FAQs:

Please return from time to time and check out new answers. You will also find answers to important questions in the Stevenson Forums.
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Do I need special training to use the Stevenson Language Skills Program?
- No. Most teachers using the program have had some degree of training, but many (we would estimate that at least one third) have not. Training never hurts, but the importance of training depends largely on the particular situation. In general, beginning students and young dyslexic or remedial students are easier for a teacher who is new to the program, whereas more severely learning disabled pupils and older students are more difficult for such a teacher. Therefore, the training becomes more valuable for teachers working with these latter students. Also, some individuals are more comfortable learning new material from manuals than others. Some people prefer to have more direct demonstration. We are happy to provide training, but we have met many people, teachers and parents alike, who used Stevenson very effectively and happily without ever taking a workshop.

Why doesn’t the program begin with teaching short vowels, as do most reading programs?
- The Stevenson Program begins by teaching long vowels because the author of the program, Nancy Stevenson, found over her many years of teaching that long vowels seemed easier for her students to discriminate, isolate, retrieve and blend. We have a three and a half page free information piece which describes this issue in more detail. You can e-mail or call us and request "Thoughts on Long Vowels, Short Vowels and the Stevenson Program."

Do you always have to use the program from the beginning?
- The Stevenson Program is designed to be used from the beginning in one way or another. For students that are at a pre-primer, kindergarten or first grade level, starting right at the Beginning Green Level of the program and progressing through each level in sequence is what is suggested. If the student is older with some splinter skills and, for example, knows all their letters and how to print them but has trouble putting it all together, we recommend using our "Overlapping" procedure, in which the student uses key components from the Beginning Green Level and overlaps it with the Basic Blue Level. If you feel that your student could qualify for the Overlapping procedure, simply request the information piece "Using the Stevenson Program in Grades K-6" or "Using the Stevenson Program in Grades 6-12" and you will find a full description of how to use the overlapping program with appropriate students (See posting "Yes" under "Resource Room" dated 11/6/2003 in the Stevenson's Professional Educator's Forum.)

Can you skip any material or a reader if a student is not challenged by the slow pace of instruction?
- It is highly recommended that you do not skip any lesson in its entirety, however, you may assign fewer workbook pages or omit some reading pages if you feel they are unnecessary for the student.

How do I place an order?
- To place an order, you may call us at 800-343-1211 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday EST, or you may send us an order in the mail to:

Stevenson Learning Skills
451 Elm Street, Unit 2
North Attleboro, MA 02760-3313

What payment methods do you accept?
- We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Personal Checks or Purchase Orders.

How much are the shipping charges for my order?
- Shipping is 10% of your total with a minimum of $7.50 on any order. If you are placing an order over $1,000.00, please call for discounted shipping rates. Also, if you are placing an international order, rates will vary depending on your location. Please call for this information.

What method of shipping do you use to ship orders?
- All orders are shipped UPS Ground, unless otherwise specified, in which case we will have to calculate the alternative shipping charges and get back to you with the exact amount. If sent UPS Ground within the United States, you can expect to receive your order anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks after placing it, depending on where you are located. Outside of the U.S., shipping time varies.

What is your refund policy?
- Refunds or exchanges will be given within thirty days of purchase, as long as the material is returned in re-sellable condition. Refund will be given minus the shipping charge.

How can I look at the program without purchasing the material?
- We offer a trial program in which you can borrow a set of books for thirty days at no charge to you as long as the books are returned to us in re-sellable condition. In this case, you pay no shipping for the books to be delivered to you, but you do pay shipping to send the books back to us. You must leave a credit card or Purchase Order number with our office, but you will not be charged unless the materials do not come back to us, or you notify us that you would like to keep the materials and be charged. Please call 800-343-1211 for more information or to request a trial.

Can I order materials online?
- Yes. You can order materials online with a Visa, Mastercard or Discover Card.