Dear Readers,

With the help of my husband Frank and so many other devoted friends, I’ve spent the last three years developing the Kids Talk Story curriculum.  Just last night at 8PM I launched our online store, making it possible to purchase the curriculum and website support, and start your own Kids Talk Story Group anywhere in the world. 

I woke up this morning to an amazing reponse, just from a couple of little ads I posted on Craigslist under “Business Opportunities” and “Teaching Jobs.”  In order to answer the most frequently asked question, “How did you do it and how can I get started right now?” I’m referring everybody to this blog post.  Here’s my answer:

Thanks for asking me about Kids Talk Story.  Best way is to tell you how I did it.

 

Post Hollywood career (long story!) I was invited to  teach screenwriting at the University of Hawaii Pacific New Media Program.   Then I started a workshop in my home based on my story structure course, “The Art of Story.”  I now have two classes with 10 clients each.  ($110 per month)  This course will be going online in the next few months (for a lower fee).

I learned about teaching kids by homeschooling my 2 brilliant kids with special needs — one ADD, one dyslexic/ADHD.  OK steep learning curve but I did it.  Other moms came to me for help.  (ADHD moms, Autism Moms, and Gifted and Talented Moms.)  I started teaching kids in my home and developed the Kids Talk Story idea from the basic core belief that kids need positive reinforcement, one-on-one attention and time with a caring grownup.  My business exploded.  Many parents are sick of the “babysitting model” of other after school programs, and they’re sick of afterschool programs which rely on more screen time for the kids (i.e. computer learning models.)  I could have hooked up with a computer company and saved myself alot of money and hassle, but I love kids too much.  I knew they needed that human connection.  Parents paid me $120 per month to provide this for their kids.  The kids learned to LOVE writing and their grades showed it.  Countless parents tell me that English is now their child’s favorite subject.

 

I applied to No Child Left Behind here in Hawaii and got approved.  This has been the most lucrative part of the journey.  The Department of Education now pays me $1100 per (eligible) child for a six week program.  I trained 50 teachers. We provide services state wide.  Our first licensee, Lyn Weiner of the Syndactics company applied for and received approval for No Child Left Behind funding for Kids Talk Story in Arizona.  If you’re interested in pursuing Provider Status through the No Child Left Behind Act in your state, we can provide you with all the necessary documentation.   

 

At the same time, we hold a contract to provide Kids Talk Story to at-risk and underserved youth at Palama Settlement, a local community center.  We started a “Girls’ Power of Writing Club” which is entirely funded by the Hawaii Women’s Fund. Our not-for-profit company, Learning for a Lifetime, raises money from private individuals and fundraisers (the old-fashioned way!), making it possible for many more children to participate in Kids Talk Story.

 

Whether you’re interested in using our curriculum to homeschool your children, make some extra cash part time or launch a lucrative business, I’d love to help.

To learn more, or to purchase your curriculum and website subscription, please click here: http://kidstalkstory.com/

Our goal is to help all kids love writing the way we do.  Thank you for making this dream a reality.

 

Sincerely,

 

Margaret South