What teachers say about our books...

"I just wanted you to know that your grammar and poetics programs changed me!!! I am a middle-aged English teacher, working in a charter middle school in New Mexico. I was an attorney for 25 years and have only been teaching for the past three years. I struggled mightily with grammar and how, when and why to present it to my students. You clarified that so beautifully that I have been teaching grammar with passion for the past three days, something I never thought would happen. The poetics was wonderful as well; I do feel more comfortable in that environment, but again you clarified WHY we have to study it, and now I can focus the students on the reasons for knowing that area with passion as well as reason. Thank you so much. Clarifying moments in life are rare indeed, and I will cherish these moments."
Leslie Lawner, Sidney Gutierrez Middle School, Roswell, NM

"I have been using Word Within the Word in my Honors English classes for the past three years. Some of the seniors have reported that their SAT scores have risen 100 points, and three students ha perfect scores in verbal-- all of which they attribute to this excellent vocabulary series. We especially like the fact that tests are cumulative; words are never learned and forgotten, and students tell me they are constantly using the roots, prefixes and suffixes to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words. We all love Word Within the Word."
Marsha Steiner Fox, Gifted Coordinator/Honors Instructor, Karns City High School, PA

"I praise Mike Thompson's books at every opportunity for their availability to teachers, and for Royal Fireworks' level of quality learning materials. For content to be enjoyed by both teachers and students is far-flung luxury today. You create books that cross the veritable abyss of hackneyed, standard-based, data-driven drivel we teachers are forced to dole out to students on a daily basis. There is a pin dot of light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. Hurrah!"
Anne Kreutzer, teacher of 22 years experience, 18 of them with gifted students, Peru, Indiana.

"I worked with 6-8 grade students using Word Within the Word during the spring semester. Every one of them scored 100% on the vocabulary section of the ISAT. The other students-who did not work with 'Word'-were not able to get the vocabulary entirely correct."
Jan Howard, Gifted Resource Teacher, Schaumburg School District 57, Illinois.

"Caesar's English is one of the best books I've ever used. My kids love it and I can't imagine teaching without it! What a great vocabulary builder!"
Nancy Heaton, Gifted Consultant, Pekin. Illinois

"We purchased the two series Word Within a Word and The Magic Lens for use in our 7-12 Gifted (Honors) English curriculum. After a very few weeks, our secondary students in particular remarked that they were 'using' their 'veggies', i.e.: stems and roots, in their science foreign language and social studies classes. That gave validity to their lessons and they remembered them longer. This year the word spread to the administration staff and they voiced support for this forward-thinking interdisciplinary curriculum. Many parents also commended our staff for teaching the 'really important things' to their children. Thanks so much for these great tools."
Rooney Dively, Gifted Coordinator, Macomb Junior-Senior High School

"Thompson's materials reflect his knowledge and passion to provide outstanding resources for teachers and student alike."
Laurie Mitchell, District TAG Specialist, Beaverton School District, Oregon

"Michael Thompson is an excellent presenter and his materials are exceptional. Teachers of the gifted can certainly profit from Michael Thompson's approach to teaching and learning, but Michael has a much greater message to deliver to all educators concerning the English language and the works of classical writers."
Patricia Geiger, Coordinator of Programs for the Gifted and Elementary Language Arts, Georgetown, South Carolina

"Your work with language and literature has inspired every teacher who has encountered in Mike Thompson's writing or in person his passion for the beauty and power of language. He has a way of making the teaching experience immediate, relevant and urgent. His caring makes us care. He is able to engage our hearts so that we may see some of the magic in language and bring it to our students. When I travel to international schools around the world, I always pack at least ten Classics In The Classroom and give them away as gifts to astounded and grateful teachers. I only wish my suitcase were larger."
Phyllis Aldrich, Coordinator for Gifted Ed. WSWHE BOCES, Saratoga Springs, New York