. It
could make such a difference to the attitudes of the children who play them as
well as the adults who help.
Parents
have spoken highly of them as well. I work with a child who is home educated and
his mum is grateful to you because he is asking to read with her now. In the
past she has had to bribe him!
Thank
you Joanna.
Bev Lee Illfracombe Junior School 18.07.11
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I think trugs are wonderful - and as I am currently working
on split digraphs with 2 Year 4 children, the latest box (Box 2) is an absolute
boon. I particularly like the 2-syllable words in the Stage 6 games - often
not included in sup...
I think trugs are wonderful - and as I am currently working
on split digraphs with 2 Year 4 children, the latest box (Box 2) is an absolute
boon. I particularly like the 2-syllable words in the Stage 6 games - often
not included in support materials. I regularly recommend your game to parents
who phone the Helpline, especially those who are thinking of employing a private
tutor. What better way to spend your money! I have no hesitation about
recommending trugs as I have yet to come across a child/student who has failed
to enjoy the games.
Di Martin 13.07.11 Devon
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I love the
trugs games and so do the children I work with. One little boy takes home a
game every time I see him and he has always been such a reluctant reader it
makes his mum extremely emotional that he asks to play your games as a rewar...
I love the
trugs games and so do the children I work with. One little boy takes home a
game every time I see him and he has always been such a reluctant reader it
makes his mum extremely emotional that he asks to play your games as a reward
when all his other work is done. His reading has come on in leaps through your
games; we are half way through Box 2. Literacy will always be difficult for him
but his confidence and effort level have shot up thanks to TRUGS. I have just
finished a session with another young boy who works hard all session so he can
‘play’ your game as a reward at the end! It has improved his memory no end
playing ‘guess it’ and he is learning strategic moves because of it. Attention
and concentration are all improving too. Until the games are played it is
difficult to see how many areas you are actually working on and the gains for
the children are fantastic, a wonderful resource!.
Dot Bone 07.07.11 a speech and language therapist (MRCSLT) and dyslexic tutor (Dip Sp l d).
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I went home after your visit
and showed my daughter, Sophie, our trugs at Home Box 3. We started at the
Stage 11 games and she would not let me stop until we had completed the whole
box!! Definitely a satisfied customer!
Thanks
Zoë Starbuck-Jones, Wolverhampton. 27.06.11
trugs is an amazing,
versatile and hugely motivating resource, which I have shared with our teaching
assistants today. They were most impressed.
Littlue Smith, Christchurch Junior School
Trugs are going great guns – the gap year student is so
enthusiastic and the children likewise. Thank you!
Malcolm Bassett Mount House School - 06.05.2011
Good afternoon Joanna.
Thank you for giving your time to talk to us yesterday
evening. I found it very interesting and my purchase of the tricky Words cards
went straight into use this morning and were rapturously received by two of my
Y3s ...
Good afternoon Joanna.
Thank you for giving your time to talk to us yesterday
evening. I found it very interesting and my purchase of the tricky Words cards
went straight into use this morning and were rapturously received by two of my
Y3s who have yet to develop the concept of motivation.
Mrs Anne Cartwright, Deputy Head Teacher, Redland High Junior School, 16.05.2011
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Dear Joanna
Having
had lots of success with T.R.U.G.S. here at Stobhill Primary, with
children who have been struggling to read I am at the stage when I need
additional resources for other staff to use. The kids absolutely adore
the game...
Dear Joanna
Having
had lots of success with T.R.U.G.S. here at Stobhill Primary, with
children who have been struggling to read I am at the stage when I need
additional resources for other staff to use. The kids absolutely adore
the games and ARE learning. I have spread its appeal far and wide and
now there are lots of learning assistants in our school who would like
to play the games with children in ALL classes.
I was looking at the
parents and 1-1 support box and wondered how it differed from the
schools and professionals box? We have the schools box and I wanted to
purchase some more.... which set would you recommend?
Thanks for taking the time to help me,
Ruth Lang, Support For Learning Teacher, 26.04.11
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As a learning support teacher if I could ONLY have one
resource in the whole world it would be TRUGS!! Yes whiteboards, stile phonics,
smartboards, wordshark, ICT etc they all have their place but for overall impact
with every child then T.R...
As a learning support teacher if I could ONLY have one
resource in the whole world it would be TRUGS!! Yes whiteboards, stile phonics,
smartboards, wordshark, ICT etc they all have their place but for overall impact
with every child then T.R.U.G.S. comes out top every time. That's how passionate
I am about the games - THEY REALLY DO WORK AND THE KIDS LOVE THEM!! And they are
so easy to use!! If you can get kids laughing and having fun and learning to
read at the same time then we've cracked it! The kids absolutely adore
the games and ARE learning. I have spread its appeal far and wide and now there
are lots of learning assistants in our school who would like to play the games
with children in ALL classes. Having had lots of success with T.R.U.G.S. here
at Stobhill Primary, with children who have been struggling to read I am at the
stage when I need additional resources for other staff to use. I was looking at
the parents and 1-1 support box. We have the schools box and I wanted to
purchase some more.
Thanks for taking
the time to help me,
Ruth Lang, Support For Learning Teacher. 28.04.11
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My
colleagues and I have been using trugs in small group work within an
SEN setting for 8 months now and students are still excited by it!
Often resources become dull after a while and can lead to pupils
with learning difficulties becomin...
My
colleagues and I have been using trugs in small group work within an
SEN setting for 8 months now and students are still excited by it!
Often resources become dull after a while and can lead to pupils
with learning difficulties becoming fidgety and disengaged. As a
teacher I am amazed at how versatile the product is-there are endless
games within the games and often the students make up new rules to make
it more challenging! We are ordering yet another box of trugs as they
are now so popular in the mainstream setting that they often disappear
from my room! I know who you are!!!
Ness Holloway SEN teacher Raincliffe School - 01.04.11
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I have boxes 1 and 2 and use them daily at school. I find them brilliant
and the children love all the games. I hope to get box 3 next time I
have the chance to spend some money. All my department, four of us,
came to the evening you did fo...
I have boxes 1 and 2 and use them daily at school. I find them brilliant
and the children love all the games. I hope to get box 3 next time I
have the chance to spend some money. All my department, four of us,
came to the evening you did for the Richmond Dyslexia Association and
thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nesty Boyd Hurlingham School - 01.04.11
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I am really happy with the trugs sets – I use them every day with children ages 5 – 13 and they love them.
Regards
Jocelyn Prothero Specialist Teacher 30.03.11
Hi Joanna
I just wanted to let you know how amazing I think you are for the work you are doing for all those children who find reading difficult.
I am currently studying to be a teacher and undertaking a study into dyslexia; after working for many y...
Hi Joanna
I just wanted to let you know how amazing I think you are for the work you are doing for all those children who find reading difficult.
I am currently studying to be a teacher and undertaking a study into dyslexia; after working for many years with children and adults who find reading difficult. I have used many types of teaching strategies; including the VAK learning styles, Nessy ICT programme, Toe by Toe and Write/Right to Read BUT TRUGS is fantastic! The fact that I can use it with the children with dyslexic tendencies and those without and I whole heartedly believe that if all children were taught as though they were dyslexic it certainly would not harm those who are not, yet the way the majority are being taught, unfortunately does have adverse effects on those with dyslexia.
We are only in the early stages of using TRUGS but I just wanted to let you know how positively the children have responded to it.
Thank you again and I wish you continued success.
Best wishes
Tracy Wilkes, (HLTA) Cornish Primary School - 04.03.11
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I have even played
Guess it at stage 6 with 2 different children, they were self correcting using
AEIOU within the first 5 mins, result!
Alex Ashley Yr 3 Teacher in Bolton 11.03.11
I thought I'd let you know that TRUGS have been a great success at our
school this term! I've been using it with different levelled reading
groups, so all children can be involved!
Caroline Aylward, KS1 Leader, Holly Spring Infant and Nursery School, 16.02.11
Hi Joanna
Just a note to say that I use and recommend TRUGS to all the schools and
colleagues that I work with. It is a great resource that really engages
children and allows them to be successful. One little boy that I worked
with started to ...
Hi Joanna
Just a note to say that I use and recommend TRUGS to all the schools and
colleagues that I work with. It is a great resource that really engages
children and allows them to be successful. One little boy that I worked
with started to read using the TRUGS Stage 0 moving onto TRUGS BOX 1.
Regards
Jane Holton, 19.01.11
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To whom it may concern,
It would be great if this message could be passed on to Joanna Jeffery so she is aware of the success TRUGS has had in our school.
I am the Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Lipson Community College specialising in literacy....
To whom it may concern,
It would be great if this message could be passed on to Joanna Jeffery so she is aware of the success TRUGS has had in our school.
I am the Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Lipson Community College specialising in literacy. I have a great literacy team behind me and between us we do a lot of extraction and intervention to improve literacy ability.
One of the activities we have found particularly beneficial is the use 'TRUGS'. Most of our students really engage with the various games and as we monitor their progress through the stages we are able to identify any weaknesses as well as note in many cases real success and progression.
'TRUGS' has proved so popular and effective we have bought more to supply to our PD team and our speech and language colleagues. I also use TRUGS with four physically disabled students that I teach once a week, they thoroughly enjoy it and their ability and confidence in reading has greatly improved. TRUGS is definitely one of the aspects which has lead to this reading achievement.
Although 'TRUGS' is aimed at younger students it has proved extremely beneficial for our nurture groups in year 7/8 as well as with our lower year 9s. We have a Literacy drive within the school and TRUGS has really enhanced this focus, it is very adaptable to our student's literacy needs and requirements.
I am interested to know if you have planned to develop more 'TRUGS' for older more able students? It has proved so popular amongst our younger students it would be really good if there was something similar to use throughout KS4, especially within our school.
The Literacy team and I felt it would be useful to share with you the success we having with your programme in a secondary school.
Thank you for your time
Thank you for your time
Lauren Capaldi, Lipson Community College, 16.12.10
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We identified the need to develop early reading skills as an area for school development. We investigated a range of resources which would help the children to develop their reading skills and after much consideration, we decided to trial TRUGs. T...
We identified the need to develop early reading skills as an area for school development. We investigated a range of resources which would help the children to develop their reading skills and after much consideration, we decided to trial TRUGs. The programme was run with groups of three to four children three times a week for fifteen minutes on each occasion. All of the children engaged with tremendous enthusiasm with the reading games, including those who had become less engaged by reading. Indeed several children were so enthusiastic that they took the games to play at home with parents, leading to some parents purchasing the games as Christmas presents!
As a school, we felt it essential to be able to measure the impact of this intervention strategy and hence established a baseline reading age measure at the outset. Having run the TRUGs reading programme for two months we then reassessed the children’s reading age. The results showed that all twelve children had increased their reading age by at least three months with the average increase being 5.5 months. In addition to this, all of the children have been able to access reading books at a higher level within the school’s reading scheme and are applying the skills developed through the TRUGs programme in their day to day reading
John Clarke (Headteacher), Suzanne Hope (Literacy Leader), Horrabridge Community Primary School, 09.12.10
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Ryan is loving Trugs- we are playing most days and he is not only
gaining confidence- we have passed from the stage 1 words ( the only
thing he was even willing to try at the start) to the stage 3- with
approx 80% accuracy! I haven't reasses...
Ryan is loving Trugs- we are playing most days and he is not only
gaining confidence- we have passed from the stage 1 words ( the only
thing he was even willing to try at the start) to the stage 3- with
approx 80% accuracy! I haven't reassessed using the assessment booklet
again recently as I would like to leave that until there's more time in
the holiday but when I redid the Salford reading test last week he had
progressed to 6.5yrs which (on using the same test last time) means
that he has progressed approx 1 yr in 6 weeks. I wouldn't stand up in
court and say that the data was entirely accurate, however, I think that
it is a clear indication the the system is, to say the least, having an
effect. More to the point he is loving the games- many thanks! If
there's any way of working out how to trial more accurately please let
me know as I'm open to suggestions if it's any help. Any suggestions for
a spelling version wouldn't go amiss either!! ( perhaps I'll attack
that after Christmas!)
At school the children all send their thanks- my teaching was obviously
getting really dull! They all arrive for their slot going "Can we play
the game first?" and would happily carry on all lesson. I'm still
waiting for one of them to develop the thinking skills which will allow
him to realize that he actually wants the other child to go first when
playing "Guess It"! Also it has been fascinating to use the cards as a
language development exercise with one child to check on his poor
understanding of his excellent decoding skills.
Many thanks and will update in the new year!
Happy Christmas
Chris Gallagher, 05.12.10
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Hi Joanna,
Perfect for 1 to 1 tuition as you can find a stage to match
reading levels. Lots of variety and consolidation within each stage,
high age low level as games are fun and seem sophisticated, much better
than simple reading books.
...
Hi Joanna,
Perfect for 1 to 1 tuition as you can find a stage to match
reading levels. Lots of variety and consolidation within each stage,
high age low level as games are fun and seem sophisticated, much better
than simple reading books.
Also great for stimulating writing and oral and written story
telling. Once you begin to use Truggs you realise what a versatile
resource it is. 1 box of Truggs can go a long way. Recommended in every
teachers toolbox!
Emma Thomas, Literacy Teacher, Staffordshire. 02.12.10
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Hi Joanna,
I have just come back from two days in Alderney. They bought boxes from you after my last visit and it has taken the kids by storm. They use it as an
incentive after they have done their work.
Little do they know the subliminal worki...
Hi Joanna,
I have just come back from two days in Alderney. They bought boxes from you after my last visit and it has taken the kids by storm. They use it as an
incentive after they have done their work.
Little do they know the subliminal workings of Trugs!!!!!
Martin Cordall, Head of Literacy Support Service, Guernsey. 23.11.10
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Hi Joanna,
The kids are loving the Trugs games. The kids are even going to show
their parents how to play it on the student led parents conference day.
Thanks
Natasha Winstone, Learning Support Garden School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 27.10.10
Hi Joanna,
It is such a fabulous resource. My daughter is very keen to play the
games, in stark contrast to how she reacts at the sight of a book. The
other wonderful thing about this resource is that it is extending her
vocabulary because...
Hi Joanna,
It is such a fabulous resource. My daughter is very keen to play the
games, in stark contrast to how she reacts at the sight of a book. The
other wonderful thing about this resource is that it is extending her
vocabulary because it uses words that are more interesting than many of
the resources for so-called "Special Needs" kids. The words are not
"dumbed-down", and the repetition within the stages of similar types of
words means that she is reading naturally rather than puzzling the word
out every time she encounters a new word. It is as if the penny has
finally dropped! She actually asked to play Trugs during X-Factor. She
has never asked to do anything involving reading before.
I asked Tabitha what she wanted to say to you and she said "Thank you
for inventing the game for kids like me. It has been great fun playing
it."
I will also take the game into my secondary school and show our SENCO
and the head of EAL as I think it could also work really well with
early stage EAL kids.
Thank you so much.
Deborah Hegan, 25.11.10
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Hi Joanna,
TRUGS is going really well at Michael. The kids love it and the staff love delivering it.
Tony Robinson, Headteacher, Michael School - Isle of Mann 17.11.10
Hi Joanna,
The students love trugs and we are very pleased and impressed by them.
Many thanks
Sylvia Weller, Brompton Academy 17.11.10
Hi Joanna,
I am using your trugs boxes, all 3, and they are excellent. We are nearly
at the end of Box 3 with a small group of students and their word reading
has improved enormously.
With best wishes
Rebekah Knott, SENCo, Tisbury School. 1.11.10
Hi Joanna,
At Lipson Community College, within the Literacy department, we have
been using TRUGS. They have been a great success with our students and
are very popular.
Thank you,
Autumn Rumdan, Autumn Rumdan, Lipson Community College, Plymouth. 11.06.10
To whom it may concern,
For the last year I have been increasingly pleased with the TRUGS
games and have just got Box 3 which actually stretches some of our
better readers.
Regards
Gill Turley Teacher in Charge -Cheslyn Hay SpLD Centre -Staffordshire 27.05.10
Dear Joanna,
I am now using trugs both at home and at school with great success - the kids love it.
Regards
Beverley Hesp 30 May 2010 - Teacher, Bahrain
Dear Joanna,
Our most used resource. We have to hide it at lunch time!
Regards
Barbara Raby 15 May 2010 - Blackpool School
WOW,
I was at the education show yesterday and was shown trugs, I was
blown away. I work with secondary pupils with reading ages of 6 and
below. I spend hours making games which are fun but educational and
slowly running out of
ideas.You h...
WOW,
I was at the education show yesterday and was shown trugs, I was
blown away. I work with secondary pupils with reading ages of 6 and
below. I spend hours making games which are fun but educational and
slowly running out of
ideas.You have saved the day if school wont buy the set I will spend my
own money on it! Thanks.
Regards
Ammanda Tweedale 27 April 2010
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Dear Joanna,
They have found this (trugs) to be delightful...'You can tell she has real classroom experience'
Regards
Jan Brettingham 31 Mar 2010 from Fujairah
Dear Joanna,
I bought Trugs from you at the Special needs exhibition in London. I
just wanted to let you know what a great hit Trugs has been with my
students. They are a small group of children aged 11-12 with Speech
Language and Communi...
Dear Joanna,
I bought Trugs from you at the Special needs exhibition in London. I
just wanted to let you know what a great hit Trugs has been with my
students. They are a small group of children aged 11-12 with Speech
Language and Communication Needs (SLCN). Three of my students have great
difficulty with cvc words. When I asked them what they liked about
their new school, one of them replied "I like playing the games,
especially Trugs!"
Kind regards
Manager of Lexis Resource Base, Addey & Stanhope School - Helen Crocker 19th Nov 2009
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Dear Joanna,
It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday and on behalf of all the
committee I wanted to thank you for speaking at our lecture course.
We have had extremely good feedback from the people who attended.
The consensus was that you...
Dear Joanna,
It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday and on behalf of all the
committee I wanted to thank you for speaking at our lecture course.
We have had extremely good feedback from the people who attended.
The consensus was that your more interactive style of a workshop
generated much more fun and enthusiasm, and in the process you gave us
some excellent ideas and inspiration for a task that can sometimes be
quite draining.
With many thanks and kind regards
Richmond Dyslexia Association, - Sue Judge - 14.10.09
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Dear Joanna,
I must apologise for my speedy interruption at last week's Learning
Festival in Glasgow. I was the lady who interrupted you to say thank you
for your amazing product which I had purchased at last year's SLF. I
had to make haste...
Dear Joanna,
I must apologise for my speedy interruption at last week's Learning
Festival in Glasgow. I was the lady who interrupted you to say thank you
for your amazing product which I had purchased at last year's SLF. I
had to make haste for a train home as it was the last of the day (Oban,
my home town is just over 100 miles from Glasgow).
I trust my interruption did not hinder you from clinching a sale but
your stall assistant was most insistent that I get to say thank you
personally.
I am so impressed with Trugs and, as I said when we spoke, I have
rarely seen children so inspired and excited by a reading game. They all
made progress within a short time of starting to play the games, they
moved through the stages at different paces but were not phased by this
and were happy to work at a level until they had mastered the game. At
least 2 children's reading improvements and confidence were directly
related purely to Trugs - I know because they told me so!
Keep up the good work and know that your years of planning and the
doubtless struggle to get Trugs to market have meant that children are
reading with greater accuracy and enjoyment because of you.
Well done
Joy, - 02.10.09
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It's so good to find resources which can be
added and used as part of a structured multi-sensory teaching programme
for students of all ages
Sandy Whittington, - Erith, Kent. - 10.08.09
I really enjoyed the trugs training that
you gave the Conwy Learning Support Service on April 23rd and have been
using the games from trugs Box 1 and Box 2 a great deal this term. My
pupils have responded positively and I have seen a defini...
I really enjoyed the trugs training that
you gave the Conwy Learning Support Service on April 23rd and have been
using the games from trugs Box 1 and Box 2 a great deal this term. My
pupils have responded positively and I have seen a definite improvement
in their reading skills.
Iola Evans, - Abergele, Wales. - 04.07.09
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I have already used Box 1 and the fun and laughter that was generated was just amazing – learning through fun - great
Sue Bailes, - Bideford, Devon. - 04.07.09
Dear Joanna
Thank you for sending me my Trugs order. You should have received my cheque payment by now.
The games are proving very popular with all ages from 8-13. My
pupils are enjoying the various elements of chance and skill and they
fi...
Dear Joanna
Thank you for sending me my Trugs order. You should have received my cheque payment by now.
The games are proving very popular with all ages from 8-13. My
pupils are enjoying the various elements of chance and skill and they
find the variety of games very motivating. I really like the range of
vocabulary the games offer and the chance to really reinforce reading
skills in a fun way. They reinforce the work we do on syllables and key
subject vocabulary. So a highly useful addition to my repertoire of
materials - many thanks.
Best wishes
Alison Reece (SENCO), - St Mary's Hall, Lancashire, - 18.05.09
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The SEN department at Dormston School has been using TRUGS to the
fullest since all 3 boxes were purchased in February 2009. Although Box 3
was created specifically for the secondary sector all of the boxes have
proved to be extremely popula...
The SEN department at Dormston School has been using TRUGS to the
fullest since all 3 boxes were purchased in February 2009. Although Box 3
was created specifically for the secondary sector all of the boxes have
proved to be extremely popular with both pupils and the adults who
deliver the lessons.
Box 3, however, has been one of the few resources I have found which
motivates and consolidates learning of multisyllable words and those
with ‘special endings’ (i.e. non-phonic). KS4 pupils enjoy these
resources and our dyslexic young people particularly value the range and
difficulty of the more challenging words in the box.
The TRUGS games are innovative because there is nothing similar
available from any other source. Other card games exist but do not cover
the range of reading skills or include the well-paced incremental steps
of development that is contained in TRUGS.
The motivating nature of the TRUGS games for the secondary age group
are obvious to anyone who plays them with young people who need the
consolidation of the basic and more advanced skills that these games
offer. Students want to play again and again, increasing their
confidence with the particular target skill as they do so. If pupils
know that these games are on offer to consolidate learning they renew
their efforts to understand what they have to do. Although Dormston
School made individual basic skills lessons enjoyable prior to using
TRUGS, the TRUGS have undeniably helped to maintain pupils’ enthusiasm
for working in these lessons.
All of the TRUGS resources have a clear focus on learning and the
increments in difficulty and complexity are well judged allowing pupils
to be challenged by a slightly more difficult set of words or comforted
by their success with a set of words which they have already mastered.
TRUGS promote inclusion by allowing pupils to feel challenged
appropriately in a fun way while they are gaining success in skills
which they find difficult. The increase in skills and motivation gained
by pupils helps to raise their self-esteem and allows them to feel
included in all subjects more fully.
To summarize; the TRUGS resource, which was specifically designed for
young people who find reading difficult, has proved to be innovative
and motivating with a clear focus on learning and consolidating reading
skills and is used extensively at Dormston School in basic skills
withdrawal lessons. All pupils, including those at KS4, have enjoyed
playing with these attractive and durable cards and always ask for them
to be part of their lessons. Their success with adults and children
alike has ensured they are well worth their cost.
Angie Francis (SENCO), - Dormston School, - 6.05.09
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An email from the SENCO at St Lawrence College Junior School, Ramsgate, Kent 10.12.08
I had to email you to thank you for inventing and sharing such an amazing game.
I have been using the first 2 TRUGS boxes on a daily basis since
purchasing t...
An email from the SENCO at St Lawrence College Junior School, Ramsgate, Kent 10.12.08
I had to email you to thank you for inventing and sharing such an amazing game.
I have been using the first 2 TRUGS boxes on a daily basis since
purchasing them when I saw you at the SENCO exhibition. The children not
only enjoy them but actually ask to play them every lesson. What’s
especially good is that it’s so easy to select an appropriate level for
the group and fit in a game when there’s only a short time slot
available, unlike most of the reading based games that have, quite
frankly, been on the shelf for years without being used.
What prompted me to contact you today was the fact that I have 2 very
able readers in reception. They have the problem of being able to
decode words beyond their understanding levels, so books with the right
decoding level are too complex for them to understand. By playing TRUGS
with them today they were able to work on decoding, moving them on, in a
way that allowed for discussion of new vocabulary whilst sustaining
their interest; many reading books at their decoding level just bore
them as they have no understanding so this was a way of keeping them
stretched within reading. By the way, when they saw me at lunch they
asked when they could play again!
I can’t express just how much we’ve gained from this simple idea – I
have very reluctant readers, including dyslexics, who nevertheless want
to play, whereas were I to ask them to read they would do anything to
avoid it. I now need to get box 3 as my more able readers want to play
too!
So thanks again!
Feel free to use any of this on your website
Hélène Cohen, - AENCO - 10.12.08.11.08
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TRUGS is an excellent resource to supplement our
reading programme. The games are motivational and are presented to an
extremely high standard. The pupils love playing them and don't seem to
realize they are reinforcing the patterns we hav...
TRUGS is an excellent resource to supplement our
reading programme. The games are motivational and are presented to an
extremely high standard. The pupils love playing them and don't seem to
realize they are reinforcing the patterns we have just learnt. It is a
very enjoyable way to give them the over learning experience they need
Diana Rabot, - Cobham Hall, - 28.11.08
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Dear Joanna,
I wanted to let you know how my pupils had
reacted to playing Trugs and to thank you for creating such an
innovative series of games. My pupils from primary and middle school,
boys and girls, have been immensely enthusiastic a...
Dear Joanna,
I wanted to let you know how my pupils had
reacted to playing Trugs and to thank you for creating such an
innovative series of games. My pupils from primary and middle school,
boys and girls, have been immensely enthusiastic about the games and are
awaiting boxes 2 & 3 with great excitement. As you may have
predicted, ‘Take It’ and ‘Match It’ are firm favourites with all ages.
However, the other games have been very successful in encouraging my
younger pupils to develop their speaking and listening skills. The
pupils find the games very entertaining, motivating and stimulating. As
a result, they have increased in self-confidence and reading fluency
without realising it. Once again, many, many thanks for creating such a
valuable reading resource based on your expertise in Dyslexia to support
the reading skills of all children.
Kind Regards
Littllue
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Hi Joanna,
I ordered my box in the summer and have been
using it this term. I practised in the hols with my 72 year old mum and
14 year old daughter!
I think it’s great and the children love it!
The only problem is I could do with anothe...
Hi Joanna,
I ordered my box in the summer and have been
using it this term. I practised in the hols with my 72 year old mum and
14 year old daughter!
I think it’s great and the children love it!
The only problem is I could do with another one as they all want me to
leave it with them!
Please send me information about the other boxes when they are ready
Lou
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Hi Joanna,
Just wanted to say we're having great fun playing Trugs games. All 4 games are proving to be successful.
During a review for a child with Enhanced
Funding, I sang Trugs' praises to the SEN Service. The idea was new to
them and t...
Hi Joanna,
Just wanted to say we're having great fun playing Trugs games. All 4 games are proving to be successful.
During a review for a child with Enhanced
Funding, I sang Trugs' praises to the SEN Service. The idea was new to
them and they were impressed. I hope something follows on from that.
Have a good summer, Joanna
Best wishes
Mary.St Berteline's C.E School
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Hello Joanna, it was just over 2 weeks ago that Sylvia and I with Jordan
collected the first box of Trugs cards from you. We are very pleased
with the progress he has made since playing the card games. His
comprehension and retention of the ...
Hello Joanna, it was just over 2 weeks ago that Sylvia and I with Jordan
collected the first box of Trugs cards from you. We are very pleased
with the progress he has made since playing the card games. His
comprehension and retention of the written word is most marked and
equally important he is the one looking forward to the next game of
Trugs.Thank you most sincerely for producing the first stage in what we are
sure will be the catalyst in markedly improving Jordan's reading skills,
long may this continue. We look forward to the arrival of box number 2
and would ask that you do not forget to advise us when it is ready for
collection.Please feel free to use any or all of our comments, we trust it may help
another Jordan.
Yours Most Sincerely
Philip & Sylvia Daymond. Jordan's Grand-parents (Secondary age pupil)
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Hi Joanna ,I started Trugs today with 3 of my less able readers. They loved it. My plan is to do it three times per week.Thanks so much for the package. It's super. I look forward to the next 2 boxes!!Next session I will have Primary 5 (Year 6), s...
Hi Joanna ,I started Trugs today with 3 of my less able readers. They loved it. My plan is to do it three times per week.Thanks so much for the package. It's super. I look forward to the next 2 boxes!!Next session I will have Primary 5 (Year 6), so I will hope and pray that you get the funding you need.
Yours
- Gillian
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Dear Joanna,I bought (trugs Box 1) a red box of magic, which I described to you as marvellous. The children LOVE the new games - they are smashing.
From a mum - Polly Bennett
Trugs is proving a huge hit in our household!
Yesterday we opened the
instructions and away we went. I played individually with the children
and then as a group. After three and a half hours I told them I really
had to get on! They woul...
Trugs is proving a huge hit in our household!
Yesterday we opened the
instructions and away we went. I played individually with the children
and then as a group. After three and a half hours I told them I really
had to get on! They would happily have played for another four!!! At
7am this morning I found them in their PJs at the kitchen table playing
again – amazingly no arguments – and playing at a level that suited the
youngest (5 ½). They are hooked and already I have seen a significant
improvement with the 5 ½ and 9 year old – much more confident – happy
to try new words and pronouncing two letters as a sound as opposed to
sounding out each letter – fabulous. Favourite game – Match it renamed
TRUGS!
I went straight in to school and
have told them to get theirs ASAP as I have no doubt this will be a
marvellous teaching aid. The class teacher is so positive and is raring
to go.
From a mum - Vicki Hatcher
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The TRUGS resource offers a highly structured and thoughtful approach to
the teaching of reading. TRUGS would engage even the most disenchanted
child in the reading process by providing an effective learning climate
which is unthreatening a...
The TRUGS resource offers a highly structured and thoughtful approach to
the teaching of reading. TRUGS would engage even the most disenchanted
child in the reading process by providing an effective learning climate
which is unthreatening and fun. A box of TRUGS should be part of an
intervention kit in every classroom!
Anne Shipman, Headteacher, Garras Community Primary School
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These games give teachers an easy and effective means of being
able to provide parents with a structured and fun way to support the
development of their child’s reading at home.
Educational Psychologist
This is so well thought through, non-threatening, easy to use and it’s self explanatory.
Reading Development Department. Within a Primary School.
An excellent resource to use with parents and children in need of support.
SENCO within a Primary School.
It’s just what I want to cover lots of problems.
SENCO within a Primary School
They are reading when they wouldn’t normally be reading.
Mum of 2 boys aged 9 and 10.
They are still very happy to play the games – I thought the novelty would have worn off by now.
Same Mum of 2 boys aged 9 and 10
We don’t do our reading books because they are a drag and trugs is more fun.
The 2 boys aged 9 and 10
My boy is not normally willing to read, but he will play trugs - he’s then reading without realising, it’s great!
Mum of boy aged 11
