Teachers of Middle School, High School and Adult Education

Stephanie Hyska, ESL Teacher, Boulan Park Middle School, Troy, MI
"The Essential Skills programs have been very effective with my ESL students. They are easy to use and provide lots of visuals with simplified vocabulary. My students love the programs and look forward to using them to develop their skills. I am very happy with the programs and recommend them to other teachers."

Debra Ozias, Title 1 Reading Teacher, Crest Ridge Middle School, Centerview, Missouri
“First and second grade use ESS programs almost everyday. They are user friendly and motivating. The skills taught go along with the state curriculum. I find that the programs are of high interest and motivating, especially for those students who are discouraged or inattentive.”

Jennifer Cwach, Teacher, Summit Oaks Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
“I teach children with behavior problems. The kids have responded very well to the programs. I am using them with middle school and high school students and they are very motivated by the success they are having using these programs.”

Julia Todd, Remedial Teacher, Jolliff Middle School, Chesapeake, Virginia
"I use the High-Low Reading Programs with my remedial kids in grades six and seven. The kids really enjoy the programs and have been gaining confidence. I am so pleased with their improvement."

Jack Thorpe, Special Education Teacher, Sidney High School, Sidney, Nebraska
“I used Reading Comprehension Levels 2 and 3 with an individual student. The programs really kept his attention and I felt his comprehension improved. I would definitely recommend your software”.

Terri Horan, Computer Lab LTA Coordinator, Otego Elementary, Otego, New York
“I teach kindergarten through fifth grade in the computer lab. Our students in first grade to fifth grade use the Essential Skills Programs on a regular basis to support the various classroom curriculums. When preparing our students for state testing - ELA, we have the children working on Reading Comprehension level 2. We find that the classes using this program to prepare for the ELA test typically do much better than if they had not used it. Several of these programs are used in our high school special ed classrooms with good results as well."

Marianela Ramos, Special Ed. Teacher, United South High School, Laredo, TX
“The programs from Essential Skills provide comprehensive practice and reinforcement of basic, essential math and reading skills. I am using these programs daily with students of all ability levels from Grade One up to high school. Even my most reluctant learners like these programs because they are able to work independently at their own level and meet with success each step of the way. I am able to split my class into two groups and have half the class work in a focused and independent way on Essential Skills while I provide instruction for a smaller group.”

Sarah Reddy, Special Educator, Heritage Christian Services, Rochester, New York
"Within our day programs for adults with developing disabilities, I searched a long time for an educational product that met our needs for individuals with cognitively impairments. Essential Skills exceeded all of our expectations. The instructions are very clear; the scope and sequence is well defined, and achievement is measurable. The graphics within the programs are universally appropriate for children and adults. We have purchased assessment, phonics, reading comprehension and mathematic products. My student so enjoy receiving the immediate reinforcement after each entry, achievement stars after completing the assignment and the ability to print out a score using the Marks Manager System."

Jim Parry-Hill, Teacher, Gretna, Manitoba
"In my work with adult students, I am often caught between material that either starts at an inappropriately high academic level, or that is obviously designed for first graders, and therefore of no interest to adults. I have never found any resource as good as the programs from Essential Skills. They have created a range of products that are high interest and easy to access, regardless of age or skill level. Thanks for creating a terrific set of resources."

Bev Wright, Teacher, Warkworth Correctional Institution, Campbellford, ON
“I work with adults with severe learning difficulties and they are experiencing great satisfaction and success with the programs from Essential Skills. These adults often have little or no computer experience but they are quickly able to use the programs easily and independently. This software definitely fosters their self confidence and motivation to learn. I test progress on an ongoing basis and my students make steady progress.”

Cheryl Lenz-Fabian, Learning Assistance Teacher, Bethlehem Catholic High School, Saskastoon
"The Essential Skills Science programs are used in our alternate education program for 14-18 year old's. These programs boost their self esteem and help them grasp essential Science concepts. It gives them a real sense of accomplishment. The students don't feel the programs are babyish and they can work independently at their own level with success. The marks management system makes it easy to document progress. Essential Skills programs are great for teaching the basic skills that all students need to learn. I have really, really enjoyed the programs and feel that they have made a big difference for my students."

Sherri Keefe, Resource Teacher, Ascension Bay Collegiate, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland
“I find these programs to be excellent. They have a highly structured layout and provide skill repetition and feedback. My high school students love the idea of learning their skills independently at their own level and pace without fear of criticism or putdown. They do not find the programs babyish at all. These programs have been very helpful in addressing the skill deficits in my students. I have recommended Essential Skills programs to several of my teacher friends.”