Success Stories, Learning Services, Learning Center, Expressways to Learning-Stilwell's Learning Services

Success Stories from
Stilwell's Learning Center
A 15-year-old boy using QuikComp® scored at 6th grade level when pre-tested in reading. After only 5 weeks, he tested at 10th grade in both reading and comprehension.
Sarah began with Stilwell's Learning Center in July, 2006 with 2nd grade levels in all of her work. In April, 2007, her school found she now tests at nearly 6th grade level in everything.
Three children and their mother, a Korean family, studied at Stilwell's for three months in the summer and returned to Korea able to communicate well in English. Their accent was good and they were becoming fluent both in speaking and in comprehension. Their test scores improved during the three months approximately three whole grade levels.
A fifth grade girl attending for acceleration for four months, four days per week, spent 20 minutes on Expressways To Reading®, 20 minutes on Expressways To Math®, and 20 minutes on QuikComp® each session. At the end of approximately 20 hours using each system, she made gains of about a year in reading, in comprehension, and in math.
A Korean teenager spent two months with Stilwell's Learning Center and returned to Korea. When engaged in a simple conversation at the end of the two months he could both understand questions and answer in simple sentences.
In 86 hours, Peter, an eighth grader, made gains of 2.9 years in reading words in isolation, 3.2 in reading words in context, and 5.0 in comprehension.
A mother shared with us at the beginning of the year: " A year ago I was so frustrated because I didn't know what to do about my daughter's reading. As a teacher I didn't have a good answer for my own daughter. This year it is so much better."
Heidi, a college junior, came in depressed because she was receiving poor grades although she was studying hard. In just 30 hours she gained 1.8 years in spelling, 2.4 years in vocabulary, 5 grade levels in reading isolated words and words in context, and 9 grade levels in comprehension! Also there this summer, nine fourth through sixth graders who attended an average of only 33 days averaged a 2.8-year gain in comprehension.
My daughter, Mikaela was enrolled with Stilwell's Learning Center beginning in October 2007. After only four months her first school year report card for 7th grade was one of her best. Her teacher stated that Mikaela had improved one letter grade.
From Schools Using Expressways To Learning© Systems

An aide at an ETR lab at an Elementary School in Texas says she was held back in school because of poor reading. She hated to read until she began to help teach ETR. Now she reads three or four books per week and is so enthusiastic about reading.

An ETL Representative reports several teachers from south Texas have shared encouraging accounts about their students in their Expressways To Reading® labs, almost 100% of whom have English as their second language. These teachers report increased attendance and confidence, improved pronunciation of words, participation in class, increased attention span, and decreased disruptive behavior along with increase in reading skill and comprehension.

Another ETL Representative from Tennessee reports that one of her students, Tori, was recently chosen "Best all-around student in school!" Her mother had despaired of her ever learning to read.

From an ETL lab in American Samoa, which began last summer, we have received these comments after only a few months from the principal. "The school is doing great...We have 717 students this year from K-3 through high school. I can't begin to express how much Expressways To Reading® is making a difference here on this campus with our students and staff...Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! There are so many stories I can tell you of how ETR has helped so many students already...with great improvement in school and at home.

We have a postscript on Kevin, for whom we earlier reported fantastic progress. He reached his tenth-grade level in all areas. Last spring when his former Expressways To Learning® teacher substituted in one of his regular classes she could hardly believe it was the same boy of just a year before. He was making very good grades and was a well-adjusted student. (In one semester in the ETR lab he had made a 3-year gain in reading accuracy and six years in comprehension). Teacher, Deltona , FL

You have provided tremendous assistance to us as we seek to offer more long-term solutions to the problems that the homeless face. Reading skills are absolutely necessary in the modern world, as you so well know. The homeless often fall short of even the minimum standards that society expects. I have found that Expressways to Learning® is extremely useful in helping them not only improve their skills, but gain a more positive self-image. Every single person who has participated in the program has benefited from using it. Director of an adult resource center Nashville, Tennessee

Scotty, in fourth grade, has advanced from a pre-primer level to reading at second grade level in three months of daily 45-minute sessions.
Teacher Nashville, Tennessee

In one semester Rachel, grade three, improved 3 grade levels in comprehension. Isabel in 5th grade went from 4.5 to 6.6 in reading accuracy and in comprehension went off the scale at grade 9.8! Teacher N. Ft. Myers, FL
From an Elementary School in San Benito, Texas, comes the report of a fifth grader who has gone from classroom grades of C's, D's, and F's to making the A-B honor roll this last six weeks! Teacher, San Benito, Texas
The Lairds were told that their son, Chuck, was dyslexic and they should never expect much academically from him. In 1988 they enrolled him in an Expressways To Learning® center. His parents were so grateful for the help he had received that in 1990 they established their own Expressways To Learning® center in Arlington, TX. They are still operating this very successful learning center there, having helped hundreds of children and adults. A recent phone call gave us the report that their son, Chuck, is now at College earning straight A's!! His goal is to become an attorney.
Parents and Learning Center Owners Arlington, TX

Two third grade girls from an Elementary School in Donna, TX attended the ETL center for acceleration. After six months working 45 minutes each day and then an hour after school, one made two years gain in both reading accuracy and comprehension; the other made gains of three years in both accuracy and comprehension. From the owner of a Learning Center comes the report of another third grade girl who says, "Since I started taking this (ETR) I can't stop reading, I love reading." After 53 hours she made 3.5 years gain in vocabulary, 1.5 in spelling, 4.5 in words in isolation, 1.8 in reading words in context, and 4.8 in comprehension.
Thank you so much for your assistance through the years!....One of the highlights of my teaching experience has been the association with all of the lovely and helpful persons connected with Expressways. Also, I am "sold on" Expressways to Reading® and what it has done and will do for students. I will continue to share with others about Expressways. You have a superior staff and program! It has enriched my life to be a small part of your overall commitment to Learning. Teacher, Gatesville, Texas An excerpt from a memo by the Principal at an Elementary School in Mercedes, Texas: "I have observed that the students are already reading. These students can not follow the timelines as we have them because they are beyond that...Wow!! What an accomplishment!! Parents have noticed and are very proud of our program.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for your outstanding program. We have had the privilege of offering it to our students for the past six years. This is a superior program that has provided amazing help to students who are struggling in reading and math. It has also been a valuable tool for students who are learning English as their second language. All in all, it is the most beneficial program of its kind that I have discovered in my twenty-eight years as an educator. The consultants with whom we work have been excellent in every way. They are always extremely helpful, cooperative, and a joy to work with. God bless you all for your wonderful work! Principal, North Fort Meyers, Florida Sammy at a Learning Center in Coral Springs, Florida pretested in reading comprehension at grade 4.1 months. After taking ETR for four months, only four hours a week, he post tested at grade 7.5 months.
Last year our ETL lab served over 80 At-Risk students. Eligibility was decided by non-mastery of one or more subjects on our state assessment tests (TAAS). They were considered ineligible when they passed those subjects. This year we had less than ten returning students. The hardest part of my job is deciding which students to select for the program. It feels like the students I cannot get into the program, for lack of equipment and personnel, are being left behind without help or hope. It bothers me. I really do believe that the ETL program used properly can help almost any student be more effective in reading and math. I'll be thankful when I don't have to exclude any students. Thank you for a wonderful teaching tool. If you need a name for someone to call for more information on ETL, please feel free to use mine. Title I Teacher Killeen, Texas
From Parents & Students Across the Nation
Our 9 year old son was in the Expressways program for just a few weeks when we noticed a remarkable change. He actually begged to read to us at night and he was excited to check out library books. After participating in the program for nine months, his test scores have jumped two to three grade levels.
From Parents in Oklahoma

I'm just ecstatic over the program. I've started my ETR sessions and am just loving it. I forced my way in with the high school group. The kids got a kick out of me being in ETR and starting in Lesson 1 to boot! It's fun and encourages them with the program as well. We are having great progress with the two students with ADHD and ADD. It's just wonderful.
The parent of a child in an ETL lab in a school in California writes "Ryan was reading at approximately a second grade level when he came to the school a year ago...Now he is almost at grade level (8th grade), his self-esteem is where it should be, and he is no longer frustrated."

Our 14 year old son, Byron, was struggling with school his entire life. After years of testing and searching, he was diagnosed with a complex form of dyslexia. We have tried educational programs, tutors, after school labs, and home education with little to no success. Our initial thought was, "too good to be true," but like most parents, we would keep trying. We started the ETR program and had immediate results. Byron's whole personality changed. His behavior, relationships, and self-concept all changed dramatically. Byron initially tested at third grade reading level. After completing the first 50 lessons (October to January), his reading and comprehension had improved two grade levels. After the 100th lesson (January to April), his reading grade level is 8.6. In less than one year we have watched our son undergo a complete metamorphosis. A year ago, the prognosis for Byron was pretty hopeless. It was too late to regain lost ground and it was unlikely he could finish high school or even hold a job. Today we continue ETR confident it will continue to unlock Byron's full potential. God has answered our prayers and given us back hope. Parents from Pensacola, Florida

The [Expressways] reading program has turned my life around. It has done several things for me. 1. My spelling is better. 2. My reading is better. 3. My typing is better. 4. School is better all around. I am no longer getting in trouble for not getting my work done. I not only get it done on time, but am getting more done. Thanks, ETR. Byron, Age 15 from Pensacola, Florida

Before I enrolled my son, Lance, in your class, evenings around our home were like a war zone. Lance brought home tons of homework every evening but didn't want to do it. Every subject was a struggle for him. From the time we sat down together to work on it until we were done my whole evening revolved around him. I have a younger son who felt a little bit neglected. After attending Expressways for a few weeks, I noticed a big change in Lance. He gets most of his homework done at school and rarely brings any home. His grades have greatly improved and he might even make the honor roll this time. His attitude has changed. He even finds some of his classes interesting where he used to think school was boring. I would like to say a big "Thank You" to the staff at Expressways. Without your help, I don't know what I would have done. Your class has made a big difference. Thank you.

My Muka (son) is just flying! Progress reports come out this Friday and he will be getting a progress report for the very first time without any D's or F's. He made two B's and 3 C's...without a tutor and no help from me or my husband. He has been so studious and it's only been three months since he began ETR. A Grandmother, American Samoa

I dropped out of school in the eleventh grade. My family moved and my brother and I decided not to face a new school. I just stayed home. After all, when I was in school I was just moved from class to class. No one had an interest or tried to really help me. Later, I got married and started a family. As the children grew, I got a job working as a custodian to help out. I didn't think my life could be any different. The Lord led my boss to talk to me. Through his encouragement I decided to go back to school. My self-esteem was at an all time low. I accepted the challenge. I took Adult Education basic courses, but had a terrible time concentrating. I had never learned how to study. Expressways To Learning® has changed my life! The program has helped me learn to spell, organize, read, and even helped me with English skills. I learn differently. At Expressways I am able to hear, see, and say new material aloud. Not long ago, I read peacefully in front of nine people. I couldn't have done that a year ago. I didn't have the courage or the confidence. I'm still working on comprehension and remembering things I read, but it is much easier now. I'm spelling words right that I have spelled wrong all my life. I recently bought myself a computer and thanks to the computer skills I learned at VoTec and Expressways, I am typing and spell-checking my homework papers. I'm writing this letter to encourage anyone who needs help reading to attend Expressways To Learning®. I give permission to share this letter in hopes that others will be as blessed as I have been Grandmother Palmyra, Michigan