Frequently Asked Questions
Membership
What does a membership offer?
Mind Bloom Education, LLC and its website www.mindbloomedu.com is a membership-based online platform that provides reading passages for teachers and parents, and other interested parties. As a member, you will be able to use all materials in the members' package for a single, affordable price.
We encourage you to look through the free materials we offer via the Free Passages page. You will have limited access without a membership, but you will be able to gain a better understanding of the quantity and quality of materials we offer our members.
How do I become a member?
It’s easy as clicking here to join! You can also find the "Become a Member" tab at the top of any page on our website.
How long does a membership last?
A membership lasts for 365 days, beginning on the date that the membership was activated.
Are school memberships or site licenses offered?
Yes. There are different levels of site licenses depending on the number of users. Go to the Membership Info section for more information.
Can I get a trial membership to see if I would like your products?
No. We do not offer trial memberships. However, there are several free reading passages available on our site that you can download at any time.
Do I need to be a teacher to join?
No, you do not need to be a teacher to join Mind Bloom Education. These resources are for anyone who supports children's learning.
Do I need to work with deaf children to become a member?
No. Although the reading passages were designed for deaf children, other children may benefit as well, especially those learning English as a second language or who have learning or cognitive disabilities.
Can I pay by purchase order?
Currently, Mind Bloom Education does not accept purchase orders. We currently accept PayPal and major credit cards.
I have an individual membership. Can I share my password?
No! Individual members can print materials for their personal, homeschool, or classroom use only. Sharing login and password information is strictly prohibited.
What is your refund policy?
If you are unhappy with your membership for any reason, please let us know within 30 days. After reviewing your download history, we will determine if a full refund is available.
Will my account renew automatically?
If you purchased a membership after January 3, 2023, your plan will automatically renew each year until you cancel the plan. To cancel, go to "My Subscriptions" in your account, select your plan, and cancel. If you purchased a membership prior to January 3, 2023, your plan will not renew. You will need to purchase a new plan
Can I renew by mail?
No. Membership renewals can only be made on our website.
I just renewed and my expiration date didn’t change.
Please contact/email us and we will straighten it out for you.
My membership has expired, and I still want to renew it. Is this possible?
Yes. Just log in with your old username and password. You will see a message that says your account is expired. There will also be a renewal link.
Account
How do I change my email, password, or other account information?
Go to your account settings page.
How do I contact you?
Send us an email from our contact page. Please include your name, email, and a detailed description of what you need help with.
What if I don’t receive a response to my email?
Our goal is to answer each email within 48 hours. Since we are full-time teachers, it is possible to have a delayed response. Please give us a little extra time on weekends and holidays.
If you haven't heard back from us, check your computer's spam folder. Our email reply may have been sent there.
What do I need to view the PDF files?
The reading passages on our site are in PDF format. To view them, you'll need Adobe Reader.
How can I provide feedback?
Your feedback is extremely important in helping us continue to improve the products we provide. If you have a suggestion for us, please leave a suggestion.
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Want to suggest a reading passage?
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Did you find an error in a passage?
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Have ideas to improve Mind Bloom Education?
About the Passages
How are these reading passages different than those I might find on other membership websites?
These reading passages were designed to eliminate the many complex English barriers that prevent deaf children from reading independently. In these passages, you will not find any figurative language (metaphors, similes, etc), complex sentence structures, hidden meanings (inferences), or phrasal verbs. Each sentence is written using concrete language with most of the vocabulary easily identifiable by the student. If a higher-level word is used in a passage, the meaning is explained in that or the next sentence.
What principles were used in creating these passages?
Bedrock Literacy Curriculum by Kristin DiPerri, EdD uses a strengths-based approach to teach deaf children to read. More information about the curriculum can be found here.
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Why are there no reading levels or grade-level equivalents on the reading passages?
These reading passages are highly-structured and have eliminated the complex English barriers. Therefore, they do not equate to typical reading levels or grade levels.
Since these reading passages can be used from kindergarten to adults, interest levels are included instead. You will also find that we use word count and average sentence length to label passages.
Ultimately, professional judgment should be used in determining which passages to use with students. Members are encouraged to use these filters to explore and find passages.
What types of questions are asked in the worksheets?
Each worksheet includes 5 questions: 4 are multiple choice and 1 is open-response. Most of the multiple choice questions are basic recall where the answers can easily be found in the reading passage. At least one inference question is included in most reading passages to stretch the student’s thinking.
Where did you find the photos in the passages?
The photos and clip art came from numerous places.
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Heidi’s photos.
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Family and friends who permitted for use. Some asked for photo credit. Others preferred not to
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Photos directly from the person about whom the story is written, with their permission
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Stock photos that are Creative Commons for commercial use. If attribution is required, it is included in the passage.
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Clip art designed by Heidi Givens
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Clip art designed by Maya Givens
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Clip art purchased for commercial use. Attribution provided if required.
Do the reading passages come with an answer key?
Yes. Each reading passage includes an answer key.
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I have an idea about a reading passage. Whom should I contact?
New ideas are always welcomed. Please go to our contact page to share your idea.
Passage Usage
What can the reading passages be used for?
The PDF materials on this site can be downloaded, printed, and used for classroom, group, or individual instruction, homeschooling, tutoring, and other educational purposes as long as the copyright remains and the resource is in no way edited or modified.
Can I share the reading passages with other teachers, administrators, etc?
No. Similar to sharing your password, you may not share the materials. They may only be shared with your students or children. Hundreds of hours have gone into developing these resources. If you know a teacher who would benefit, please send them a link to become a member.
Can I upload the reading passages to LMS sites such as Google Classroom, Canvas, or Schoology?
Yes. Because these are designed for student use, it is acceptable to upload them to these sites as long as the copyright remains and the resource is in no way edited or modified. Because they are in PDF format, they can be easily used with Kami or other apps.
Can I upload the reading passages to my own site?
No. We invite you to link to our website, but unfortunately, we cannot allow people to upload our files directly to other sites.
Can I publish your content in a book?
We usually charge a small fee for reprinting our content in books. The price would depend on the type of passage and the print run. Please contact us for more information.