MINDsprinting Method

The overall objective of Mindsprinting is clearly to maximize the student’s potential in respect to mathematical performance and reading comprehension. Mindsprinting has succeeded to a remarkable degree. The program has been well designed to benefit a wide range of students - from those seeking enrichment to those requiring remedial assistance. And the ability to do lessons in the privacy of one’s own home, makes it ideally suited for busy adults looking to improve their skills. In sum Mindsprinting is proven, engaging, convenient and affordable.

MINDsprinting is the only online supplemental education program available in math and reading comprehension that I would recommend to both parents and educators. Mindsprinting promotes comprehension rather than passive memorization. Practice and review, not simply repetition, are required for progression, and the student is given ample opportunity to practice and review, and thus understand and integrate, in order to advance. Memorization will not suffice. This is a crucial difference between Mindsprinting and apparently similar programs - and why Mindsprinting is so beneficial.
Peter J. Gamlin Ph.D., C.Psych, Professor Emeritus and senior researcher, Department of Adult Education, Community Development and Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Educationally Sound

Through the use of multiple methods to explain computational procedures, worked examples, and hierarchically structured lessons, the Mindsprinting math curriculum brings highly effective pedagogy to computer-based learning.
Dr. Anna T. Cianciolo, Senior Research Scientist at Global Information Systems Technology, Inc. and a former postdoctoral associate in the PACE Center at Yale University

I find the MINDsprinting program to be very clear, concise, attention-getting, and pedagogically-sound. The MINDsprinting materials follow an increasingly difficult progression of items and levels to master, which is ideal for students to learn at a pace that neither taxes nor bores. The MINDsprinting materials, I think, hold promise for a new age in supplemental education.
Dr. Michael Luther, Course Director, Psychology Department, York University

The Mindsprinting program is based on sound educational practices. First of all, the program is based on individualized learning. The student is assessed at a particular level and progresses at his/her own rate. Next, the objective of a new skill is made explicit, so that the student has a mind-set of what he/she is going to learn. This program provides clear, step-by-step examples, in words and pictures in order to lead the student through solving problems in a specific skill set. I am impressed with the task analysis evident in each particular skill set where the learning of new concepts is organized sequentially according to prerequisite, and requisite skills. Also, the Mindsprinting program provides review practice of skill sets, which is essential to consolidate the learning of concepts. Another essential feature of the program is the immediate feedback to the student’s answers as seen on the Progress Report and Transcript. Feedback is a critical tool for the student and/or parent to assess the mastery of learning a particular skill set and motivates the learner to proceed or review as necessary.
Lidia Komorowsky Special Education Resource Teacher For Toronto School Board

In terms of the theoretical relevance of the program, I think that the most recent and tried-and-true teaching and learning principles from research in educational psychology are well reflected in the structure and arrangement of the content of the MINDsprinting programs. In terms of the format of the program, I think that the well specified MINDsprinting materials will support students to learn at their own pace and master skills within their own ZPD (zone of proximal development)(Vygotsky, 1986) using lessons tailored to their skill level. This feature can be applied to help not only the children who have learning difficulties but also those who are seeking enrichment to reach their full potential.
Dr. Kwang-Hyun Koo, Professor Department of Early Childhood Education College of Humanities, Anyang University, Korea

There are several features of the Mindsprinting program that recommend themselves as excellent exemplars of instructional practice. At the outset students are provided with an interactive Assessment Test that identifies their mastery of skills, places them appropriately in the curriculum, and results in a written analysis being sent to the enroller. And in math, it further tailors the starting program to each student’s particular needs. Second, Mindsprinting is a ‘directed’ program - it assigns lessons based upon student achievement – which ensures constant monitoring of the student’s understanding. And third, the kind and quantity of feedback available to the student is exemplary. Consequently students will experience growing confidence and healthy self-esteem—a sense that they are truly capable of understanding.
Peter J. Gamlin Ph.D., C.Psych, Professor Emeritus and senior researcher, Department of Adult Education, Community Development and Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Using the Internet

I am delighted that MINDsprinting has taken an educationally-sound teaching technique, (which has proven itself internationally in terms of paper-and-pencil sorts of tasks) and adapted it to 21st century educational technology. This presents an exciting opportunity for improving the basic academic skills of children who have access to computers.
Dr. Michael Luther, Course Director, Psychology Department, York University

The on-line accessibility and convenience will be a key feature to anyone who wishes to improve numeracy and reading comprehension skills.
Sooky Crljen, 2-3 grade teacher

In addition, I think that the adoption of an online delivery system is a very significant strength of the MINDsprinting program. Online learning content in MINDsprinting can give children a chance to get out of their dependency on teachers and the classroom setting.
Dr. Kwang-Hyun Koo, Professor Department of Early Childhood Education College of Humanities, Anyang University, Korea

Parents

As an educator, I am confident that parents would find this program a valuable tool in assisting the educational development of their child.
Lidia Komorowsky Special Education Resource Teacher For Toronto School Board

It is widely recognized that parental involvement is a key determinant of a child’s cognitive development. Often times, parents cannot get involved in the remedial education of their children because they themselves have difficulty with the material that their children are struggling to master. Through accessible examples and ample practice material, the Mindsprinting math and reading curricula provide a unique opportunity for parents and children to learn together. The shared learning experience in turn fosters a relationship between the child, the parent, and the learning process, which builds the confidence and motivation necessary for success and lifelong learning. In addition, the shared learning experience equips parents to be an advocate for their children with teachers because they can track their children’s progress and communicate that progress more effectively. In short, the Mindsprinting math and reading curricula provide a unique opportunity to build the foundation for cognitive/motivational structures that will last a lifetime.
Dr. Anna T. Cianciolo, Senior Research Scientist at Global Information Systems Technology, Inc. and a former postdoctoral associate in the PACE Center at Yale University

The program encourages parental involvement, a cornerstone of academic progress. And for students and parents alike, it is a convenient, self-motivating program built on a balanced approach of assessment with instruction, step-by-step practice to achieve mastery of numeracy and literary skills.
Elizabeth Cowling, Elementary Teacher (over 20 years experience in Special Education and teaching students with learning disabilities)

[Mindsprinting] also gives parents a chance to easily and timely get involved in their child’s learning and provide tutoring opportunities to afford their child the chance to interact with others at a more advanced level of cognition. Consequently, this feature of the MINDsprinting program can maximize not only the effect of learning but also the motivation of children to learn.
Dr. Kwang-Hyun Koo, Professor Department of Early Childhood Education College of Humanities, Anyang University, Korea

Wow, Mindsprinting is on top of it. I have been a member for less than a month, and already I know I can count on prompt replies and sincere attention to my success.
Thanks for the clarification.
Jean

I appreciate your program because it's easy to access, read, and work with. Enrolling was easy and taking a placement test was definitely helpful. I like how easy it is to access the site and print out the assignments. Having the answer key right on line and not having to print is convenient. I like how clearly readable everything is for my son, Tyler, and me. The incentive program is awesome. My son is working towards the highest points, so to help him along the way I instilled my own rewards at each 50 point mark. That way he still gets his big reward in the end. I'm looking forward to that too. Most importantly, I like the ability to move him ahead on my own incase he gets bored and to move him back when we find it to be too hard. I love the printable progress reports as well. Thank you for offering this program, especially at a reasonable price.
Machelle Lietz

A Help to Schools

Mindsprinting allows students to work at their own pace and without the pressures inherent in a classroom setting. As a result, when a student’s teacher reviews his or her achievements (via reports that Mindsprinting provides) a clear indication of that child’s current skill levels and potential to learn is revealed. For example, in math, the lesson titles identify specific skill sets and the lesson results (percent correct and time taken) reveal the extent of mastery of those skill sets. Thus, a somewhat less obvious benefit afforded by Mindsprinting is the opportunity for parents and teachers to communicate on a regular basis, with detailed information, concerning the student’s progress.
Peter J. Gamlin Ph.D., C.Psych, Professor Emeritus and senior researcher, Department of Adult Education, Community Development and Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Often parents ask me for materials and/or programs that I can recommend for them to use at home with their children. The Mindsprinting program is a comprehensive resource, well organized and easily accessible on the web that parents can use to remediate, supplement, enhance their children’s skills in math and reading comprehension.
Lidia Komorowsky Special Education Resource Teacher For Toronto School Board

As an experienced educator, I recognize that it is difficult to meet the breadth of students’ learning styles within the group instruction of the classroom; we often cannot provide sufficient practice of subskills, the essential tools for comprehension and knowledge acquisition. Schools cannot do it alone. I would recommend Mindsprinting to parents because it is an enriched classroom resource that promotes student understanding and self-confidence by individualizing their learning. I would recommend it because it addresses the needs for all students, both those struggling with basics and those needing more academic challenges.
Elizabeth Cowling, Elementary Teacher (over 20 years experience in Special Education and teaching students with learning disabilities)

MINDsprinting is affordable, convenient, and it provides what all children need - a strong academic foundation. It also allows for the continuous tracking of the student’s progress over time, which should be of great benefit to the student’s teachers.
Dr. Michael Luther, Course Director, Psychology Department, York University

As a researcher in educational psychology and early childhood education and as an experienced lecturer of pre/in-service teacher education programs from Kindergarten to high school levels, I am certain that the MINDsprinting math and reading comprehension programs have significant value as an after-school and/or home-schooling program to help our children master the essential knowledge and skills required for their academic achievement at school. Learning materials presented in class are too easy for some children but they are too difficult for other children. Consequently, too many students in our schools feel bored and fall asleep in the classroom. They say that they have absolutely nothing to do in class. Do we really want to leave most of our children to play second fiddle? What we really need is to help our children learn at their own pace with great enthusiasm to maximize their learning potential. I have the conviction that this program will certainly give an excellent opportunity to empower students to excel in learning and by doing so, realize their ‘full potential in life’ as described in the Mission Statement provided by MINDsprinting.
Dr. Kwang-Hyun Koo, Professor Department of Early Childhood Education College of Humanities, Anyang University, Korea

Additional Benefits

The flexibility Mindsprinting gives to high school students is extremely positive from a developmental standpoint. Older students can: (1) pick and choose without restriction (i.e. no Unit tests) lessons that address high school subjects they may be studying in school at that time (e.g. algebra, geometry); (2) follow Mindsprinting’s “directed” path for those same subjects; and (3) work through the tailored starting program that addresses un-mastered skills identified by the Assessment Test (which follows a “directed” path and requires passing Unit tests to advance). Thus, older students avoid needless repetition and develop a sense of control and self-efficacy (which they crave and need) even though Mindsprinting continues to provide them needed direction.
Peter J. Gamlin Ph.D., C.Psych, Professor Emeritus and senior researcher, Department of Adult Education, Community Development and Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

The rewards and motivators built into the site spark greater commitment to [students’] own learning and enhances their self-esteem. Working at their own pace through the directed lessons, students see their progress, progress that fosters self-confidence and reduces anxieties. Confidence transfers to the classroom and promotes more focused attention on the demands of the school curriculum. Mindsprinting would definitely benefit all my students working to achieve those build-blocks of academic success. The site encourages students to actively take responsibility for their own learning and encourages parents to be involved with that process.
Elizabeth Cowling, Elementary Teacher (over 20 years experience in Special Education and teaching students with learning disabilities)

MINDsprinting Math

For example, the math program in MINDsprinting includes plenty of practice items for each work unit. Working on various items can easily reveal a child’s weaknesses in learning and with practice the child can minimize errors and accomplish mastery learning in the weak area. Consequently, the approach taken in MINDsprinting will ensure optimal comprehension and retention of concepts as well as skills, establishing the strongest possible foundation for more advanced materials.
Dr. Kwang-Hyun Koo, Professor Department of Early Childhood Education College of Humanities, Anyang University, Korea

As an educator who has observed many a learner who struggles with basic computation skills, this highly accessible program allows for the kind of drill and practice needed to master or ‘imprint’ number sense.
Sooky Crljen, 2-3 grade teacher

I see how Mindsprinting would benefit enhanced math and reading skills for all my students. In the math segment, I like the program’s focus on the foundational patterns and structures. The program groups related functions like multiplication and division, and stresses overlearning of specific skills so these functions are fully understood and become automatic. This frees up students to more easily apply these “automatic” computational skills to solve problems.
Elizabeth Cowling, Elementary Teacher (over 20 years experience in Special Education and teaching students with leaning disabilities)

[Mindsprinting’s] required practice of basic math skills properly pursues mastery.
Dr. Michael Luther, Course Director, Psychology Department, York University

The MINDsprinting program focuses on practice and mastery of numeracy skills in a sequential format that gives instant feedback about results and achievement.
Sooky Crljen, 2-3 grade teacher

I have been searching for a way to encourage my sons to increase their math skills without burning them out on school work. Mindsprinting is perfect! Each of the lessons are "bite size" and simple. And your star rewards give them goals and a chance for friendly competition. I even signed myself up as a student to sharpen my skills. Now I don't feel intimidated when they ask for help. Thank you again for your prompt, professional and friendly customer service. Now I know how much you truly care about the kids and parents you are helping. This is a valuable and very affordable program that I will gladly recommend.
Phil Maddox Campton, KY

MINDsprinting Reading Comprehension

MINDsprinting is comprehensive because it provides an on-going assessment of reading levels and achievements so that the results are measurable over the course of using the program. Whether it is used for remedial support or enrichment, the MINDsprinting program targets the individual at his or her instructional level, which is critical for improving reading achievement.
Sooky Crljen, 2nd and 3rd grade teacher

I see how Mindsprinting would benefit enhanced math and reading skills for all my students. In the reading component, Mindsprinting provides an integrated developmental approach, continually challenging the student by combining regular practice in word recognition and text comprehension. Reading competence and effective text analysis are such important tools in the road to academic success. The reading selections encourage rereading and reflection on the material, so that by steadily working through the program, the student internalizes the skills of successful readers.
Elizabeth Cowling, Elementary Teacher (over 20 years experience in Special Education and teaching students with leaning disabilities)

The reading comprehension items are quite interesting and easy to decipher; there is no attempt to fool the reader with unusual or ambiguous reading comprehension questions.
Dr. Michael Luther, Course Director, Psychology Department, York University

MINDsprinting’s Reading Excellence program is the only online phonics/language instructional package I would recommend to supplement any early reading program. Children, grades K-3, receive the extra practice they need to master "word attack" skills and quickly begin to read for comprehension. Instruction is organized into five levels of difficulty, and within each one of these, some 60 lessons introduce children to a sequence of language skills from the most basic (e.g. letter and sound recognition), to the more difficult (e.g. rhyming and blending so as to enable a child to sound out and decode unfamiliar words), and finally, early inferencing skills in which the child practices sequencing details and reading between the lines to realize total comprehension of stories. An initial assessment quickly identifies the appropriate entrance level. From this starting point, children move through the subsequent levels at their own pace, allowing those both remedial and gifted to use these materials effectively.

This excellent program achieves a number of related objectives including: practice with vowel and consonant letter combinations and sounds; practice printing of letters and words, as well as writing short stories; learning about parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, and verbs; and learning about compound words, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, capital letters, and end marks (such as periods, question marks and exclamation points).

This is truly a comprehensive program. As with MINDsprinting’s other online programs, the child has access to numerous exercises, and consequently many opportunities to achieve mastery at all skill levels. And because this program is easily accessible through the Internet, busy schedules are easily accommodated. The program also permits the parent to "Fast Track" the child through skills already mastered thereby preventing boredom and guaranteeing constant challenge from new material. Consequently children are encouraged to strive for excellence, and within them is awakened a spirit of confidence and enthusiasm. The child will realize his or her highest potential every step of the way.

take a tour | curriculum | about mindsprinting | partner programs | privacy policy | terms & conditions | fundraising |  site map

Copyright 2004-2006, MINDsprinting® LLC. All Rights Reserved.