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Excerpts from just a few of the
hundreds of letters of praise sent from people teaching reading at home:
"Dear Toe by Toe,
Toe by Toe is boring but
brilliant. It helps my reading skills
get better. I used to get my B and D
muddled up and I hardly do now. I think
other people like me who find reading
difficult should have this book.
Yours sincerely,"
Mabel P. - Age 8, April 2012
“My 8-year old daughter and I have just
finished Toe-by-Toe. We are so
delighted with the progress she has
made. It's outstanding. Most
of all the confidence it has given her
and a new joy to reading, learning and
homework!”
Althea J. – parent, U.K. Mar 2012
"Thank you so much for your wonderful
book. I discovered it after searching
the internet looking for something to
help my 9 year old son who has been
struggling with his reading. His
progress has just been amazing and his
reading has improved tremendously –
thank you!"
Sarah, parent - South Africa Feb 2012
“I would like to pass on my thanks for
this fantastic helpful system. My
daughter aged 9, has dyslexia and
although very bright has struggled with
reading and spelling. This book has
been a brilliant aid for us to work
through together - the improvement has
been great. We started it together on
the 24th July 2011 and will finish it
together by the end of January. She has
been amazing how she has stuck at it and
been determined to succeed. I am very
proud of her.
May
I thank you once again for all your
efforts to assist children with
difficulties to read more fluently and
for the aid for parents to be able to
support effectively”
Moira R. – parent, U.K. Jan 2012
“I wanted to let you
and
Keda
know that I have been to Jessica's
parents evening this week at school.
It was a very positive meeting... her
teacher can not believe her reading
progress!!!!!!!
I'm not keen on schools tests for
children but I do feel it's necessary
to measure progress. Jessica has
recently
completed a reading test that
relates reading
ability to age. (She had done the
same test 12 months ago). The results
show she has gained 4.5 years in reading
age in 1 year!!! and is now 3 months
ahead of her age!!!
Her
teacher did question the test results as
he has never seen such a big
improvement.
I am very proud, as you can
imagine...and it's all due to Toe by
Toe. I can not thank you enough for
this 'magic' book, it has turned my
daughter’s life around, she is now
gaining confidence in all areas of her
life and loves reading!!! Please
pass on my e-mail address to anyone who
wants to hear from someone who has 'been
there and done that' and I will gladly
tell them our experiences and fantastic
results"
Pam Williams, Parent U.K. – Nov. 2011
“I thought I would update you on my
daughter’s progress. She is only 6 and
started the programme earlier this year,
in April. She is now top of her class
at reading and can read almost
everything – even the newspaper. We are
on page 189 of the programme and my only
problem is trying to slow down the pace
as she is reading words perfectly that
she does not recognise or understand.
Lots of other children and the teachers
at her school are now using Toe by Toe.
She was awarded student of the month at
her school for her incredible progress.
She has progressed in just six months
from a child who was suffering from a
very significant loss of confidence
because she was so far behind and
distressed and was unable to participate
in school - to a child who is happy,
confident and brimming with eagerness to
go to school and learn. I believe the
very early intervention with Toe by Toe
was so vital. I would hate to think
where we would be now if she had not
started on the programme. It is
certainly working exceptionally well for
her. Thank you for the programme and
the help.”
Bridget (parent) Ireland– Nov 2011
“We have found
your "little red book" to have a really
big impact!”
Renee Gordon – home educating mum, South
Africa, Nov 2011
“I also want to tell you about what
happened to my husband Paul at work last
week. He has lots of new students
starting at this time of year, and one
of them had put down on his form that he
suffered with dyslexia. Paul went to
talk to him so that he could put the
necessary support into place for him,
but the lad said 'Oh I don't need any
extra help, I have overcome my
dyslexia'. Paul asked how he had done
this and he said by doing Toe by Toe
and reading lots”
Anna B. – parent, U.K. Sep 2011
“…At the time I was using
Toe by Toe
with my then 10-year old daughter who has
Down's Syndrome. She is now 18 years old
and I wanted to let you know that her
literacy skills are amazing for someone of
her ability. She loves reading, she loves
writing, is able to express herself well
with a wide range of vocabulary, uses
figurative language and manages the
idiosyncrasies of the English language
well. Her spelling skills are more than
reasonable and anything she doesn't know she
has a good attempt at. She has developed
into a confident young woman who has great
aspirations for her life - her father and I
are extremely proud of her. A part of her
success is due to your scheme and I wanted
to say a sincere thank you”
Kim – parent of a child with Down’s
Syndrome, U.K. Sept 2011
" I
am a parent from the West of Ireland and currently my 7-year
old is doing Toe
by Toe. …
The improvement I have seen is just brilliant. I was in bed
the last night and it was too late to read a story but I
heard him pick up a book and start reading it and breaking
up the word and sounding them out and putting it together
again. To hear him read or trying was music to my ears. This
is a fantastic achievement for this child as prior to this
all he wouldn’t even make an attempt as he had it in his own
mind I CANT READ. But thanks to Toe by Toe he now
believes I CAN READ.
I don’t know what else to say but that I as a parent of a
child using Toe By Toe would be honoured to have you
at our school."
Maria - parent, Co. Galway, Ireland - July 2011
“I am a 12-year old boy who has just completed Toe by Toe. When my
teacher first showed me your little red book I did not feel over the moon about
doing it…. Over the next few months I dreaded hearing those words – ‘now for 15
minutes of Toe by Toe.’ However, over the next few months, I realised
how reading was getting so much easier even though the words were getting a lot
harder. Now that I have finished the programme, I feel so much more confident
at reading. I want to thank you for your magical red book. It was a miracle
for me!”
Dean (12 years old), Co Monaghan, Ireland – June 2011
"My mum got me toe by toe when I was 5 and I thought it was the best book. I
still remember the ‘bat before the ball makes b and ball before the bat makes d
and that still helps me now’ :) my mum passed it on to a friend of hers to help
her child and highly recommends it and I do too and I plan on using toe by toe
with my children when I have them so it can help them as much as it helped me”
Jodie G. - Dyslexia and the "Toe By Toe" manual's Facebook Page -
May 2011
"My daughter learnt to read using Toe by Toe, it was like the right key
turning the lock for her, can't recommend this enough! Watching Secret
Millionaire, and remembered how successful this scheme is…”
Rachel W. - Dyslexia and the "Toe By Toe" manual's Facebook Page -
May 2011
"Dear Keda,
Thank you for making this book. I've been on
the book for 2 years now. and have finally finished. Before I started Toe
by Toe I couldn't read but now I can read. I can read big books now and
sports pages from the newspaper This book has also helped me with my
spelling. Thank you very much.
P.S. No one has helped me with this letter
Dylan M. - Ventnor, Isle of Wight - Feb 2011
"Thank you for all your help in making 'toe by toe', it helped me to read better
and faster. I feel that I am better and more confident to read more books
because of you. It has helped me in school a lot in English and subjects that I
need to read. This has helped me read more books because I can read faster and
better. Thank you for all your help and support in making me have more
confidence in reading"
D.D. - age 14, January 2011
“My friend’s son started with me on 23rd September 2010 and has almost
completed Toe by Toe. He is brilliant and the local primary school cannot
believe it!!!”
Joyce S. Parent & private tutor, Northern Ireland - Dec 2010
"Hi - Just wanted to let you know that my 7 year and
1
month old son has just completed your book – he
started Feb 28th 2010 and finished today! He is now reading. Thank you - the
book is simply amazing!"
Vicki - parent, U.K. Nov 2010
"I
am a great advocate of Toe by Toe and thank you for producing a really
practical aid in a world of flannel."
Jonathan E. - parent,
Derbyshire, U.K. - October 2010
"I am a teacher and I ordered
Toe by Toe to use at home with
my son, Benjamin, and - I have to say - it has transformed our lives"
Parent, Basingstoke - October 2010
“Dear Keda and all involved in the Toe by Toe book,May I please let you know
what my son has achieved yesterday in his GCSEs:
4 ‘A’s in Maths, Science, Additional Science and Design Technology
4 ‘B’s in Geography, ICT x 2 and Citizenship
6 ‘C’s in French, Statistics, Eng. Lit. and Eng. Lang., Adult Numeracy and
Literacy.
We cannot thank you and Professor Sue Fowler at Oxford enough. To achieve these
grades all at the higher paper is remarkable. When he is asked he often refers
to the help that your little book inspired. These grades mean that he can go on
to Grammar school and study ‘A’ Levels in Engineering, Maths and Physics.
As a mother, words cannot begin to express my gratitude to you all. To achieve
‘C’ grades in both English and French is breathtaking. At the age of 8, I was
told by his then teachers that he would be lucky to finish school with any
grades. What a difference – with a lot of hard work and CONFIDENCE."
Vanessa T. (parent) - Aug 2010
"Dear Keda Cowling & team,
I would
like to put into words the immense gratitude I feel towards you for the life
time of dedication you have shown to children and adults alike. You see, you
have changed my son’s life. You have empowered my wonderful, bright, articulate
boy. Before Toe by Toe, he frequently called himself ‘thick’ or
‘idiot’. You have made him realise he’s pretty darn smart! Yes, he has
dyslexia, but so what…? He now has the skills to cope. Everything is
achievable….”
Tracey M. - parent – Preston, Lancashire, Jan 2009
“My
daughter, age 11, has been working her way through your manual. The change in
her reading ability and, more important, her self-confidence, have been amazing.
She has a long way to go to overcome her dyslexia but now we feel confident in
encouraging her in her dream to be a teacher, as there is now hope that she will
make it through high school and on to university. Thanks so much for giving her
hope.”
Donna M (parent) – Binnu,
Western Australia. Jan 2009
"It
helped my son's speech/diction which was all part of his difficulties. Thank
you for helping me to help my son. If it hadn't been for your scheme, my son
may never have read, spoken or written. He now has several C and above
GCSEs..."
Parent/teacher, Castle
School, Bristol - Oct 2008
“Hello again Keda. Our granddaughter has now finished Toe by Toe. We cannot
praise the book enough; it has made a huge difference to her reading, spelling
and general confidence.”
Carole Shore, Stockport –
Sep 2008
“Dear Keda
I just wanted to let you know how successful Toe By Toe has been for my
daughter Emily who is 11 years. Emily started the Toe By Toe Scheme in
April 2006 and she has just got to the last page of the book. What a
transformation in Emily. She is now a confident reader and her self-esteem has
improved immensely. One of her favourite places is Waterstones bookshop! Two
years ago, Emily's reading age was four years behind her chronological age.
Today she has come home from school with a note from her teacher to say that her
reading age is now 12 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toe By Toe
is brilliant. Thank you so much as you really have made a significant
difference to Emily's life!”
Nicola J. (parent) – April 2008
"I am a
Teaching Assistant in Cheshire and a mum of a dyslexic 18 year old. I have been
delivering the Toe by Toe programme in my school for the past two years.
I have seen children blossom and become confident readers and best of all see
them enjoying books because of Toe by Toe. I only wish I had found Toe
by Toe when my son was at primary school. Thank you".
Lorraine Garner T.A. &
Parent, Cheshire - Apr 2008
“My daughter has recently completed the Toe-by-Toe programme and I just wanted
to say how impressed I have been with the improvement in her confidence and
reading. We rely on our “rules” and she understands she can use them on a
day-to-day basis and doesn’t panic when confronted by “scary” words anymore!
Thank you!”
Mrs A.T. Parent, Solihull – June 2007
“Dear Keda,
Just a quick e-mail to thank you for Toe-By-Toe! My 9 year old son is a changed
child and has just this last Monday completed the book! There were many times
that he wanted to give up but we persevered and he is now a confident and happy
reader. Thank You! Thank You! I am told that he may receive a certificate to
mark his achievement. He is so proud and this would really please him.”
Linda T. (parent), Tonbridge - June 2005
“Mrs Cowling,
I’ve enjoyed Toe by Toe a lot because it has helped me a lot with my
reading and my spelling. My Mum and Dad are glad because of Toe by Toe.
When I first started, I though it was stupid, but now it is cool!”
Wayne L. – primary school pupil, Milton Keynes, June 1996
"Before toe-by-toe, I was living in a deep dark hole. Everyone
else understood things and I didn't. When I was given the book, I
felt a rope ladder had been thrown down to me. It didn't have any
rungs... I had to build them myself and that has taken time.
Now I feel I'm near the top and I can see daylight. I feel sorry
for anyone stuck at the bottom."
Edward Charlton (aged 10), Nantwich, Cheshire
“I would like to thank you, Mrs Cowling, for producing this wonderful book...”
Sharon Watson (Parent), DL1 UE
“I am now a total addict of Toe by Toe…I have been working with Toe
by Toe for over a year and have seen the amazing results not only in reading
ability and improved fluency but also in the child’s confidence.”
Jane Carleton-Glenn (Specialist teacher, 76139 Karlsruhe,
Germany)
"This book has been tremendous, there has been
a great improvement in my son's confidence and also his reading ability.
An extremely clever and structured book for dyslexic children, a vital
reading tool that should be available in all schools."
From: Caroline Duggan (Parent) Hereford
HR4 0SD
"My only criticism of Toe By Toe is that it was not available
four years ago when my son began to fail. If it had been available,
my son would not have had to suffer the effects of ignorance, denial of
developing literacy, and sheer neglect of his obvious dyslexic problems.
This book should be promoted so that every parent and teacher should know
of its existence. No child should have to suffer as Scott did..."
From: Brenda Fieldsend (parent) , Barnsley
S71 3NJ
"I like the highly structured progression - especially the 3
ticks. This is an excellent manual for parents willing to devote
just 20 minutes per day. The system is clear, logical and simple
to administer."
From: Karen Tiffany (parent), Shipley,
W. Yorks. BD18 2JX
"My son’s improvement (in reading and writing) is due to your
wonderful book. He is now again a happy, chatty, delightful child
obsessed with acquiring knowledge. It has truly saved our son from
a school life of feeling inadequate and fearful - you have given him back
his future and us our son"
From: Sarah Price (parent), Ashford, Kent TN24
9JT
"I am finding Toe By Toe brilliant. It is making
my child’s progress much easier and boosting her confidence. She
has come on in leaps and bounds since starting it and seems to be enjoying
reading much more."
From: Erica Fyle, Somerset BA4 4ET
"...I cannot believe the difference Toe By Toe has made
to my son’s reading. He is now a fluent, confident reader and every
signpost we go past he tries to read. So different from a year ago
when he was struggling to read anything. So, an enormous THANK YOU
- I don’t know where we would have been without it"
From: Liz Gartside, Hove BN3 4QQ
"It is so good to be able to tell a child, ‘By the time you finish
Toe
By Toe you will be able to read anything’..."
From: Helen Albans (Private tutor), Sheffield
S10 5PQ
"This book has been a godsend and the best bit is that my son
enjoys using it. In the past he has shied away from books and now
he enjoys them and is making great progress"
From: Mrs. J. Ward (parent), Clydebank,G81 6LJ
"My son has been working on Toe by Toe for the last two
terms...He now has a reading accuracy of 10.02 (it was 7.08) and a reading
comprehension of 12.06 (previously it was 8.00). I would just like
to pass on my thanks to you and everyone concerned in the production of
this book that has given my son the chance to access the normal school
curriculum and increase his self confidence to an amazing degree."
From: Christine Wilson, Surrey GU16 6PN
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