Learning Upgrade News

From parent Roy K:

I spent so much time last school year helping my 8th grade son with Pre-Algebra that I used to joke to my friends that I had a part time job as a math tutor. The tension and stress in our home this created was so heavy that I thought it was going to drive me to drink. Needless to say, I finally found some on-line help for my son and we were able to make it through the school-year (but just barely). We continued with that other site for several months until we found Math Upgrade this summer. My son has spent hour after hour on your program trying to get himself caught up this summer. I would be lying if I said that he has done it all with a smile on his face because he hasn’t. Some of it has been grueling. But he did say to my wife the other day, “Thanks Mom for finding Math Upgrade. I wish I didn’t have to do any Math at all this summer but since I do, this program makes it kind of fun. I actually kind of like it.” Needless to say, I have been able to quit my job as a Math tutor!

Thanks,
Roy K

The Mean Median and Mode song video excerpt from our Math Upgrade online course has crossed 5,000 views on YouTube. Students are using the video to learn statistics basics through music. School teachers and college professors have used the video in math class lectures. Comments from students indicate the videos “brighten up” their math classes. Play the video below or follow the link to the YouTube page.

Mean Median Mode Video on YouTube

Homeschool Parent Kristin C from Marysville Washinton reports that her 15-year old son diagnosed with reading difficulties made the leap from 5th/6th grade level reading to 9th grade level reading within 6 months after completing Comprehension Upgrade. Here is her letter:

I am writing to let you know what a tremendous difference your Comprehension Upgrade has made in our family’s life, particularly for my 15-year-old son, Devon.

Devon has historically had difficulties with reading comprehension. He was first tested in 3rd grade for learning disabilities, and was identified with difficulties processing written and spoken language. He had a hard time understanding the “main point” of paragraphs and stories, and couldn’t follow complex instructions. For the next two years, he was pulled out of class twice
weekly for special help. He consistently missed class time, which put him further behind, and his self-esteem dwindled as the years went on. He was terrified of asking “stupid questions,” and was convinced that he was, in fact, “stupid.”

This downward spiral caused me to begin homeschooling both of my sons after Devon completed 5th grade. I realized he is very much a visual learner, and I’ve tried to cater more to that learning style, while still helping him to exercise his comprehension and listening “muscles” with a variety of books and programs. He regained self-confidence and proficiency in most subject areas other than Reading Comprehension. He continued to test low in this
area. In May 2006, on his 8th grade annual assessment, Devon scored a 5-6th grade Reading Comprehension level.

In frustration, I came home and searched on the Internet for something new. Most of the “reading comprehension programs” are really just stories with questions. Finally, I found Comprehension Upgrade. The program appeared to teach verbal skills visually, which I hadn’t seen before. You claimed to be able to bring him up two letter grades. “Yeah, right,” I thought to myself, but figured we should at least try. We enrolled in the Free Trial, and even though
Devon thought the speaker sounded “kinda goofy” with his over- pronunciation, he enjoyed the trial lessons and agreed to give it a shot.

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