This is from my print column in the A-D which posted last week. I’m a little behind.

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a continuing education event for a branded technique of doing therapy that I had heard raves about. Research, both independent and done by the presenting company, has shown that these particular techniques are highly effective.

I had done my homework ahead of time, so I knew that the research also says the techniques offered in these copyright-protected seminars are as effective as traditional speech therapy when both are done at the same level of intensity. In short, do anything intensively and you should improve.

Still, I thought it was worth a look, and I was willing to shell out $700 so that a staff member and I could attend. I often incorporate what I learn about speech pathology into teaching my children, and I hoped that this technique would add another tool to my work and home educational toolboxes.

I want my money back.

The presenter offered a highly scripted regimen of speech therapy. While a few participants practiced the scripts — correcting each other if so much as a syllable was out of place — some of us asked questions.

“What happens if the kids you see don’t respond with the answer on the script pages?” we wanted to know. The presenter seemed baffled, amazed that a child would offer up a different response than what was clearly printed in the book in front of us.

At one point, the class spent a good 20 minutes with the presenter explaining how to hide an object in a bag and have a child guess what the object was.

Oh yes, and I had the opportunity to buy a specially branded bag by filling out the order form included in my folder. Not just any bag will work with such a ground-breaking educational technique, apparently. Kids will definitely learn more when the mystery object is in a bag that costs $19.99.

The very long (and expensive!) day I spent at the seminar started me thinking about some of the other programs that are out there. An e-mail offer recommends special tutoring to prepare homeschoolers for high school or college. An online program promises to meet all of a student’s learning needs. It makes me think of optimistic one-size-fits-all clothing that certainly fits some, but not all.

For all kinds of families, there are so many programs out there, so much advice, how do you choose what will best help your child?

When searching for educational or professional help, I look for someone with a broad background. I would not hire a carpenter who carried only a hammer, nor would I hire a professional with only one technique.

Unless your child is enrolled in a research project, a professional should be comfortable mixing and matching techniques to come up with something that works specifically for your child. They should be able to justify what they are doing, as well. If a professional can’t explain why they are using a specific technique with your child, ask yourself why you are giving them your business.

Finding the right workbooks or curriculum can be even more challenging. I ordered an all-in-one kindergarten kit only to be overwhelmed by boxes and boxes of little pieces. The quality of the program may be great; I will never know.

I sent it back, opting for something with less busywork and fewer small parts to step on in the hallway in the middle of the night. The trick is to find something you can live with, that is educationally sound and that your kids will generally enjoy.

Just steer away from anything that promises to do it all. If it sounds too good to be true, save your money and keep looking.

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