Quotes from teachers at PS 333

AWARD has been such a wonderful introduction for my Kindergarten ESL students. The first week of class, they felt like readers when they were able to independently 'read' the first text.

AWARD is balanced literacy with a twist of technology and ELL scaffolds all in one package. It is not a scripted program but rather a treasure chest filled with authentic, engaging materials teachers can pull from in order to best educate the students. It is an exciting way for teachers and students to learn literacy and content area knowledge. It never feels like traditional, antiquated schooling but rather exploration and fun!

Quotes from teachers at PS 46X

AWARD Reading is a wonderful program that can be used with bilingual students as a literacy and ESL program. Lisa Rosario, First Grade Bilingual teacher

AWARD Reading is a comprehensive literacy program that celebrates a love for reading and targets the individual child. Carri To, ESL Grade 1 teacher

If children have a choice, they always choose AWARD. I apply the centers I learned about in AWARD to all my other subjects now. The children feel like readers because of the success they have. A Colombian boy with no English last year is reading now with understanding and speaking fluently.

Quotes from teachers at PS 100Q

The teachers using AWARD say it is amazing because these beginning children with no English are reading within 6 months. (K and 1)

Quotes from teachers at PS 98M

Children are instantly engaged. They love the worm (Lettergetter). Definitely improved their English.

Customer Comments about AWARD Reading and Writing: California

Here are some unsolicited statements from a current AWARD customer:

Kids are engaged when working on AWARD. AWARD energizes all students. They are millennial kids and they love working on the computer, video activities, media, etc.

• We need more engagement by students that are not active learners.
• It meets the Grade Level CA. Standards. It also meets the ELD (CA) Standards.
• It shows the story being read to the child with the words turning red as the voice moves.
• The pictures come to life as they move and interact.
• It teaches the basic vocabulary. Focuses on building vocabulary and extends vocabulary.
• Every activity at the end of the stories is: Phonics, Comprehension, and Writing.
• It connects kids to books and interactive engaging pictures.
• It is another teacher (an instructional tool) in the classroom, which we all need!
• AWARD is the academic tool that every teacher needs when she/he is teaching a small group and the rest of the class needs an academic literacy activity to enhance and extend learning.
• Kids are hooked on media and video games, and this is an academic way to get their attention.
• Keeps the student focused. Lots of kids can't focus and AWARD demands it.
• Specific kids need to become independent learners and readers and AWARD does that for them.
• It is an intervention support for RSP Students, English language learners, Attention Deficit, and struggling learners. AWARD is an excellent intervention literacy and technology activity.
• The skills charts help the students and teacher to stay on target at the students' point of need. They supplement all core textbooks.
• It was written by the same person that wrote lots of the Wright Group products.
• It was written by the same people that wrote Mrs. Wishy Washy.
• It was written to teach the students that are the HARDEST to teach.
• It teaches independent decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving.
• It is interactive and not passive.
• It is Reading and Writing Skills which our students need to learn.
• The phonics texts are all stories with a specific storyline.

AWARD is the perfect intervention:

• It supports everything you are doing in your curriculum.
• It is RTI: Response to Intervention or System of Intervention.
• It is super for Attention Deficit students, unmotivated students, struggling learners, English Language Learners, millennial kids, our media and video game loving kids, etc.

You have to show the book with the technology:

• Every student needs the book with the computer version.
• Read, reread the book, and do activities: vocabulary, comprehension, writing, grammar; then have them read the book to someone.
• Do a guided lesson (six packs) with that book.
• Always use the technology in whole class or small class instruction.

Kid Conversations about AWARD...Florida

"AWARD helps you learn and it is also fun! It does reading and has things that are good for you to learn in your class. I Do Not Like Beans for Dinner is my favorite book. It talks about what things people do not like to eat. I do not like to eat 'Green Sospa' - a Haitian Creole food."

"On AWARD, you can write and you can make words and stories. My Skeleton is my favorite title. It is exciting because of the games. The Mighty Writer game is my favorite game."

"I like the AWARD activities because you get to pick the one you want to play sometimes. I like It's For You best because the girl talks to animals like the dolphin. There are always cool games at the end when you are finished reading."

"We like AWARD because it is fun. We like to work in partners. We have been learning how to spell words. It is such a fun way to learn to us."

"I love AWARD because we get to read stories on the computer every day. After we read stories, we get to play games. I get to click on my favorite stories and read them again and again. A Dark, Dark Night is my favorite."

"AWARD is fun - it helps you to learn! I don't ever like to skip AWARD because it is so much fun for me. Rat-A-Tat-Tat is my favorite."

"AWARD is fun to read on. It has lots of books that you can't get stuck on because they help you read and then you can read by yourself when you are finished. I like Rat-A-Tat-Tat because of all of the cats."

Dialogue between Delaney and Shanell after I transcribed Shanell's thinking...

"We are going to be the smartest in first grade!" (Shanell)

"Yes, we are going to be the smartest kids in our class because we practice." (Delaney)

"Maybe on the planet." (Shanell)

Some unsolicited comments from teachers about the Lettergetter Project.

I truly appreciate the opportunity you are providing my children. I can never thank you enough! Unfortunately at school we can not view YouTube video here at school, so I am not sure how we would be able to see it. Also, our butterflies were 'Painted Lady' butterflies, which resemble Monarchs, so I think the video will work! Thanks again. I can not wait to share the email with my students today.

Hi Lettergetter, My name is Mrs. Slavin, and I am with Mrs. Tortorici's class while they found their book on your website. They are so, so smart. You helped them during this year to learn a lot. They sure are ready for second grade. Thanks for being their friend.

Room 2 is abuzz with Lettergetter and emailing crazy. I am really enjoying it too as it gives the children a purpose for their writing. I have started sending the little Lettergetter home with a book for the children to write in and a book with all the emails in it. Do you have any more of those little Lettergetters that they had at Chicago, because I don't think one will stand the test of time.

Thanks Wendy
Wendy Dorset (Bayview)

Dear Lettergetter
We are happy that you let us put our story on your website!
We are excited because people can read our book. We are also glad because we are going to be famous.
We can't wait to share the story with our families. They are going to be so, so, so proud.
Thank you for reading our story. We hope to see it on your website soon. We know who Mrs Tortorici is because she's our friend down the hall. We will look at her story and e-mail her about it. We also got an email from Room 2 in New Zealand. They are telling us all about their school and we are writing to them too. The students really enjoy it!

Your friends
Class 1-7 Ms Tuthill (Amityville)

Hi John
Just thought I would let you know what a smash Lettergetter is in the classrooms in Amityville. Wait till you see all the work the little guy has cut out for him! I have never seen so many questions and letters in my life. I sat down at a table of kids (who were reading one of your stories), and I told them about how I had read their own wonderful stories online and saw their drawings. They told me about how Lettergetter ate John Carr's sneakers! Lettergetter ate an iguana! Lettergetter ate John Carr's guitar! They were going absolutely bananas.
It's such a wonderful program. I don't know how Lettergetter will manage his immense fan base at this rate!
Kia ora John
Thanks for all the emails...the kids are loving every bit of it!
Kay Bishop
Melvern Valley School
Melbourne