Teach Your Children Well

After much soul serching and the help of an amazing friend I began homeschooling my first child during what would be considered her Kindergarten year. Reading came very easily to her and after completing "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" she proceeded to read a 200+ page novel. I was incredulous as to the effortlessness it took to "launch" her into the world of learning . . . This home schooling stuff was a breeze!!!! Then . . . 2 years later I began the same program with my second child . . . While she followed the same program well, she did not possess what seemed to be the same interest in reading. In retrospect I realize now that when school was completed that year, we did not emphasize reading enough throughout the summer . . . Summer holidays, in fact seemed to whiz by . . . When September came, while she would have been in Grade 1 in the school system, I was all geared for Grade 2. Foolishly I expected this child to pick up where she had left off. When I realized that she had not retained much of the information learned in the earlier program I began searching . . . I had been very impressd with the method by which 100 Easy Lessons teaches a child. Distar—a user friendly phonics based program.

Schoolwork was beginning to be seen as a negative for her . . . and many emotional days resulted.

Later in September 2001 I attended a conference and happened upon Michael Maloney and his program "Teach Your Children Well." I do not know to this day what drew me to his booth other than the fact that I was intrigued by all of the people coming and going.

To say that I am impressed with this program would be a gross understatement. If I could I would shout it from the rooftops . . . It is AMAZING. This modest gentleman has created what I construe to be the most essential treasure a parent or teacher could imagine. This Distar method is utilized in his fun, comprehensive, easy to use program. It is affordable. The customer service, yes you heard me, is amazing. I have been contacted by Michael Maloney several times just to find out how we were progressing. I have contacted him when a question arose. He was quick at responding to my phone calls and his suggestions were right on the mark.

I guess results speak louder than anything. My daughter loved this program. We will be continuing it for grades 3 and 4. She responded to the positive praise teaching methods. I knew that she "HAD IT", parents teaching their children will know exactly what I mean by this, when I awoke one morning to my child cuddled up beside me . . . reading. She did not want to put the book down because it had captured her attention so completely. It had become a pleasure for her and all negativity was gone. She brings books in the car, begs for 5 more minutes before the light goes off at night, and adores any opportunity to read to myself or my husband. Music to my ears to put it mildly.

In a relatively short period of time she completed Books 1A and 1B and is now ready to move on to Grade 3 with confidence and a love of learning encouraged by this literacy award winning program.

I am currently awaiting the release of Michael's Math programs which are being released on CD ROM. I understand that Michael Maloney is a guest speaker at the June conference. If anyone is at the stage of teaching their children to read, or facing struggles with an older child, I urge them to attend this seminar. The results are amazing . . .

Submitted by Lorraine