Testimonials
What young people say about TextNow®
“Before I started TextNow, I would be naughty to get myself out of having to read. I would just be silly and hyper, because I knew the teachers didn’t like that. When I started doing TextNow, it started changing.”
“I hated reading out to the class, but now I always put my hand up and say, oh can I read? ... We used to read out plays and I wouldn’t put myself up for the big roles, but now I’ve been in all the school productions. ... I’m proud that I managed to do it.”
“The book is really good. I am really starting to enjoy it. I am starting to like reading a lot more.”
“To be honest, I was kind of gutted that it was ending, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.”
“I read when I’m at home at the weekends, and when I’m here now I’ll probably go and read.”
“I’d say I read one book a year … and now I’m reading about one every month.”
“Miss D took me over to the library … I’ve never used the library except when I was about five. I’ve got a library card now … she helped with words and how to choose a good book.”
What other people say about TextNow
“An admin lady has been acting as coach to one young man, and she is delighted that his reading age has improved one whole year in these 12 weeks intensive reading.”
“I have carried out post tests this week on the learners involved. They have made an immense improvement with increases of two years minimum. I am really pleased and excited about these results, and wanted to share the information with you.”
“One of our most challenging and challenged learners has seen a marked change. Last Thursday the young man sat all day and read a whole book. He is thrilled with his new-found skill. This is the first time this young man has sat and focused on anything for an extended period of time. Getting him to read has been a way of managing his behaviour. He now reads signs in the building, he reads in the classroom and is engaged with the world around him. TextNow has been a breath of fresh air.”
“Your mentors have been very professional and extremely accommodating in terms of the chaotic attendance of our students. Their enthusiasm for the project has had a great impact on both the students they work with and their peers; positive word is spreading! Not only are we now able to link the TextNow diaries with our own awards, but the improvement in literary confidence has been far and above what could have been achieved with these students over such a short period within their usual group settings. We would all like to express our thanks for what the scheme has achieved to date.”
“I think almost all the young people have progressed from the reading project onto something else. M wasn’t at college and has now returned, N has gone on to further training, and certainly there was one girl whose attendance was terribly poor, but she started to establish a relationship with the coach and that coach is now supporting her in a hairdressing placement and tuition.”