Homeschooled 3 1/2-year-olds in Australia
We received our goodies about a week ago now. My 3 1/2 year old son with autism now reads 27 of the pre - primer words. I am writing our own books that only contain the pre primer words as I haven't been able to find any on the market that only use these.... His twin sister is also reading 19 of the pre-primer words now. I couldn't be happier with the product. A pleased homeschooling Mom. 10 days later she wrote:
...Sean is now reading 35 words and Jasmine 25 without the pictures. Sean knows all the pre primers with the pictures though so I am sure it wont be long before he masters all of them.
 Austin (in 2003) |
Austin:
I am so glad that I can share Austin's success with you. I feel like shouting to the world, "look what this kid who doctors thought might be mentally retarded, look at what he can do!!!" I never in my wildest dreams thought we would be where we are - I really can't thank you enough... for providing us with the tools we needed for success. We were talking about reading the other day and he said, "Mommy, I am a good reader. Look what I can read." It is so nice for him to have something he excels at because so many things are so hard for him. [The next year, Austin was in a Montessori 1st grade and was one of the best readers in the class.]
Mother of a child whose story was one featured in the book about "special needs" children, "You Will Dream New Dreams," by Stan Klein and Kim Schive.
 Max (in 2001) |
Max:
I’m really getting more excited about the picture me reading cards. Max knows over 40.... Max has apraxia. At age 4 Max had fewer than 5 words.... In general, it is very hard for Max to learn new things through auditory processing. Prior to using the Picture Me Reading program I worked with a lot of different things with Max ... and we just were not having enough success to keep him interested. Now he’s getting excited about learning to read. I’m hoping that by the end of summer (9 more weeks) he will have mastered all 220. I can really see how this will give him a good basis for decoding other words and for reading in general. Parent of an apraxic child getting ready to enter first grade, after using “Picture Me Reading! with her son for less than three weeks.Two months later, Max's mother wrote again: Max read "Hop on Pop" in two sittings. He read "Ten Apples Up On Top" tonight. I think he's learned enough sight words to work from. Picture Me Reading is largely responsible for his progress this Summer.
Homeschooled Kindergarten Boy
I am still having great success using these picture cards! I am
using them with Rod and Staff reading and phonics curriculum. Most of the
word cards are words that are in the picture me reading cards - so I just
use those and then the ones that aren't I have made up pictures for the back
of them to help them learn the words. Even my previously "non-reader" is
reading!! I am thrilled." Homeschooling mom who had previously reported success in using the sample words from our web site.
Amy
My daughter is already a success with PMR. She is a 1st grade special needs student and began PMR while in school approx. 3 months ago. I can't believe it! Because of your program, she is now an emerging reader. I am purchasing the supplies, so I can continue with her program during the summer months. My daughter is also very behind in math, and I am hoping that the number cards will help her in that area. Words cannot express my appreciation to you and the PMR program for your assistance in helping my daughter learn to read. Picture me reading works. A pleased parent.
Scott:
...Scott is doing very well with the picture word cards. His mother was so excited when he took his sight word folder home and was able to read the words. He knew about 40 sight words when he started the program, now he knows about 70. That was only 4 weeks ago. Scott is interested in coming to resource now and focuses much more. Special education Resource Specialist working with a fourth grade child with Fragile X Syndrome.
First Grade Boy
I just wanted to personally thank you and commend you for the invaluable tool! Last school year I watched my child suffer the agony of "not getting it" in the classroom. By Feb. of last year he only knew 10 sight words and his kindergarten teacher was talking about having him repeat. My son is a highly visual learner and unfortunately the classroom environment he was in was not. I came across your program by accident through searching the internet for materials & info on visual learning. Within 2 weeks of receiving Picture-Me-Reading and having that conference with the teacher - my son was reading over 50 sight words. Amazing - Thank you so much!! Pleased mother of a first grade boy who used "Picture Me Reading!" successfully in kindergarten in 2005.
 Ethan (in 2003) |
Ethan:
My son, Ethan, is 9, just classed as autistic and not reading yet and I ...ordered some of
your products.
Well, I just wanted to tell you that he is learning to read!!! And, I am so excited! ... his reading is going better in school, too. He is so visual, I think the pictures are the perfect way for him to learn.
... we had tried numerous methods to try to teach him to read prior to having success with Picture Me Reading.
[A month later, in early June, she wrote again] I figured it out and if we can continue one riddle per week, we will finish all of the riddles the first week in September, which is the first week of school! This is definitely my intention, so when he begins 4th grade, he will be able to read.
[In early July, 2003, his mom wrote again: He was happy to read Green Eggs and Ham 2 weeks ago. I counted the words he knows and the smile on his face was so broad when I told him he knows 143 words so far! He read Ten Apples up on top this morning.
Excerpts from e-mails written over the course of two months by the Mother of an autistic 9 year old.
Robert:
...I am here and cheering you and PMR on each day! The reading success my special students receive is incredible. My famous Robert [an autistic child with major behavioral difficulties] can read over 100 sight words and is reading at a level 5 - 6 [using “Reading Recovery” measures] and enjoying what he reads...[My students] are becoming beginning sight readers. It is truly amazing! I fear I am getting the reputation of being able to teach “anyone” how to read, even the most disabled. For that you can take full credit!!! ...I can and will always be ready to testify to the success of your program if you need...Keep reaching because you have made a difference! Teacher of a primary Special Day Class for seriously disabled students with autism, Down Syndrome, and other learning handicaps.
 Carrie (in 2003) |
Carrie:
I have a 6 year old [granddaughter] struggling with reading.. [Two months later, after receiving the PMR! materials, she wrote again] ...Just wanted you tell you that Carrie got the highest score in 1st grade on her testing. She’s reading at a 3rd grade 3 mo. level. Over all she came up with a 110 rating. No other kid in 1st grade got above 100. ...Her teacher was amazed...I really appreciate you helping her get a good start! Grandparent of a first grader, struggling in reading in February, at the top of her class two months later.
The same Grandparent provided this update in 2003: Carrie has really become a reading "success" story. She finished 4th grade this year reading at a 9.5 reading level.
Summer Program:
We recently ordered the complete “Picture Me Reading” set for a summer pilot program just completed...We were extremely pleased with the quality of your product and the success we were able to see right away with our students who had been identified as ‘at risk.’...it’s so rewarding to see the students’ success levels rise so quickly....I’m just delighted with your program and the success I know its use will afford many children. Clinical Instructor, College of Education in a mid-Western University.
Kevin:
I ordered the Picture Me Reading system for my 2nd grade son with autism. I wanted to let you know about his progress.... Recently, Kevin asked me to read him a book...I said I would in just a few minutes. When I went to find Kevin...There he was, ...reading a book aloud to himself. I hope you can imagine my joy. This is a child who some have suggested might never learn to read.... Keep getting out the word that having a sight vocabulary can be a huge asset to young readers, especially ones with verbal disabilities. Mother of an autistic boy, who went from “non-reader” to “reader” with “Picture Me Reading!”
Cassandra:
I started Cassandra (my 2nd grade...8 year old daughter) on the program...Within two weeks she had improved tremendously!!! She is now sitting by herself reading many books which she would have never wanted to attempt on her own. She has really enjoyed learning....which is a vast improvement!! THANK YOU!! [Three months later, this mother wrote, “She has now finished her second grade and we are awaiting her third grade books.” And four months after that, this mother wrote again: “Cassandra is now in 3rd grade. She took the California Achievement Test at the end of her 2nd grade, and they recorded her reading comprehension at almost 4th grade level! Well, what a change...for a little girl that was in 2nd grade and could barely read at a first grade level!!) Homeschooling missionary mom, writing from Africa.
LD Child:
I received the package yesterday...Thank you very much, my daughter was excited...she has a learning disability (I am not clear on what it is) but with these word cards she was reading whole sentences this morning. Thank you again. Mother of a child with a “learning disability.”
Pleased Special Education Teacher
I'm writing to let you know what excellent success I am having with the Picture-me-reading flashcards and other goodies. I can assure you that the children are so grateful and so am I. Special Education Teacher in South Africa
5-Year-Old Boy:
I bought your Dolch Sight Words in August...for my 5 year old grandson...He learnt all the sight words and is reading the little beginning reader books plus all the books you suggested like the Dr. Seuss books, etc. ...We will continue to work on them and save the big set [Large Dolch Cards] for our baby who has low-vision. He did the sight words, too. It was adorable. A happy grandparent, who is a former reading teacher.
Chelsea:
In January, when the case study began, [Chelsea] demonstrated extremely poor spelling abilities, was placed in the lowest reading group for her class, and had been identified to receive Title I services... Chelsea had little interest in being read to or reading...Chelsea was extremely responsive to the [“Picture Me Reading”] activities. [From February 5 to March 9, Chelsea had 10 lessons.] ...Chelsea’s school teacher began noticing an immediate improvement [and]... reported that she had moved Chelsea from the lowest reading group to one of the highest and planned on removing her from Title I. Her spelling and writing had also improved dramatically... Her teacher said, “Whatever you are doing, keep it up.” Grandmother of a struggling first grader, who chose the child to be the subject of a case study for one of her education classes.
Primary Special Day Class:
I was struggling to teach the students in my non-severely handicapped special day class to read.... I had students with Down Syndrome who had difficulty speaking, thus making phonics an unbelievable challenge. I also had students with severe language and learning disabilities who had some knowledge of letters and sounds, but...it was not helping them to read. [With the “Picture Me Reading!” program] ...before I knew it, the kids were reading!! ...It has been the saving grace for children who can’t grasp phonics, and a springboard for the regular education, at risk first graders in my full-inclusion merged classroom to jump into reading. I can’t say enough about the Picture Me Reading program. It adapts to any reading program or system... You won’t believe how quickly and easily your students will start learning to read!! Primary Special Day Class teacher in a “blended classroom” with both handicapped and regular education students.
 Audrey (in 2000) |
 Cassie (2003) |
Audrey & Cassie:
In 1999, our second granddaughter, Audrey, was a lucky child who attended the kindergarten class of (by her account) “The Best Kindergarten Teacher In The Whole World,” a gifted and creative teacher who incorporates ”Picture Me Reading!” into her curriculum for a few minutes each day. Audrey ended kindergarten reading at the second grade level. After having the same teacher for first grade also, Audrey ended first grade reading at the fifth grade level, as did many of her classmates in her bi-lingual classroom.
Our third granddaughter, Cassie, is now ending her kindergarten year (2003) with the same fine teacher. She and her classmates also read fluently. Parents were so pleased with the wonderful progress their children have made in her class that she was named "Teacher of the Year" by the Sam's Club in our area, after fifty enthusiastic nominations were written about her teaching skill and the incredible reading achievement levels her past and present students reached in their first year of school. Marlys Isaacson, proud grandmother and the creator of "Picture Me Reading!"
Pre-K & Kindergarten Class:
This year my focus has been on teaching the Dolch Sight Words. The cards are magical.... By the final assessment in May, I am 100% sure that all my KG’s and many of my 4 year olds will have learned more than their fair share of sight words. Montessori teacher of a class of Pre-K and kindergarten students.
 Tate (in 2005) |
Tate:
We started using the sight words and alphabet cards a few weeks ago, and the improvement has been terrific! We have worked on letter names and sounds for about a year with him with no success. Since we started using the cards, he loves to look at them and say the sounds and some of the letter names. He is also finally keeping up with his Kindergarten class on their "popcorn" words (Dolch words). I cannot thank you enough. ....
I also wanted to tell you that your program is great because of the small amount of prep time needed. . . . . With your program, I laminated the cards after numbering them. I then put the ones we are working on on a ring and I am done with prep. .... That is a big thing when teaching is not your full time job.Mother of autistic 5-year-old boy.
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