This year, almost all my students are testing at or above level on the DIBELS. My students are doing phoneme segmentation perfectly. They are reading with fluency and verb and sound usage, and are using words successfully in a sentence. I know these results are because of the TeacherMate System.

—Ms. Flowers, first grade teacher
Clay Elementary, Chicago

The Akron Public School District is excited about the opportunity to implement the TeacherMate handheld computer system in collaboration with Innovations for Learning. Akron has always been a leader in using technology to advance education, and we believe that teaching our students the appropriate use of technology is critical to preparing them to participate in the 21st Century as students and as citizens. We welcome the opportunity to try the TeacherMate handheld computer system in our classrooms.

—Andy Emanuele
Dept of Instructional Technology (DoIT!)
Akron Public School District

We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to use technology to improve our student's engagement in their education. The TeacherMate handheld computing device is a wonderful answer to engaging our students in our core reading and math curriculum. This is an excellent opportunity for our first graders and we are anxious to get started. We would like to thank JP Morgan Chase and Innovations for Learning for making this happen.

—Jacqueline Lee, Principal
Bancroft School
Christina School District

As Chief eLearning Officer at the Chicago Public Schools, I am constantly on the lookout for new and innovative uses of technology to improve education. The TeacherMate handheld computing device is one of the most promising new educational tools I have seen. Not only is the cost of each unit low enough to be affordable for every student in a classroom, but the device is easy to use, easy to train, and easy to maintain. This is a big step forward in providing quality education to an increasingly technological generation of students.

I am impressed with Innovation for Learning’s consultation with leading reading educators locally and nationally, to design their own pedagogically sound reading software which has been integrated with print and manipulative materials to form a complete reading curriculum for K-2 students. The curriculum has been designed to fully meet the Illinois Reading First and Chicago Reading Initiative Framework guidelines. Innovation’s continually tests the effectiveness of their curriculum with the Illinois Snapshot of Early Literacy (ISEL).

I look forward to working with Innovations for Learning in evolving their handheld computing device into a highly effective tool for 21st century teaching and student learning in our school system.

—Sharnell S. Jackson
Former Chief eLearning Officer, Chicago Public Schools

When making a recommendation to my principal at the end of the year about which instructional materials we should use again, I always want to keep the Innovations for Learning tools. They are a big help to me in differentiating instruction for my students.

—Ms. Tubon,
New Field Elementary, Chicago  

I have been following Innovations for Learning's progress for more than five years, and I am amazed at what this relatively small nonprofit has been able to accomplish in that period. IFL is truly innovative, truly committed, and truly inspiring. Their latest innovation, the TeacherMate handheld computer, is the most exciting new development I've seen in education. The painstaking way in which IFL has aligned the TeacherMate software with schools' core reading and math curriculum makes this a particularly powerful tool. By keeping the price of the TeacherMates so affordable, IFL may have finally solved the puzzle of how to provide individualized instruction to the millions of students in need across the country. The potential upside of this technology is enormous, and I am confident that IFL can play a leading role in making public education what we all want it to be.

—Mark Rigdon
Global Program Director, JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Reviewing of concepts is so important and valuable to the students. The TeacherMates help to review concepts that we are working on in class. My students really enjoy using the TeacherMates!

—Ms. Sanderson
Lowell Elementary, Chicago

I would like to comment on how much the students in my classroom are enjoying the TeacherMates.  I’ve also noticed the progress all of them have made with the extra exercises they receive with the TeacherMates. The students use them during centers, after they are done with their work, and during individual one-to-one assessments.  They are definitely a teacher’s mate in the classroom.

—Ms. Partida
Taylor Elementary

Thank you for the opportunity to use TeacherMate with our students in first grade. It is really exciting to see our students eager to visit the center in their classroom that has the tool. The handheld tool inspires our students as they see it more as a game than a tool to enhance their reading skills. As I visited the classroom, the students expressed: "Is a lot of fun", "It would be fun to take home", "It has a lot of games." Thank you for this great opportunity and we look forward to maintaining this partnership.

—Zaida Hernandez, Principal
Jungman Elementary School, Chicago

Innovations for Learning is one of the first nonprofits we have supported under our new initiative to focus our grant-making on those organizations that are making the most impact in the communities we serve. IFL has been developing innovative educational tools for more than 15 years and is tireless in its service to public schools. I am particularly excited about IFL's new TeacherMate handheld computer. Young children today are growing up with technology all around them, and they will learn more from technology than any previous generation. The TeacherMate handheld computer has the potential to provide young students with individualized instruction in a manner that captivates them and can lead to sustained learning.

—Kim Davis
President, JPMorgan Chase Foundation

My first grade students love using the TeacherMates and look forward to using them everyday. The TeacherMates keep the students engaged and I love the fact that the games are aligned with my reading and math books — students are playing games that relate to what we’re doing in the classroom.

—Ms. DuBois
Manierre Elementary, Chicago

The TeacherMate system is an outstanding program. It definitely enhances the student’s reading skills. If the students could use these devices all day long they would. It gets them focused on what they should be learning, but they think they are just playing games. We had a principal from another school visit this week, and after he started playing with a TeacherMate we couldn’t pry it out of his hands either!

—Martha Arriaga, Teacher
Jungman Elementary School, Chicago

Thank you so much for getting the TeacherMates installed in my room. We’ve been working with them since coming back from break. The class loves Mondays now and center time too because there is the possibility of using their handheld!

—Ashley Russell
Mark Sheridan Academy

My students absolutely love the TeacherMates.  We use them almost everyday for about 15 minutes.  It’s great for me because it provides me with time to do individual testing such as DIBELS or the oral math/spelling test. When using the TeacherMates, I know that my students are engaged in something academic.
It is an extremely helpful tool in the classroom.

— Ms. Davis
Manierre Elementary

My students are using their TeacherMate and it has been a fantastic experience. They want to use them everyday.

—Ms. Wiggins
Paul Revere Elementary

The kids love the TeacherMates and are able to work so independently with them. They are like a fish in water with the handheld devices and are excited every time they see one of our weekly story words pop-up in the games that they are playing.

—Ms. Hernandez
Marsh Elementary

We have been enjoying the TeacherMate devices. My students feel and act more responsible about their learning and are having fun.

—Ms. Vasquez
Lowell Elementary