Testimonials

“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
“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
“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
“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 definite improvement in their reading skills.

Iola Evans, - Abergele, Wales. - 04.07.09
“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 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
“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
“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
“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
“ 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
“ 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
“ 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
“ 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)
“ 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
“ Dear Joanna, I bought (trugs Box 1) a red box of magic, which I described to you as bloody 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 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 1/2). 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
“ 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
“ 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. ”

Family and Community Worker. Within Primary School.
“ Simple things work, because it’s progressive it will work with lots of different children. ”

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.