Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

“How I wish this had been around when I was a struggling math student!”

So says, Sarah Andrews, curriculum reviewer for Home Educating Family. Here’s the rest of what she has to say:

Math and I do not always get along well. I was one of those kids who still counted on my fingers in middle school. Eventually, I did learn how to add without the assistance of my fingers, largely due to my mom’s insistence that I must learn my math facts. I was determined that my kids would learn basic math facts from the beginning. That turned out to be easier said than done. Then, I tried the Rapid Recall System from Little Giant Steps. How I wish this had been around when I was a struggling math student!

For more information regarding learning from Little Giant Steps, see HEDUA’s video with Jan Bedell:

You can buy Rapid Recall one operation at a time.   (Register to set your account on the right side bar)

Or, buy a Complete Set of Rapid Recall Scroll down the page (all four operations – +, -, x, ÷) at discounted price.

More on the review…….  The system consists of the Teacher Play Book that includes a Play-by-Play Instruction Disc and Audio Input CD, one Student Practice Book, and flash cards. The Visual Input and Bonus Daily Review Disc is available separately for $15.77, but is not required for the program. The Rapid Recall System is available for addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts. The Play-by-Play Instruction Disc and Visual Input and Bonus Daily Review Disc both require a computer with optical drive to play. The Audio Input CD only requires a regular CD player. Each student will need their own copy of the Student Practice Book. Additional copies are available for $17.77 each.

The stack of material used for Rapid Recall can seem a bit intimidating at first, but it really is a simple program. I recommend that you read the Teacher Play Book and watch the Play-by-Play Instruction Disc right from the start. They explain the different steps of the program and how to implement it. The first two weeks are different from the rest of the system, and cover math facts that include 0 or 1. Detailed instructions for the first two weeks are included. Week 3 and on follow a simple pattern:

1. Listen to the Audio Input CD track for the week.
2. Visual input session using either the flashcards, or the Visual Input and Bonus Daily Review Disc.
3. Discovery game using the Audio Input CD and a worksheet from the Student Practice Book.
4. Speed drill using a worksheet from the Student Practice Book.
5. A second visual input session.
6. Optional review using either the flashcards, or the Bonus Daily Review Disc.

Each of these steps should only take one to three minutes to complete. However, they should not be done all at once, but rather spread out throughout the day.

What I like best about the Rapid Recall System:

• The same basic system is used for learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. Using the same format means that my kids can go through all four systems without having to adjust to a different teaching style. It also means that I don’t have to learn how a new system works!
• This system can be used in either a classroom or homeschool setting.
• It is a simple and easy to implement system. Despite the fact that it sounds rather complicated at first, once I watched the teacher disc and read the teacher book, it all makes sense. Breaking it up throughout the day also sounds difficult at first. I find it easiest to do one step between each subject. That breaks it up sufficiently, and makes it easy to remember to get all of the sessions in each day.
• It really does work! I used Rapid Recall with my first grader, and my third grader. Both of them enjoy the short sessions. Most importantly, they retained the facts that they learned!

What I didn’t like as well about the Rapid Recall System:

• The Teacher Play Book on its own doesn’t give me a clear enough picture of how the system worked. I had to watch the presentation on the Play-by-Play Instruction Disc before I understood exactly how to implement it.
• The Audio Input CD tracks include some odd sound effects throughout each track. The reason for this is not made clear, and though my kids don’t mind them, my husband and I find them a bit annoying.

The Rapid Recall System is aimed at elementary students, but you could easily use it with students of any age who are struggling to learn their math facts. Even though I would like the instructions in the Teacher Play Book to be a bit clearer, I still find the program very easy to use. My kids enjoy it, and I am certainly pleased with the results! I will not hesitate to recommend this for any family on the market for a program to help their child learn math facts quickly and easily.

You can buy Rapid Recall one operation at a time. (Register to set your account on the right side bar)

Or, buy a Complete Set of Rapid Recall (all four operations – +, -, x, ÷) at discounted price.

 MANY CHANCES FOR SUCCESS

One thing we are finding more and more of these days with our preschool, and kindergarten children are that many display symptoms of having lower level brain disorganization. Organization of the brain is a naturally occurring developmental step, provided our infants were given the opportunity to be on the floor, on their tummies most of their waking hours.  Sadly, most of our children in the U.S. are being brought home in infant/car seats and they are spending most of their waking hours on their backs, waving their hands and feet in the air which doesn’t do anything to help the brain and body develop required neuro-pathways.  Without the stimulation of being on a hard surface where they can push, pull, feel,they need in order to create connections, help the brain learn the stimuli from the limbs, fingers, and toes and actually “map” their bodily systems, these little people are placed in a deficit learning position.  Another problem of sitting too much in seats, jumpers, swings, walkers, is the neuro-muscular strength-building process goes missing, too.  Am infant who is not pushing against hard surfaces which provides the neck and back muscles to gain strength and control will de destined to other probelms with their eyes (tracking, central detail vision, to name a few). The same is true for the extremities, their muscles will remain in a flaccid state, rather than develop strength, and tactility abilities.  All muscle impulses must be experienced by the brain so it can develop and organize the body’s system. Unfortunately for too many little ones, it just isn’t happening as our divine creator has designed with our new off-spring! The good news is that you can help develop these lacking abilitiesand bring them up to speed by working consistantly as directed by the Little Giant Steps’ Programs.  See this article about Teaching Babies.

 First things first

Regardless of the age of the individual, we first must get the brain and the body communicating efficiently. Jan Bedell, M.Ed., M.ND., has created a terrific video training called the Neuro-developmental Approach DVD.  If you watch it, follow what she teaches; you will see functional lagging or lack of function being developed as you work with your child both congnitively and physically through activities that stimulate the brain in just the ways it needs to be stimulated.

The next thing we see is the need to make sure your child’s processing abilities are at appropriate age or grade level.  If a child can’t process information, then their short-term memory can’t retain information long enough for them to learn effectively.  If the short-term memory is impaired, then the long-term memory is impacted, which makes for a serious life of struggling with learning, comprehending, retaining, and recalling information. A very sad state for too many of our kids these days.  How do you change that situation?  First order the Auditory and Visual Test Kits.  Please read the information on that page, as well.  By doing this test you will get a snapshot of your child’s, or family member’s current processing level or abilities.  It’s amazing how when whole families increase their processing abilities, there are fewer misunderstandings, frustrating times, and a more peaceful interaction when everyone is functioning at “grade level” or age-appropriate.  Not only does it solve lots of stressed social interaction, but the benefits of the academic acheivements are really amazing.  At my next post, we’ll talk about what next steps you can do to move into a harmonious, successful, and confidence-building life. A life that you can set in motion to become a well organized brain (through our brain training programs) and when you have neuro-efficiency, it’s been discribed by our clients as a simular experience of going from an internet dial-up line to a high speed, high performance connection!  Until next time ~ Blessings.

Little Giant Steps ~ Ahead of the Research

For over twenty years, Jan Bedell, our Brain Coach®, has been that voice in the dark  alerting parents to practices we, as a society, were doing with our children that was leaving them with gaps in their neuro-development. She also informed them there are ways to remedy these learning disabilities, issues, and deficits in function due to these practices.  Finally, the world of academia is pronouncing all this to be true.  Disturbingly true.  Please read the release of this body of research.  Then see our articles at our website

Science Daily, Your Source of Latest Research News:

Math Can Really Be Fun!

(it’s on sale ’til Wed. Oct. 31st)  Order one or all four operations. It’s all on sale!

Discount Code: RRS35  

(you must sign in to order and get your discount – we do not sell or share your information).

Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach®, designed it to be fun!  She also utilized the Neuro-Educational Approach which calls for three very important things to be present: (By the way this program is great from ages 5 to adult!)

        I .INTENSITY ~  which is where the fun comes in. You smile, your eyes light up and you flip through the problems as fast as you can say the problem and right answer!  Remember with this method it’s all about INPUT!  We want them to learn, so it’s input, input, input, because output is a test!  You don’t even go to the tests until there has been sufficient input!  So, have fun. Let them hear, see, and say the problem for two intense minutes!  (See the fun these kids are having below!  Why? Because it’s always fun to get the problems right and life is more fun when you feel confident in your abilities!)

2. DURATION ~ All sessions are no more than 1 to 2 minutes in length!  That’s why Math can be fun…. it’s over in a flash!  That’s a part of the secret to this methodology! You quit while the brain is very stimulated and wide awake (the best environment for the plasticity of the brain to create change in the neuro-pathways and connections!)

3. FREQUENCY ~ Each session is done twice a day.  The good news….. you only spend 7 minutes a day actually doing the Rapid Recall System Program!!!  We just request that there be at least 10 – 20 minutes between each math facts session.  It’s not uncommon for kids to say, “Let’s do it some more!” Please restrain yourself!

See:  The Principal  Talks About Rapid Recall System

And yes, there are tests, because we are teaching math skills.  We look for speed and accuracy following sufficient input.

See This Classroom Taking A Speed Test.   Notice any thing different???  Are they having fun? Are they confident?  Rapid Recall System is truly a unique math facts program.  Order it while it’s on sale! Sign in, put in the discount code for great savings!  Discount Code: RRS35

 One Word To Describe Experience with Little Giant Steps

“When I was asked to use one word to describe our experience with Little Giant Steps (LGS), I said, “Freeing!” I knew Joseph was smart.   He had a hard time focusing and when he did math, he jumped all over the page. It took him hours to get school work done. Also, he would have little bursts of frustration with his brothers and was hard to reason with. I was tired of always having to keep my eye on him and everything.

After the improvement  in his brother’s life (from the LGS Neuro-Educational Program), we decided to have Joseph join the program. Joseph really took the initiative and wake up early and did his hour of therapy before his other school work. It has been very freeing to see him change.  At completion he is reading  at 10th grade level.  He is actually enjoying Algebra and he can focus and complete his work twice as fast.  He doesn’t skip around anymore.  I do not have to check on him constantly and he is trustworthy to get his schoolwork done.  He gets along much better with his brothers and will actually reason out situations.  He is much calmer, yet fun and still our comedian . R. Bradley, TX

No More Tears Reading ~ part 2

By Jan Bedell, M.Ed. M.ND, Certified Teacher, and Neuro-Educational Specialist ~ Little Giant Steps

(Remember, keep it fun, exciting as play and don’t underestimate the importance of  INPUT ~ you’ll know when they’ve got it!)

In the previous posting, we talked about the Quick Flash Method.  After you have used this method and your child has read through the Dick and Jane, or similar, books (or tools to help), your child will be ready to read other books using the following method:

• parent reads one paragraph,
• child reads that same paragraph,
• parent reads next paragraph,
• child reads that same paragraph, etc.

In order to ensure the child is following along while you are read, pause every once in a while before reading a word you know he knows and let him say the word.  Also, while the child is reading, don’t listen to him struggle to sound out a word, just tell him the word.  You will find the child’s confidence begin to grow.

Don’t forget to work on auditory processing in the mean time.  You can order a booklet on Auditory Processing online at www.littlegiantsteps.com.  When your child reaches an auditory processing level (digit span) of 6, you can add phonics back into his curriculum with a lot more success and a lot less frustration.

P.S.  If you haven’t tested your child’s processing ability, please order the FREE Auditory Processing Test Kit.  It will give you a snap shot of just how grade appropriate your child is functioning.  If they are 5, they should be able to hold 5 pieces of information and recall it from short term memory. The test tells you how to give this short test, and some of the things to look for.  It will give you a bench mark from which to proceed.  It will also answer questions. If they’re not up to grade level, then it can be an easy fix that will last a lifetime! Please read up on the free articles, too. There are so many helpful things we publish for our audience.  Take advantage of them!

Yesterday I received a note from another neuro-educational specialist colleague in Canada.. She shared information a client of hers had noted about a math facts program (Rapid Recall System) that had been designed by Jan Bedell. The program will help any student gain lifelong rapid recall of their math facts, but is especially helpful for students who struggle with learning math facts.  The program is an excellent curriculum, but has the added bonus of a neurodevelopmental approach.  What that means is that anyone learning on this program will have specific stimulation of brain-based technology that will create neuro-efficiency while the child or adult is learning their math facts.  Here’s what this parent out of Canada had to say:

“Just wanted to let you know that one of my families said this “Rapid Recall System” was the best program for math facts-it is excellent.  Thanks for all your work.”