Testimonials

Our daughter has progressed considerably since joining the programme. The opportunity to work one on one with a supportive teacher in a non-threatening environment has strengthened and further extended her literacy skills. Georgia enjoys doing the Homework sheets. They reinforce what she has learnt and are a great way for her to revisit her learning. She feels a sense of achievement as she completes the sheets and moves up a reading level.

The programme has helped Georgia's confidence within the school environment. She has a greater understanding and knowledge of vowel sounds and making sense of words. She now has the skills to problem solve when coming across a new word. She works through a process rather than just guessing as she did in the past. Georgia is also able to question and reflect on what she is reading so that the text makes sense, further enhancing her comprehension.

We cannot speak highly enough of the programme and the teaching strategies that Maree uses. Georgia enjoys attending her lessons she is always encouraged in a positive, affirming way.

The programme promotes learning that is fun with challenges catering for individual children's needs. 

Kellie Brown
Owner/Manager
Country Creche

The system Maree used to teach Nick was logical, through and interesting to learn. From the lessons I sat in on, I learned things about our language I didn't know before. I particularly liked the integrity and passion with which Maree taught my son. Her motivation was important to me. Maree is motivated to make a difference and I believe it is a huge part of the success of the programme. She persevered with Nick until she was sure he had the ability to be returned to the school system and excel.

Nick's favourite part of the programme was the one-on-one tuition. He thrived on the attention and encouragement from Maree. She built him up to believe in himself where the school system had drained him of confidence. He loved learning the code of the sounds. Under this system he was taught in a way that made sense to him, he could retain the information he received and put it into practice.

This system has bought Nick's reading age up to where it should be, but probably more importantly, it has restored the confidence he was rapidly losing because he was falling behind the other kids at reading. Whereas before doing the programme he was feeling 'dumb', now he feels competent. He now believes in his ability to read.

Nick was falling behind in reading at school. He wasn't considered 'bad' enough to qualify for remedial reading in the school system, and there was nothing else offered to us to help catch him up. The difference I saw in his ability and confidence once he started visiting Maree once a week was nothing short of astounding and I will always be grateful I heard of About Words from another mother who'd experienced similar reading issues with her child.

Ann Huston
Journalist and Photographer

My seven year old son, Alexander has been working with Maree for the last three months. I have watched a frustrated child who disliked going to school begin to smile again. I see his confusion lift as he begins to understand how to decipher the code of reading and writing. His confidence has grown at school and he has become more involved and competent with his school work.

With gentleness, confidence and incredible thoroughness, Maree's approach to teaching makes complete sense. Even my own spelling has improved as I watch over Alexander's shoulder. The way in which the teaching slowly unfolds allows for no confusion and complete mastery of literacy skills.

The resources are fantastic and easy to use at home. I have my older and younger child listening to the CD and reading the books. We all have something to benefit from this programme.

I see this as a gift that is going to benefit my son in so many areas of his life. I am so thankful to Maree and recommend About Words wholeheartedly.

Anna Thomas

Our eight year old daughter, Lucy did not fit into the 60 something percent of students that learn to read the way the curriculum is taught. This meant that although she didn't fall into a remedial category she was certainly not learning to read at the same or even similar pace to her peers.

About Words has given Lucy the building blocks that were missing - allowing her to read and spell which in turn enables her to keep up with her peers. The benefits of this are across all spheres of her learning and socialising. In Lucy's words she would say that "the words make sense now". This programme has identified what Lucy was not taught and explains how and why some of our children are failing to learn to read and spell in New Zealand primary schools.

For any parent who has a child that falls outside the 60 something percent that don't learn to read the way the curriculum is taught, or want to have strong foundational blocks put in place so reading and spelling make sense, then About Words will be for you as much as it was for us - thank you Maree.

Tony and Rachael Mayne
Hamilton

For over a year we struggled to get our son, Joshua into a routine with reading. He had no desire to learn to read and he certainly was not enjoying the process. Having two older children who were avid readers made me realise I had to find a learning style that suited Joshua. I had been introduced to phonics when my older children were in their junior years and was very impressed with the results.

We were fortunate to be one on the first students that Maree took on and Joshua hasn't looked back. He is now a willing reader and is keen to challenge himself with more advanced books. Once Joshua realised, (as explained by Maree), that the English language is a code, and once he could work out the code, reading and spelling became a lot easier.

We like the fact that the programme leads the child through the different levels of "sounds" and "rules" of the English language. The readers provided with the programme only contain words that apply to each rule being learnt at that particular time - increasing in letters as each level is met. The fact that not too many "rules" are being learnt at one time certainly makes it easier for the child to comprehend.

We now have a child who is more confident overall in his schoolwork, he is constantly asking questions and looking up information and there is an enjoyable routine when it comes to reading.

We feel privledged that Joshua was given this opportunity and would thoroughly recommend the programme

Debbie Towers

About Words uses a system which spends time getting the basic building blocks of learning to read correct, whilst still keeping the student stimulated and interested. The student is taught how to attempt unfamiliar words as well as rules to use with certain combinations of letters. This in turn gives them confidence to attempt reading things that previously they would have just turned away from. When they continuously struggle confidence is lost and this system gives them the self belief that they can and will learn to read anything.

This system has improved Jonty's reading and therefore his comprehension and confidence to work more independently. Sadly, one on one time with a teacher in classroom does not happen on a regular basis and children are being left behind, problems are not being identified and they struggle. You may be told your child is achieving to an average standard, but often that is hiding an underlying problem of the basics not being understood. Jonty's reading tests showed dramatic  improvement by the end of a year with About Words.

Jonty's favourite part of the system was his teacher! He thrived on one on one learning and enjoyed the content of the readers. He gained huge self-confidence and pleasure out of being able to read a story by himself. He set himself a goal of reading a chapter book from the library by the end of the year and achieve that. Most importantly, a love of reading has been cultivated which allows him to read for pleasure and not just as a chore.

Lisa Grayling
Parent