My impression is still forming. My husband has also worked for IRD. He hated everything about it, though ironically, he was the favorite of his trainers and supervisor(s) because he is a talented teacher and he practically radiates positivity. This review of IRD is based on our combined experiences and is as objective as I/we could possibly make it.
For parents: The teaching methods that IRD uses are fine (not ground-breaking, but not bad either), and they work for most (but not all) children, provided that both teacher and parent(s) are also doing their part. (The teachers may not be state-certified, but they are well-trained for what they are doing. That said, there are always a few duds, so if you don't like your child's teacher, call and ask for a new one.) The curriculum, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Be prepared for your child to read a lot of very dated books about white boys in rural and/or small town environments. That said, once you know your child's reading level (which you probably already do, since your child is likely enrolled in school already), ANY teacher or children's librarian should be able to help you find books at your child's reading level that are more relevant, current, and interesting to him/her personally, and it's much cheaper to just go to the library than it is to order an $89 or $99 book kit when the course is over.
For prospective employees: You can learn a lot from this job and enjoy it, but it's not for everyone. If you happen to already be a teacher and/or children's lit scholar, for example, be prepared to bite your tongue, a lot. This company does not want your feedback on any aspect of their program (expert or otherwise), which is too bad, because they attract a lot of extremely bright and passionate people from whom they would do well to solicit constructive criticism. What IRD does want is for y
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