Workshops Testimonials

TEACHERS

Targeting Opportunities for Literacy in Prep

• Thanks Lena. A great reminder and revision of what I do know and I also gained some new strategies to try. It’s always fantastic to interact with other Prep Teachers and hear what is going on in other schools
(Jeanette Markley, Wondall Heights State School)
• Lots of practical examples shown re how to actually do activities. Some really useful take-home handouts to help with follow-up (Sandra Benn, Runcorn State School)
• Really enjoyed it and very appropriate to Prep itself. We are just starting this so great grounding.  (Dan Davies, Runcorn State School)
• Your enthusiasm for your topic is contagious. Thanks very much. The large amount of written information is invaluable as a future resource. (Rosalind Harris, Norman Park State School)
• Fantastic workshop. Really informative and thoroughly engaging. Really like how information is presented.(Amanda Nicholls, Graceville State School)
• I have really been excited to get the practical tips to help me re-think the way I teach. (Jan McCollow, Payne Road State School)
• Everything was so practical. I always leave with something I can try the next day. (Jo Clark, Grand Avenue State School)
• Love the examples and practical strategies. The links to resources are very helpful. All given in language that is easy to understand rather than academic jargon! (Alexa Gaplin, Grand Avenue State School) 
• It is great to be able to walk away with activities and strategies that I can use in my classroom tomorrow! (Sue Munday, Grand Avenue State School)

WRITING FOR NAPLAN: EXPOSITION VERSUS NARRATIVE

• Fantastic PD! Our teachers walked away with practical ways to teach persuasive writing that can be applied tomorrow! (Jo Collins, HOC, Kawungan State School)
• Fabulous workshop! Reinforces the most effective teaching strategies for the teaching of writing. (Leanne McNamara, Deputy Principal, Kawungan State School)
• Pat has an extensive knowledge and vast experience in literacy. Well worth the time now to make life easier in the future. (Maree Briggs, Urangan Point State School)
• I found this to be incredibly informative and easy to understand. I look forward to implementing some of the strategies (Tash Williams, St Paul's Primary School, Hobart)
• Really great in terms of what the Naplan criteria expects. It is also about good English usage. (Anna Viney, South Arms Primary School, Hobart)
• Engaging, entertaining, enthralling and endearing! Well done! (Peter Mason, The Friends School, Hobart)
• A wonderful look at Writing. Ideas I can use right now. Ideas I want to do some more learning about. Ideas I want to tell others about. Thanks again, Pat. (Cindy Cartwright, The Friends School, Hobart)
• Fantastic – didn’t look at my watch once which is a great sign for after school PD. Congratulations! (Debbie Taylor The Friends School, Hobart)
• Once again I learnt about the specifics of persuasive writing in the context of an overall literacy programme. Made valuable connections with the work we are doing with our reading programme.(Wendy Fiddaman, The Friends School, Hobart)
• Pertinent, experienced, full of real-life examples and role-play: wonderful! Many thanks, Pat. (Betty Reeve, The Friends School, Hobart)
• Easy to understand language I’m familiar with, and ideas that can be immediately applied in the classroom. (Sally Broadribb, St James Catholic College, Hobart)
• Great information! All very useful in the classroom. Can take some productive approaches to teach my students. (Jacinta Castles, St James Catholic College, Hobart)
• Brilliant! Practical workshop. Ready-to- use handouts. Extensive knowledge of both reading and writing. Thank you. (Sally Bordin, Fairview Primary School, Hobart)
• An excellent workshop. There is a lot that can be taken back and used immediately in the classroom. (Rachel Judges, Fairview Primary School, Hobart)
• Most enlightening and reinforcing. So thorough. Very good preparation for revisiting this text type. (Judy Trewarn, Seabrook Christian School, Hobart)
• Builds on key steps. So, so worthwhile, engaging and practical. So many astute observations from recent practice. Thank you. (Christine O'Halloran, Northern Suburbs Christian School, Hobart)
• I liked the way the presenter acknowledged skills of teachers and didn’t ‘teach’ us! Some good ideas, wish that we had only text to teach so we could really get our teeth into all these great ideas. So many ideas for our classroom. Thanks. (Karen Ogle, St Virgil's Junior College, South Tasmania)
• A very appropriate session that confirmed what I am doing well, but more importantly, how I can improve my classroom teaching. Lots of useful ideas to take back to the classroom.(Luke Fitzpatrick, St Virgil's Junior College, South Tasmania)
• Thank you, Pat, for a well presented workshop. It was so easy to listen to you and I feel supported in my work as a teacher.(Chris Scanlon, St Virgil's Junior College, South Tasmania)

teaching writing 4-9

• Great to get so many practical ideas for the classroom. Has cleared up why our writers are struggling. (Sunset State School)
• I was able to gain very valuable knowledge and ideas that I will be able to use in my classroom and also share with other teachers in our school. (Richmond State School)
• I really appreciated the time, effort and content that Debbie covered in the seminar. I now have lots of excellent ideas for my classroom – thank you! (Mount Isa Central State School)
• A very enjoyable presentation – practical and relevant. (Mount Isa Central State School)
• Found the day very practical. (Townview State School)
• Thanks again for the ideas we can take and try in the classroom. Ideas suggested can be used by all teachers regardless of experience. Handouts will help remember the day’s information and sharing. (Townview State School)

 MAGIC WORDS, FLUENCY AND PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS

• Good review of necessary background knowledge for teachers re MSV. Excellent pace; engaging. (M Hropic, Edens Landing State School)

  TEACHER AIDES

SUPPORTING YOUNG WRITERS 

• Excellent presentation, easily followed and remembered and immediately useable in a classroom situation. (Dulacca State School)
• I love to go to seminars that teach you practical information that you can use in the classroom (Chinchilla State School)
• I don’t usually give full marks to courses as there’s usually room for improvement, however, I’m leaving today feeling that I’ve spent a very productive day and I’m motivated to put these ideas into practice. Great job Deb! (Cavendish Road State School)
• A pleasure to once again attend an informative & useful workshop
  (St Columba’s Primary School)
• Very Informative. I’d like to see all our teachers do something similar. Thank you. (Toogoolawah State High School)
• Fay Ganzer delivers an excellent course. Well paced and well planned.
  (St Columba’s Primary School)
• Very informative, great hands on ideas. I have a better understanding of the different roles ie editing & proof reading (Kawungan SS & Torquay SS)
• Good overall presentation, plenty to take back to school and implement. (Redlands College)
• Covered all I need to know to help guide me in my job (Bulimba State School)
• Excellent, friendly in-service. Great to learn through doing. Look forward to any future development you are presenting. (St Mary’s Primary School)
• Most valuable day & Fay was so easy to listen to and her interaction and information giving was inspirational. (St Elizabeth’s School)
• Excellent handouts which enable me to listen and understand content of this one day workshop and future resource information. (Seton College)
• The topics are really important to the work I do at school. I find the resources very simple and helpful in stimulating young minds to write. (Mt Maria College)
• Helpful and Entertaining (St Elizabeth’s School)
• Great day of learning (St Elizabeth’s School)
• Very useful information. Need a school visit. (Dympna’s Parish School)
• Thank you, I have gained a lot from today and will be able to put this to practice back at school. (St Dympna’s Parish School)
• Very worthwhile day. (Queen of Apostles Primary School)
• Thanks for a very worthwhile session. I wish I’d done it 12 months ago.
  (St Dympna’s Parish School)
• I wish there were more classes. (St Vincent’s Primary School)
• Excellent day, very interesting. Enjoyable presentation, lots to take back to school and implement. Food delicious! (St Vincent’s Primary School)
• A great practical and theoretical experience. (Queen of Apostles Primary School)
• Thank you, I feel I have gained some valuable information to help me in my position at school. (Inala West State School)
• Debbie thank you for your friendly approach in your presentation. This knowledge will most definitely be used in the classroom. (Pimpama State School)
• Informative, interesting with lots of useful information. Well worthwhile.
  (Canterbury College)
• I have gained great ideas and skills that I will use at both schools that I work at.
  (Toogoolawah State High School)

 EARLY PHASE READING P - 3

• I enjoyed this course very much. I have learnt valuable information that I will take back to school and use. Thank you for your patience and guidance Fay.
  (Greenmount State School)
• Thanks for a practical course to use in the class with user friendly ideas, knowing that the classroom is not always running to plan – flexible ideas. (Thulimbah State School)
• Thoroughly enjoyed the 2 days. Very informative. I feel that I will be more comfortable introducing a book or text to a reading group. Thank you. (Thulimbah State School)
• Thank you. I am only new at this role, but I feel inspired and a lot more confident to try and engage students in discussions. A lot of things have been concreted in my mind. I will see you again later on in the year. (Pittsworth State School)
• Very interesting, enjoyable and valuable. Fay did a great job and was entertaining – thank you. Fay gave me a lot of help and the experience from Fay and the other teacher aides was great. (Baralaba State School)
• I now feel a lot more confident when taking reading lessons. This PD literacy course was fantastic. I don’t feel overloaded like some PD I have been to. It’s always great to walk away with new ideas. Thanks for giving up your time Fay.
  (Mount Murchison State School)
• Very enjoyable and very informative in a friendly environment. I would love to attend other courses. (Biloela State School)
• Our Learning Support Teacher told us that this course would be very beneficial to us. She was exactly right! Thank you. (Clermont State School)
• Thank you I had a wonderful time, it has been very informative and relevant.
  (Kilcummin State School)
• I found the course to be very informative and presented in a way that you could understand. (St Mary’s Primary School)
• Very well presented. Information was relevant to the work we are doing. The best session I have been to in sometime. (Star of the Sea – Hervey Bay)
• Presenter was excellent. Relaxed atmosphere. Content was relevant to what we are doing in the classroom. Look forward to another opportunity to attend another in-service. (St Mary’s Primary School)
• Very thought provoking, appreciated Pat’s obvious experience and working knowledge. (Summer Hill Public School – NSW)
• Thoroughly enjoyed my two days, found the course and presenter to be inspirational. I feel confident in implementing a lot of areas in which I have had the experience in being part of. Thanks Pat – hope to see you again. (Daceyville Public School – NSW)
• A very enjoyable and informative course giving me more knowledge and confidence with the area of literacy. Pat you were a great presenter, very clear with your presentation and approachable. (Carinya Special School – NSW)