Many of you know Ricki Linksman, founder-director of National Reading Diagnostics Institute and Keys Learning, in Naperville, Illinois, the developer of Keys to Reading Success: the online reading program that gives you a reading diagnosis, phonics diagnosis, and Superlinks Accelerated Learning assessment (Learning Style Preference Assessment and Brain Hemispheric Preference Assessment) to find your fastest way of learning, followed by a prescriptive plan, with thousands of lesson plans in all learning styles (kinesthetic, tactile, visual and auditory with left-brain and right-brain techniques) in all areas of reading: reading comprehension, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, study skills, note-taking skills, test-taking skills and test prep for state reading tests and the ACT and SAT. You also know her through her popular books, How to Learn Anything Quickly: An Accelerated Program of Rapid Learning (Barnes and Noble),Solving Your Child's Reading Problems, and Your Child Can Be a Great Reader. Some of you know her as the picture on the back cover of Davidson's Reading Blaster Ages 6-9 and her Parent Tips included in the program, or from her name on the cover of Knowledge Adventure's Learning to Read software. For those who want to know more about her, this fact sheet will provide information on how many people have learned to read within months and raise reading levels of entire schools from 2-5 grade levels within 6-8 months through her award-winning programs and materials. We know that deciding on a reading program is an important decision and it is helpful to know the credentials, hear testimonials, and see a client list to help make a decision. We hope this information sheet can help give you the information you need. Ricki offers: Accelerated Learning for Kids through Learning Styles: Learn to Read and Learn to Learn Quickly Teleseminars, E-courses, Brain-based Parent Training, Books, Learning Style Inventories, and Podcasts to Help Children Quickly Learn to Read through Learning Styles, Provides Reading Instruction, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Phonics, Fluency, Math, and Writing, and Quickly Solves Learning and Reading Problems in All Subjects from Pre-school to grades K-12, including regular ed, ADD, ADHD, gifted, and Special Ed. Visit http://www.secretstolearningsuccess.com for a free teleseminar by the World’s Best Accelerated Learning and Reading Expert, Ricki Linksman, and a free checklist of learning tips. Ricki offers: Kinesthetic, Tactile, Visual, Auditory, Left-Brain and Right-Brain Learning and Reading Secrets Proven to Help Any Struggling Learner (whether in Regular Education, Special Education, ELL (English Language Learners), or Gifted Programs or Who Are Diagnosed with ADHD/ADD) Improve in Reading or Learning of Any Subject in the Shortest Possible Time Using Learning Styles Reading Methods. Featuring Kinesthetic Vocabulary, Kinesthetic Phonics, Kinesthetic Reading Comprehension, Tactile Vocabulary,Tactile Phonics, Tactile Reading Comprehension, Auditory Vocabulary, Auditory Phonics, Auditory Reading Comprehension,and Visual Vocabulary, Visual Phonics, and Visual Reading Comprehension Techniques. Visit: http://www.secretstolearningsuccess.com Background: Ricki Linksman is the author of a dozen books on reading and accelerated learning and learning styles. She is the director of National Reading Diagnostics Institute, graduated from Hunter College of City University of New York, and has an M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University. She has spent 35 years as an elementary school through high school teacher, reading specialist, curriculum developer in the field of reading and language arts, gifted teacher and curriculum developer, Chapter I (Title I) reading teacher. She is also an instructor of graduate education college courses to train teachers in reading instruction and accelerated learning, a trainer and consultant to public school districts, one of the teacher trainers for the Illinois State ISAT tests, a presenter for Illinois Administrator's Academy course in district reading improvement, and a public speaker on the topic of reading improvement, accelerated learning, and learning styles. She is the developer of KEYS TO READING SUCCESS, a program used for years by schools districts nationwide to improve reading achievement. This program is available in an internet-based delivery system for schools and parents. Documented Statistics of Improving Entire School Reading Scores through KEYS TO READING SUCCESS: Sipley Elementary School, Woodridge: "The program works. Within 9 months of using the materials and program, 88% of students in Grades 1-3 rose 1-5 grade levels in reading above grade levels. It is awesome." --Principal Robyne Lewis, Sipley Elementary School (Chicago Tribune reported in an article published, Dec. 9, 1998, "Combinations Help Readers Unlock Words: Woodridge Uses a New Approach," by Casey Banas: "In September 1997, Lewis brought in Ricki Linksman, a Naperville reading consultant, for a conference on literacy skills. After that session, the principal and teachers developed their program over the next year and began using it in September....Robert Clinkert, associate superintendent for instruction in Woodridge Elementary School District 68, lauded the Sipley plan for its 'extraordinary quality' and has told the teachers, 'Your plan is a model plan for the district and schools across the nation.'") Farragut Elementary School, Joliet: 2/3 of the students in grades 1-3 rose from 1-7 grade levels in reading above grade level in one school year. "In that one year, I learned more about teaching reading from Ricki Linksman than from my entire college education." --M.S., Teacher Lincoln Middle School, Chicago: Before using the program, 2/3 of the students in grades 6 and 8 scored below state average on Illinois state IGAP tests. After 8 months of using the materials and program from National Reading Diagnostics Institute, 2/3 of the students in grades 6 and 8 scored above state average on the Illinois state IGAP tests. Fairmont School District, Lockport: "Before using Keys to Reading Success in our elementary and middle school, this high minority, high poverty school district was one of the lowest in the state in reading as measured on the ISAT Reading Test and had never made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). Within six months of using Keys to Reading Success, reading scores rose and the school made AYP for the first time. Discipline problems dropped, students were engaged in learning, and 2/3 of the students were reading several years above their grade level." --Dr. Doris Langon, Superintendent, Fairmont School District #89 Lincoln Middle School, Chicago: "Before using the program, 2/3 of the students in grades 6 and 8 scored below state average on Illinois state IGAP tests. After 8 months of using the materials and program from National Reading Diagnostics Institute, 2/3 of the students in grades 6 and 8 scored above state average on the Illinois state IGAP tests." Principal Dr. Michael Early Diederich School, East Aurora, Illinois: "Our school which has 83% of its students who are Spanish-speaking made AYP on the ISAT Reading Test within the year it used Keys to Reading Success." CLAS--Culture and Language School of Success, Los Angeles, California: "We used Keys to Reading Success for a year, and our school scored above state standards on the California state Reading Test. We also scored higher than the state and city average in reading." --Dr. Sharokky Hollie, Principal Clients: Through National Reading Diagnostics Institute, Ricki Linksman has helped students K-12, college, and adult learn to read within as little as 16 once-a-week sessions and have raised their reading level from 1-5 grades above their grade level. Clients who personally receive reading diagnosis, learning style assessment, and reading instruction come both locally from throughout Chicago and Illinois from public elementary, middle, and high schools and private schools, including college preparatory schools such as Benet Academy and Marmion Academy), and from as far away as Florida, Washington, D.C., Virginia, California, New York, Texas, and other states who seek out her expert advice. With this website, she is now able to offer her services to people from anywhere in the world. Clients that Are School Districts, Schools, Companies, and Agencies Who Have used Ricki Linksman's Consulting Services or District, School, or Individual Teacher Trainings; or Have Purchased Books, Reading Kits, and Products such as the Superlinks Accelerated Reading Materials and Learning Style Testing are: Regional Office of Education of DuPage County Regional Office of Education of Will, Grundy, and Kendall Counties Regional Office of Education (South Cook, West 40) Chicago Public Schools Regional Office of Education of McHenry Country Schools, Teachers, and Parents from the following School Districts Who Have Received Trainings or Used National Reading Diagnostic Institute Books, Kits, and Products Have Come from the Following Cities in Illinois: Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, La Grange, Wilmette, Lisle, Wheaton, Woodridge, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Warrenville, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Queen Bee, Lombard, Springfield, Rockford, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Oswego, Cresthaven, Minooka, Mazon-Verona-Kinsman, Summit, Berwyn, Braidwood, Custer Park, Coal City, Oak Park, Schiller Park, Norwood, Murphysboro, Danville, Newark, Lockport, Crest Hill, L a Moille, Peoria, and others. Clients that Are Colleges, Companies, and Organizations: 3M National Louis University Waubonsie Community College Jenner and Block and Associates Law Firm Literacy Volunteers of America Olivette University DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) Conferences at Which Ricki Linksman Has Presented: Illinois Reading Association Illinois Administrator Academy at Illinois Reading Association Conference in Springfield Literacy Volunteers of America (DuPage Chapter) Kendall County Special Ed Cooperative Christian Home School Conference Professional Development Alliance Reading Conference P.T.A. meetings at individual schools Will County Special Ed Cooperative Awards Received Certificate of Merit for IASCD (Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Winn Research Award for 1999 Magazines and Journals That Have Reviewed Books and Materials by Ricki Linksman or Written Articles about Her Work: Publisher's Weekly: Booklist Chicago Tribune (see above) Chicago Parent Naperville Sun Bolingbrook Sun Lisle Sun From Cedar Rapids, Iowa "Gazette": "Author Ricki Linksman has plenty of tips for parents who want to be sure their kids love to read, and can read well. Her book, "Your Child Can Be a Great Reader" argues that parents should supplement school education with home tutoring in reading, and she offers lesson plans to that end." (January 3, 1999) From the Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas: "This step-by-step guide is designed to help children overcome every kind of reading problem and get back up to grade level or beyond. It is filled with short, fun activties to do at home and provides pointers to boost self-esteem and motivation." (Jan. 24, 1999) From "Woman News," New York, New York: "There is a way to learn anything you want rapidly and successfully. The technique can be applied to any sort of learning in any field you choose. Each of us has a superlink--the easiest method for us to fully learn information....Once you've found your superlink, you can use it to learn in ways that are easy, effortless, and automatic." From How to Learn Anything Quickly, by Ricki Linksman--as published in an article in New York's Woman News called, "Mind Power: Smarten Up! Tap into Your Brain's Superlink--Learning Becomes Easy, Effortless, and Automatic, April 1998 edition From San Diego Parent: "All children in California will be reading at grade level or above by the end of third grade." With this promise, California state leaders have made reading instruction in the early grades (K through 3) a top priority in the public schools. So while the politicians are trying to do their part, how can parents help their little readers measure up? According to Ricki Linksman, author of Your Child Can Be a Great Reader, parents should first figure out their child's learning style. "Research shows that each of us receives information in different ways," Linksman explains. "Visual learners learn better through their eyes, auditory through their ears, tactile learners by touching, and kinesthetic learners by moving around.:--from an article in the L.A. Times and San Diego Times, "What is Your Child's Reading Style? If You Know How Your Child Reads You Can Help Him/Her Learn, by Judy Molland, March 1999 Kansas City Parent: From article, "Improving Reading Instruction: Many Schools Are Weak in Providing Instruction in Reading Comprehension," by Siobhan Kellerman: "In her book, Solving Your Child's Reading Problems," Ricki Linksman, M.Ed., suggests that comprehension involves a variety of skills including an understanding of details (information usually found right in the text), main idea (what the passage is about), and time order (the sequence of events, or what happened first, next, and last), using judgment (considering the consequences of actions), inferencing (assuming things that are not directly stated in the text), and the ability to make predictions (anticipating what will occur next in the story). These are all crucial components to understanding what we read." L.A.Parent From article: "What is Your Child's Reading Style? If You Know How Your Child Reads, You Can Help Him/Her Learn, by Judy Molland: "'All children in California will be reading at grade level or above by the end of third grade.' With this promise, California's state leaders have made reading instruction in the early grades (K-3) a top priority in the public schools. So while the politicians are trying to do their part, how can parents best go about helping their little readers measure up? According to Ricki Linksman, author of Your Child Can Be a Great Reader (Carol Publishing, 1998), parents should first figure out their child's learning style. 'Research shows that each of us receives information in different ways,' Linksman explains. 'Visual learners learn better through their eyes, auditory learners through their ears, tactile learners by touching, and kinesthetic learners by moving around.'...Where reading is concerned, Linksman points out one more factor parents must consider: Once the information is received through the senses, either the spatial right hemisphere or the linear left hemisphere of the brain tends to dominate, also helping to determine the child's reading style. 'If your child favors the left hemisphere, then he/she will prefer the step-by-step approach, sounding words out letter by letter, and using phonics,' Linksman says. 'Favoring the right hemisphere means that he/she prefers to learn the full pattern of words (rhyming patterns such as at: bat, cat, hat, fat), and getting the big picture.' In your child's classroom, you should find both phonics and whole language in place. A State of California Framework adoption in 1998 clearly states that the question is not whether to teach 'phonics' or 'whole language' but how to teach phonics in context, so that children make connections between letters, sounds, and meaning....The key is a balanced approach and attention to each child's individual needs. It is important that children are learning decoding techniques and, at the same time, practicing reading as a pleasurable activity."--L.A. Parent, and Tips for Parents, Sacramento County Office of Education) Teachers and Parents Have Purchased the Superlinks Accelerated Reading Materials from the Following States: California, Texas, New York, Florida, New Jersey, Washington, D.C, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, Connecticut, Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Alaska, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. From Other Countries: England, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, India, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, and Japan. What Parents, Teachers, Trainers, and Professionals Have Said About Ricki Linksman's Trainings, Services, and Products: "My child has made tremendous gains in a short time. His self-esteem has risen dramatically." --A.P, Parent, Naperville "In 6 months, my 4th grade child, who was reading 3 years below level, came up to grade level and is doing well in school." --Parent, Lisle "My 10th grade son went from grades of 'F's" and 'D's' to 'A's' in 4 weeks. His study skills, comprehension, and memory has improved tremendously." --Parent, Westmont "My kindergartener is now reading 3rd grade books, and doing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division due to the weekly sessions at National Reading Diagnostics Institute over several months time." --Mr. R.M., Parent, Naperville "For the first time, my 2nd grader could read on his grade level, and his self-esteem has increased tremendously." --Parent, Chicago "I home school my children and I learned how to accelerate their reading at home." --Parent, Batavia "My gifted child loves the challenging activities." --Parent, Downers Grove "The teacher training course I took from Ricki Linksman at National Reading Diagnostics Institute is the best course I have ever taken." --Teacher, Naperville Public Schools "The course in how to teach reading that I took from Ricki Linksman at National Reading Diagnostics Institute stretched my thinking about learning. The material was practical, hands-on, and relevant. She is an excellent trainer. It is the best course I have taken in years."--Reading Teacher, Downers Grove "I now have some tools and tests from National Reading Diagnostics Institute to evaluate why some of my students are not learning and to have techniques to teach to all my students. I recommend that every teacher take this training--it will open your eyes and hearts." --Teacher, Aurora Public Schools "We wanted our 4-year-old child to qualify for a gifted school but she didn't achieve the necessary score on her first test. We brought her to National Reading Diagnostics Institute, and within less than a year, she not only learned to read at a 3rd grade level, but was able to qualify for the gifted school. We are so thrilled with the results." --Parent, Wheaton "Our teenager did not score well on the practice test for a high school entrance exam to a college preparatory school. After a few months of work at National Reading Diagnostics Institute, areas of need were targeted and our teen got 99% on the actual entrance exam and was admitted to the preparatory school."--Parent, Lisle "Our son was in special education classes since 1st grade and by 7th grade still had not learned to read. We brought him to Ricki Linksman for a reading diagnosis, learning style test, and instruction. Our son learned to read in months and no longer needed to be in special education. His self-esteem has gone up and he is so happy now." --B.B., Parent, Miami, Florida "I am 26 years old and throughout my school career was labeled dyslexic. I never learned to read, and ended up with a job and career that did not interest me. I wanted to go to college. I came to National Reading Diagnostics Institute, and within 6 months learned to read well enough to pass the college entrance examination, and have been admitted to a college that will prepare me for the career I want." --A.L., Chicago I am in my 50's and could never read. I wanted to learn to read, and discovered Ricki Linksman's book, Solving Your Child's Reading Problem" in the library. I called her and she began working with me. Through her learning style test, I discovered that I couldn't read because the method used in the school when I was growing up did not match the way I needed to learn. She taught me how to read in my best learning style and I can now enjoy books. She also trained my Literacy Volunteer of America tutor for free so that she could keep working with me and help others as well." --J.S., Chicago ReadingInstruction.com