Letters From Parents

January 9, 2009

I’m writing to let you know how pleased my husband and I are with Dylan’s progress, not only in his learning and listening capabilities, but also in his social/behavioral skills.

After the first three weeks that Dylan attended [HIP Training] there was a noticeable change in Dylan’s listening and writing skills. Our family immediately noticed his comprehension skills  at home were higher, which meant less melt downs and frustration on his part. Within a week of that, Dylan’s teacher and other staff members at his school started saying, “Wow! What a difference. What have you been doing?” Only his teacher and principal were aware of the fact he was enrolled in a special program. Because of HIP Training with Sara Rose and tutoring in reading during the summer of 2008, Dylan was able to complete his testing in August of 2008 and go to the next grade.”

Sincerely,

Ed and Fredalee Gleason, Paradise CA

November 2006

Our son Cody is in the 7th grade at Richfield School. He has been on an IEP since the third grade, working well below grade level. He was also working weakly with an Occupational Therapist, as he struggled severely with his motor skills. In June 2006 we found out about the HIP program and decided to give it a try. When Cody first began [HIP Training] he could not walk heal to toe on the balance beam, jump rope or skip. After the first three-week session, his progress was astonishing. His self-confidence was way up. Cody has always been a quiet and shy child.

We signed up for a second session and have been at it ever since. When school started in August, I could not wait to see if any differences were noticed. Cody has been working in the Resource Specialist room 75% of the day, every school day since the 3rd grade. We had a meeting with the Resource Specialist in September and were informed that Cody had improved in all areas. Cody now spends only one day a week in the Resource Specialist room and is working at grade level in all areas except math.

Cody has shown improvement in math also. In the past homework time was a battle. He always had missing assignments, and we had to fight just to get it done. This year he hardly ever needs help, there is no fighting, and he is moving along to get up to grade level work. No more homework meltdowns. Cody is getting a B in math and an A in reading.

Cody is full of confidence. He is a totally different kid. We get comments even from family members who notice the difference. He talks more, jokes around more and seems happier.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Klarenbach

June 2008

You are an answer to a mother’s prayers. It is heartbreaking to watch your children struggle year after year in school, getting further behind and not be able to help them. When my boys started HIP, Max had been failing in his first two years of formal education and Rocco was behind the benchmark in reading and writing after only three years. The thing that concerned me even more than their poor academic performance was the way it was affecting who they were inside.

Max, who was normally very self-confident and outgoing, felt completely lost in the classroom, an outsider who couldn’t do what everyone else was doing. He was eventually a puddle on the sidewalk at drop-off, refusing to even go to school. Rocco wanted to go to school, but was emotional at home whenever it was time to do homework. His teacher said the crying was carrying over in the classroom when he perceived the assignment or task to be too difficult.  He was beginning to give up easily when he used to take pride in finishing a task or project.

After only a few days of HIP Max was bounding out of the van for school, excited to go to HIP and already feeling more confident from his success in the program. After the second week, Rocco’s teacher mentioned she noticed a huge improvement in Rocco’s ability to focus on assignments and complete tasks with a positive attitude.

Now they are both nearing the end of their third session and the transformation is amazing. Their willingness, focus and ability to do schoolwork has improved so much that they are doing them on their own. The simple fact that they are now experiencing success in their attempts is bringing joy back to learning. They are having fun playing “brain games,” as we call them at our house, and engaged in more activities that stimulate their learning. That is something I can’t put a price on.

Thank you so much for the way you have impacted my boys’ lives in such a positive way. What your program has done in such a short time will continue to affect Rocco and Max for the rest of their education, something I hope lasts their lifetime.

Sincerely,

Jessica R. Wood