"G J is in Year 7 and has really benefitted from this program. He was enthusiastic about coming each session and was keen to keep pressing on. Perhaps he didn't appreciated the time I spent talking about sounds and dividing words in syllables but it did give him better decoding skills. His speed of typing was always in the range of 20-30 words per minute."

"L J was a student who was more of a perfectionist and for a great deal of the program rarely got over 12 words per minute but his results were outstanding. He wanted to know about words and sounds and probably from level 18 onwards really improved his speed to around 20 words per minute. He had a perfect touch typing position for his hands and his mother really found he improved in his reading and word decoding skills. He was grateful for the opportunity to do the program and improve his skills."

Extracts from the "Course Evaluation and Progress Report" of the three day holiday course held at Westwood College, Welling, Kent ending 1st September 2005

Lots of photos here...

Leon (Level 24) COURSE COMPLETED: It would be good to have an advanced TTRS course for students who completed the course. (Leon would love to do more audio dictation) Rita Byford - parent

Jonathan ( Level 14/3) Again another great course. Jonathan finds it really beneficial. Peter Wade - parent and Head of IT Technical Services at Westwood College

Joshua ( Level 13/16) I think the course is really good for Josh. Since coming here his reading and spelling has been much better. Holly Ede - parent

Jack (Level 12/18) A very useful and productive week. K.Silver - parent

James (Level 12/8) An excellent course. Gill Boyd - Parent

Charlie ( Level 10/13) This is our second course in the summer term and even since our last one Charlie has improved. He really enjoys attending TTRS. The tutors are excellent as ever and their encouragement goes a long way. Helen Withall -parent

Alex (Level 10/5) The course has been invaluable to Alex. A.J.Appleby - parent

Oliver (Level 10) Oliver is really doing very well and is learning lots to do with how to read, write and spell. The TTRS course is a really good course that should be available in all schools in the LBB as well as in the holidays. D. Markey - parent.

Irina ( Level 9/20) My daughter says she enjoys coming to the TTRS as it helps with her reading and spelling. Her confidence with her spelling has definitely improved. B. Roberts - parent

Marie (Level 9/7) This course has been great for Marie's confidence. Alison Fitzgerald. - parent

Isabelle (Level 8/20) An excellent course which gives so many benefits. Gill Boyd- parent

Toby (Level 8/7) That I am just pleased with everything about it and the way that Toby has improved. Jemma Gale -parent

Ashleigh (Level 8/5) These courses are a great asset. I have been most impressed. M.E.Gilkes -parent

Michael (Level 8/5) Amazing that he concentrates so well - it has made a huge difference to him being able to get thoughts onto paper finally. Helen Fearnley - parent

Billy (Level 8) has a lot more confidence on the computer and his reading and spelling has improved a lot. Many thanks. S. Hawkey - parent

Jamie (Level 7/20 ) This course is definitely helping Jamie in all areas. He even shows off his touch-typing skills indoors! L. Cook - parent

Oliver (Level 7/19) Don't change what's perfect ! Karl Hanney - parent

Jamie Leigh (Level 7) TTRS has helped Jamie Leighs confidence. Many thanks. S. Hawkey - parent

Veronica (Level 5/30) This course has helped Veronica with her typing, reading and especially her spelling. Rachel Mazi - parent

Ben (Level 5/10) Valuable and well organised as usual. K.Silver - parent

Harry (Level 4/23) The course has helped my son with his vocabulary and spelling. It has also revived his interest in literacy which he'd lost because he was struggling due, I believe, to a problem with dyslexia. Susan Haylor - parent

Amy (Level 4/23) Amy finds the course a great help. Dawn Salter - parent

Alfie (Level 4/16) We find attending these courses helps a great deal, his confidence has grown with regards to the course each time we come. S.C. Matthews - parent

Jamie (Level 4/14) Since starting TTRS Jamie's concentration, spelling and confidence in himself have greatly improved not only do I feel is this due to the course but also from the praise and the two people that run the course. Y. Wathen. - parent

Carly (Level 4/13) Once again, a good course, always helpful, encouraging and confidence building. C. Gamble-Beresford - parent

Sophie (Level 4/4) Spelling and reading has improved and Sophie enjoys these courses a lot. See you next time. Sharon Frankis - parent.

Luke ( Level 3/23) Its made Luke more confident with a computer and in himself. Tracy Haigh - parent Callum (Level 3/12) This is an excellent course and has benefited my child. Callum has really enjoyed this course. Tina McIlroy - parent

Thomas ( Level 3/9) We would like Thomas' nine year old brother William to join the next course with Thomas. I work in the offices of the North Kent Dyslexia Association. We are often asked for recommendations re typing courses. I can now confidently recommend TTRS !

Emily (Level 3/9) Emily likes coming on the course, its helping her typing. She will be using a laptop at her new school so this will give her confidence. Debbie Fitzpatrick - parent Liam (Level 3/7) The course has been interesting. Liam has enjoyed learning key board skills. It has been a great boost to his confidence. Donna Dillon - parent

Amy (Level 3/ 7 I have found this course for my grandchildren a great advantage. They have enjoyed this course and they feel they have achieved something. John Ray - grandparent Izack (Level 3/5) Izack improves every time. Motivation is improving - likes to beat his scores! Three day course is good and suits Izack needs better than five day one.

Tyler (Level 2/26) An excellent course. A.J.Appleby - parent

Megan. (Level 2/20) Megan is learning a lot from this course and really enjoys it. Dawn Salter - parent

James ( Level 2/15) The course duration is short, which is a shame. My son has enjoyed the course and has always been keen to attend even in the summer holidays!

Ellis (Level 2/13) Ellis has been able to motivate herself at the classes which she hasn't been able to do with courses at home before. C. E. Lewsy -parent

Connor (Level 2/7) Connor has really enjoyed this course and has obviously benefited from it. I would like to add that the staff have been excellent. Mrs Callum -parent

Jake (Level 2/7) It is a very valuable course and I am glad that Jake has the opportunity to attend. It would be good if this was also available at school. Mrs Crozier - parent

Joshua (Level 2/6) Very enjoyable course. Helpful and encouraging tutors, would recommend highly. Josh left with a real sense of achievement. Rosalyn Tate - parent

Ross (Level 2/5) I continue to find the course very helpful for Ross. Liesa Garner - parent

P. Tarpey - parent Lewis (Level 2 ) Lewis enjoys TTRS his reading has come on. Thanks. S Hawkey - parent

Michael (Level 1/27) I think it is a great course and should be available to more people. Sarah Cooper - parent

Daniel ( Level 1/21) Excellent - must carry it on, lovely staff, very friendly and helpful. J. Barber - parent

Holli (Level 1/13) Holli has enjoyed the course very much. L. Williams - parent.

Jack (Level 1/12) Myself and my son have found this course very helpful and improving Jacks spelling, reading etc. B. Newman-Maloney - parent

Megan (Level 1/ 12) Megan has enjoyed the course. The teachers are very helpful and encouraging helping to boost Megans confidence. Tina Hughes - parent Julie Barnes - parent Barney (Level 1/12) Barney really enjoyed the course. I feel that he has really benefited from it as he needs to build his self-esteem. A. Moane -parent

Kieran ( Level 1/30) Kieran enjoyed coming to the course very friendly staff and has helped Kieran find his way around the key board and computer. Theresa Mander - parent

Alex (Level 1/13) Alex has really improved in all areas. The tutors are very helpful and understanding with Alex. V. Brown - parent

James (Level 3/10) Fantastic course, James has enjoyed learning and looked forward to coming. Tutors are extremely supportive. Deborah Thomas -parent

Reece (Level 4/2) Reece enjoys the course and is doing really well. Reece likes coming to Westwood College to do the course. Sarah Edwards - parent

 

Scottish LEA rolls out TTRS
In a bid to improve literacy, Perth and Kinross Local Education Authority has rolled out TTRS to all state schools in the region.

“..it takes exactly the right approach….. The program tackles spelling and builds up from there” observes secondary school head teacher Jane Hodgkinson in an interview with Times Educational Supplement Scotland reporter Douglas Blane. (Oct 22 2004)

TTRS’s local representative Philip Campbell, who is also a religious and moral education teacher, is quoted in the same TES article. “It’s wonderful to see the progress children make and the confidence it gives them”, he reports.

 

 

ELTHAM TOUCH-TYPE READ AND SPELL CENTRE

Host Centre:  Eltham College Junior School, Mottingham Lane,
London SE9 

 

Touch-type Read and Spell Computer Course for Junior school students

  

The incorporation of Touch-Type Read and Spell into the extra curricular provision for pupils at Eltham College has been a great success. Not only have pupils with particular learning needs been advantaged by the excellent programme of graded lessons towards improved touch typing and spelling skills, but also all participants have been motivated to advance their skills through the very focussed and individually targeted sessions that TTRS offers. 

There is no doubt that TTRS offers more than other touch typing courses, providing skills and development with other learning strategies which will have lifelong benefits in an ICT rich world.

Mrs Annie John
Tutor
June 2005

 

Ruth Hardiman
Touch-type Read and Spell Tutor
Nottinghamshire Dyslexia Association
5 St Bartholomew’s Road
Nottingham NG3 3EH 

Tom, a Year 9 student, began attending the Touch-type Read and Spell course based at the Nottinghamshire Dyslexia Association Lifelong Learning Centre in January 2003.  Although Tom had literacy problems with both reading and spelling his main difficulties stemmed from Dysgraphia.

He applied himself diligently to the Touch-type Read and Spell course and had completed all of the 24 levels by February 2004. 

The TTRS course proved invaluable to Tom when typing his GCSE course work with the result that he gained an A* in English.

He enjoyed the course so much that he asked if he could continue and this time treat all the modules on each level as dictation modules.  The Level Dictations were finished satisfactorily.  By March 2005 he had completed all levels for the second time.

The improvement in his typing, reading and spelling was so marked that Tom’s school allowed him to use a laptop in all lessons. 

Ruth Hardiman RSA SpLD Dip
Touch-type Read and Spell Tutor
May 2005