Rave Reviews
Sampling of Letters and Emails
This is only a sampling of the terrific letters and emails we receive (edited for brevity and spelling)!
We hear from more teachers, students and homeschoolers than we can list on this page. Here's part of a letter we received in October 2005 from a homeschool mom. Her experience with our GET A GRIP WORKSTATION summarizes beautifully the reactions of many teachers and students to the TOPS approach, using simple everyday materials to do real science.
Dear TOPS,
We purchased GET A GRIP ... When I opened it, I confess I was a little disappointed. The "workstation" looked nothing more than a box with recycled containers. I skeptically placed the whole thing on our little playtable, and I can't even start to tell you how engrossed the girls were - instantly!...
This was particularly meaningful for the 8-year-old, who finally found a niche for "math" ... she loves science, and with GG she can be a scientist performing "math" experiments. It's truly a gentle introduction to elementary math - I wish there were more books, and a set for middle school level. [I ordered the] Lentil Science Combo as well. This will be their Christmas presents, and I'm excited to try it (along with PERFECT BALANCE, RADISHES,
and PENDULUMS).
Thank you so much. I've tried lots of things in our homeschool, but GG was definitely the best purchase of the year.
Gratefully, M.S., Corvallis OR
p.s. Our daughters absolutely adore Peoplets.
Students Tell Us:
Jessica S: I really like the labs. Some things I liked about them are how you put them in order, from easiest to hardest. I also like how you had the little character telling us some tips. I really liked how you had us make one thing and keep it and use it for another project.
Jonathan C: I liked Magnetism the best because I got to build a motor... I already knew a lot about electricity because my dad is an electrician and he teaches me a lot but when I did the electricity unit I learned a lot more.
Jesse S: This [Radishes] was my favorite science book ever! I can't wait to do corn and beans!!!!!!!!!! [Yes, ten unsolicited exclamation points!]
Aaron R: [TOPS activities] made me think a lot, and helped me learn and have fun at the same time. [Without TOPS] I might have been falling asleep in class...
Stephanie S: I like the labs because they were challenging and fun. I really liked lab 20 of the magnetism unit because it was tricky and very fun.
Kenji: Thanks A LOT. I'm glad you made these books. They are very cool.
Wesley W: Some of the things are hard but you need that to actually have us learn something by working it out like what did we do wrong and what's right.
Jake M: I think the way your labs explain things made it easy to understand... You should keep making them the same as you are now.
Jacob K: [These lessons were] hard, but fun. I like the little guys on each lab. Now I know how electricity and magnetism work. I did not like the tests. I thought they were too hard; it took me a few days just to get one test done. You can tell that it was a good system because, almost everybody got A's, and I got and A+.
Kendre' G: I really liked how you have small cartoons to explain how to do the [experiments]. They really help you get done because then you have some fun reading the cartoons... I also like the tests. They were very challenging. I really like how you make the labs as challenging as possible.
Janelle H: My class and I have done two of your TOPS units... They were so much fun! The characters were helpful. I loved the pictures. They were intelligent yet funny. So I knew what the objects were supposed to look like.
Patrick Daniel (and) Marya ...: Thank you for the fun science! (and) I liked your way of experimenting ... the process took a while and so our starts got moldy... Otherwise I loved it. What other ones are you going to make in the future?
Teachers Tell Us:
K. Taylor: This is the MOST AWESOME... well organized, well planned, clearly described, easy to implement, focus oriented, simply directed resource I have ever used!!! I look forward to teaching many more TOPS classes!
J. A. Conlon: I sure have become a TOPS fan this year, and my [high school] students became so good not only in science, but in ... their verbal responses to tests. ... I will be promoting your books big time... they do a wonderful job of teaching critical thinking.
P. Olsen: I [teach] low level learners (3rd grade math and reading) to prepare them for 9th grade Physical Science. Your materials are wonderful and the kids love them. As a teacher I like the materials list and the easily reproducible sheets. [We've completed] five of your books and they want to have the class go longer. The IEP kids did not feel the usual frustration and are comfortable in a lab setting now... I did not have to modify the materials, only provide a little extra support. I just wanted to let you know all your hard work has made these students like science.
B. Mason: I admire your commitment to plant trees to cover the paper that you use. My school uses a ton of paper. I'd like to start the same type of conservation awareness and commitment with my [students]. ...Thanks again for the best science teaching resources ever conceived and written.
B. Olson: I have been carrying around the Metric Measure unit through 2 moves and another teaching assignment (2nd grade) for 8 years.... I finally was able to include it at this new job. I loved it. The kids learned a great deal, and it gave me the opportunity to review/introduce many of the concepts and skills in my math scope and sequence in a way that I really like - hands-on and interactive. It was worth the wait. ... One of the childrens' answers gave me a good chuckle.... It showed that he had understood the concept, but wasn't quite solid on the terminology. He said that since water was 1 dense, and sand was 1.45 dense, then sand was more dense than water! On that note, let me thank you again for creating such a wonderful unit. It increased my student' understanding of metrics, and my own, and provided them with some wonderful lab training for future grades.
L. Jones: I really do love what you and your wife are doing. I think the peoplets are brilliant. They do cross sex, race and age boundaries. Your work is awesome. I am going to recommend you...
B. Sowden: I just wanted to tell you that I have been using your ideas for years and have not had a chance to thank you. You do a great job and your ideas are wonderful. I have also shared your ideas with other teachers who have loved them, so I want to thank you for them also. Please keep me on your subscribers list.
D. Rushing: Thank you so much for the tremendous effort you put into such user-friendly materials... I teach 9-12 graders with various learning disabilities... I just wish you could see some of the students' faces when they suddenly understand...
R. Janzen: I have recently been using your TOPS unit #05 on Weighing, and have been really impressed by the effects it has had on my class both cognitively and on their attitudes toward science.
B. Dempsey: Just wanted to let y'all know that your projects are wonderful... We are all broke and teach in school districts that don't have very much money or enough teachers so TOPS makes a lot of sense.
Homeschoolers Tell Us:
C. Newman: ...it's easy for me to feel intimidated by science. You made me AND my kids feel like professionals from the very beginning! [Activities were] focused, logical, well-planned, and a joy for me to teach and for the kids to learn. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
S. Wagle: ...our 10th grade home school year incorporated TOPS Weighing, Analysis, Oxidation, and Solutions task cards. ALL units were very successful; we have never had such a rewarding year of science study!
D. Wagner: We enjoyed the program so much I investigated using more of your products. I ordered Get a Grip... I have NEVER used a curriculum that ALL of my kids loved! They will use it during break time instead of going outside to play! I am so excited to use the other products I have just received. You have revolutionized science at my house...
A. Kocaj: ...My husband has taken over science; he loves the program very much. Our boys cannot wait till science to do their experiments. Thank you for your labor of love to bless others with your gift of teaching, explaining, and making it fun for the entire family.
C. Habeger: I have been so pleased with how user-friendly your materials are and how well my son (now 11 years old) has grasped the concepts presented. Thank you for making books that homeschoolers can easily use!
L. Street: I ordered [#73 Get a Grip] last month for my 6-year-old son. He is now doing Puzzle book D and absolutely loves it! He is thrilled with the puzzle books and the discovery learning. He has been on his own and self checks everything and really 'gets' it! Thanks for making such great learning fun! I can't wait to order Lentil Science!
KC: We love the TOPS books we've used so far. Thanks for providing a fun way to learn science... We have a science textbook each year but find your method sticks with us and we enjoy hands-on more than simply textbooks.
Kim: We are using your Activity Sheet Book #32 Electricity and are enjoying it very much!! We homeschool - 5th and 6th grade. Thank you for all the effort you have obviously put into your work - we are looking forward to ordering more of your materials to use!
S. Hinckle: We are a homeschooling family... My 6th grade daughter loved Electricity. She completed it in 2 days on her own with a little help from me. She asked if she could leave everything out so she could play with it later. ... Thanks so much for a great product.
S. Custer: I love your TOPS science and used it years ago with my now 21-year-old son. We did a co-op school and I used it for the science class, ... even now when I run into parents or kids from that time, they always mention how much they enjoyed our science class. Anyway, that was five kids ago and I didn't realize you had so many things to choose from... Now I want more!!!!!
The Caskey Family: ...we use TOPS in our [homeschool] science studies. We LOVE using them!!! They are user friendly (thank you VERY much!!!!!) and easy for the kids to really understand what they're doing.
D. Crecelius: We LOVE TOPS. We are a homeschooling family (3 kids) and have used several TOPS books (Focus Pocus, Cohesion/Adhesion, Animal Survival, Corn and Beans) - they are all efficient, easy-to-use, understandable - they're simply great science.