Posts Tagged ‘math facts’

 If Your Child Struggles With Learning, Get Auditory Processing Up, First

 I thought I’d share a good resource for you and your child from Little Giant Steps. As you know, we talk about auditory processing a great deal, because it is such a key to learning. (Get a free Auditory Test Kit and see if your child is functioning at grade level.)  If they’re not up to speed, then there are so many games you can play by “practicing” while playing games with your child.  Here’s an excellent “auditory game”: To start, call out at least 4 numbers (monotone voice, with 1 second between each number) then having them give the numbers back to you after you’ve completed the sequence.  It doesn’t have to be numbers, it can be colors, favorite things they like, food, games, etc. Remember the more syllables when using words will make it more difficult, so start out with just one syllable words if they struggle.  If they two out of three correct, then give then additional number (item) and see if they can process 5 successfully, if they can’t just keep practicing on 5 until they get it! There are two things we consider cheating while playing this game. 1. If they are “chaining” ~ that’s trying to group the numbers so they can remember (generally you’ll see them darting eyes, moving head in a rythmn). 2. If they are trying to use visualization (like they are putting the information they hear on a bulletin board in their head) ~ you’ll see they eyes go up and to the side. Both, chaining and visualization, are coping and compensating behaviors that they’ve learned to try to help themselves. To become proficient in auditory processing, they must do it right until they get it.  Then, you go to the next level. We do have a computer program called Sequencing in A Flash, which works with both auditory and visual processing (for all ages), but it’s not nearly as fun as playing a game with mom or dad!

I like to have it be interactive.  First I give a series, they repeat it back, then they give a series and I repeat it back. What’s the goal?  A child should be able to hold in short term memory the same as their age. For instance, a 1 yr. old, should be able to repeat “one word or number” back. A 2 yr. old 2, 3 yr.old ~ 3, etc.  When they get to age 7, or above.. a minimum of digits they should be able to repeat back is 7.  If you wish to carry on a good conversation, and interact with people and teacher meaningfully, you need to be able to process 8 digits.  If you wish to retain college level material, then you must be able to process at least 9.  If a child or an adult has the ability to get to where they’re processing at 12, they would be doing exceptional! The main thing, is to keep this journey to better processing fun while you’re doing it.  Make it a game… it can be a game you and your family will play for the rest of your lives, as you get together to re-live wonderful growing-up memories.  The best part is that playing these kinds of “auditory processing games” will keep your brain sharp and clear, your comprehension will be very good, and your memory will be kept in fine order regardless of age, or I.Q,!

If #auditory processing# is low for your child (which is more the case than not these days) you are affected globally – areas of reading, writing, comprehending, and motor skills. To increase auditory processing abilities, the activities must be “listening.” Here’s a great publication and CD for those important “listening” times. Remember, you or your child can listen while in the car, while playing on the floor – building castles, playing with legos, racing cars or dressing up the dolls!

Meet Axel. from The Little Giant Steps website:

 Remember, your child loves it when you will sit down and focus on them and any activity you can do together. Too many children do not have parents who understand the vital part they play in the neuro-development of their children. It’s crucial that you be interested, interactive and especially to have FUN with your child.  Don’t let another day go by without making a fun and beneficial time-out for just the two of you.  Your life will improve dramatically, along with your child’s!  If you are aware your child is struggling in learning. Try #Developmental Foundations#.  It’s program that can also be very fun. And it will address the functional areas of the brain that are interfering with your child’s ability to: Receive, Comprehend, Store and Recall Information!  Everyone wins with this program.  Just do it a couple of times a day for no more than 5 minutes~ and you’ll see changes you won’t believe when your child’s brain gets organized and begins to have the needed connections (neuro-pathways) that gives them neuro-efficiency.   If you have a pre-schooler (3-5), then #Early Learning Foundations# is what you will want to order. 

 Now, go have a fun weekend with your children!  Take an “Intentional Break” with your child: Play, Laugh, and Make FUN Memories that will last a lifetime!

First Step: 

 Get your child neurologically organized.

Little Giant Steps has been providing education for parents and teachers for many years, so they can assist their children to reach their full academic potential.  All learning begins with the brain. So, first let’s get the brain ready to learn. Everyone, regardless of age or I.Q. will improve in their abilities if their brain is better organized and neurologically efficient.

A child arrives in this world with many areas of the brain still developing.  One of the crucial stages of early development includes establishing the central nervous system so the brain and body get connected (we call this “becoming neurologically organized”).  When a child is neurologically organized, information can travel effortlessly between the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste and smell).  When a child is neurologically organized, his movements are coordinated and he has age-appropriate fine and gross motor skills.

Most children become neurologically organized without any outside assistance.  God designed the human brain in such a way that when an infant begins moving, the brain receives the stimulation required to develop higher function.  Infants start out with very random and primitive movements, and then, as the brain develops, their movements become more complex.  It is the cross pattern movement of crawling and creeping that is so vital to a child’s continued progress and development.

If your child didn’t spend much time crawling and creeping, or if they skipped this important developmental stage, there is good news!  It is not too late!  Young children, teenagers, and even adults, can benefit by spending time every day crawling and creeping on the floor in a good cross pattern.  It just takes 2 minutes, twice a day each for cross crawling (like an army crawl) and cross creeping (up on hands and knees).  That’s just 8 minutes a day, five days a week!  Make sure the opposite hand and knee hit the floor at the same time (this cross pattern movement provides the proper stimulation to the brain).  The benefits will amaze you!  Improvement can be seen within 2 to 4 months in academics, behavior, social interaction, coordination of movement and other functional abilities.  It would be best to do these cross pattern activities for at least 6 months to ensure that the brain has received enough stimulation to make these positive effects permanent! 

See you next time with Step 2.  God bless.

 Why Do Neurodevelopmental Programs Succeed?

 It was discovered about 40 years ago that the brain was not hard wired as initially thought. It was also discovered by stimulating the brain through the use of specific activities, one could create new neuro-pathways or connections.  The brain is made up of 97%  connections and 3 % cell bodies.  It is the connections that allows the brain and body to communicate at lightening speed.  Normal growth and development requires certain vital steps to be completed in order for the person to reach their full potential academically.

One of the programs developed by Little Giant Steps is called Rapid Recall.  In the last year it’s been incorporated into our Early Learning Foundations program.  In fact, the kindergarten class at Summit Christian Academy utilized it beginning in November of 2010.  Rapid Recall System is a math facts program that works along side the regular math curriculum utilized by the school.  All Little Giant Steps’ neurodevelopmental programs help all students regardless of I.Q. or age to get their brains organized, improve their auditory and visual processing abilities , raise their academic performance and many other neuro-efficiency advantages.  See what a difference this program made to this kindergarten class:

See other research data from LGS Educational Services website.

 Get Your Child’s Brain Ready to Learn

Little Giant Steps builds foundations for learning.  Jan Bedell, M.Ed., Certified Neuro-Educational Specialist created this Early Learning Program Level 1 that can be started as early as 2 years of age and serves up to age five, as well as helping those children with challenges.  There are 3 levels that not only get children’s brain and body communicating efficiently, but improves auditory and visual processing abilities.  It readies students for school success, as well as addressing what they will need in reading, writing and math.  Here’s just a few parent’s remarks concerning this fun and important program:

Early Learning Foundations

“The Early Learning Foundationsprogram is amazing! Thank you! When we put our son back in public school after home schooling him for a couple of years, he started off right away needing to learn his math facts. We are really hanging in there thanks to this program. He is also being timed in these areas and this has always been difficult for him. His first test he made a 68%; but the last four tests – 100%!!! K.M in Midland, TX  

 ”My 3 year old grandson absolutely loves to do his Early Learning Foundations each day. In fact, he would like it if I’d let him continue past the two pages you recommend. Each day he wants to do more. He had terrible ear problems between ages 1 & 2. He missed a lot due to not hearing and his speech was distorted. It’s amazing how he’s picking up in his speech now that we’re doing some of the neurodevelopmental activities. Thank you for helping our children!” C.R.

 ”My three year old really enjoys working on the activities. One day I got some other activity books out that I had bought at the department store, my little guy said, “no mommy, I want my big school book (meaning the Early Learning Foundations notebook)” Mom in TX.

Read all about the curriculum, loaded with embedded neurodevelopmental brain-based techniques.  It’s fun, it’s easy, and it only takes 2 minutes twice a day to see you child gain skills far beyond your imagine!  Here’s one of the reviews provided by publisher Old School House.  Here’s a private school’s end of year test scores in Math Facts for their Kindergarten.  Notice how they scored compared to the third grade who did not have the advantage of Early Learning Foundations, and the Rapid Recall that is a part of it!

Incremental Success Builds The Base

One thing that has been so much fun working with Jan Bedell’s neuro-educational programs, is seeing the children improve and succeed each day as we see the lower levels of their brains get organized (they begin to think and comprehend in organized ways ~ a big advantage especially in gaining math skills). While her programs provide curriculum supplementation, like Rapid Recall for math facts, they really ready the child for better processing of what they hear, see, say and touch.  Their short-term memory improves with the practiced design of ”The Brain Coach’s” educational programs.  These programs deliver life-long imprinting on the brain, because they actually create new neuro-pathways.  They close developmental gaps that may exist.  It is exciting to see more and more learning disabilities being remedied via the use of neurodevelopmentally focused supplemental curriculum and educational tools. 

Seeing Is Believeing 

This past year we had the pleasure of working the the Summit Christian Academy.  It is an elementary school (NAUMS) and therefore we had a great deal of participation not only with the teachers, but parents.  We kept hearing reports about how the kindergarten loved doing their Rapid Recall (Math Facts) each day.  So, here it is for you to see for yourself.  Kindergarten 2011 Math Speed Test!

If interested in more information on our work at schools, go to Little Giant Steps’ YouTube Channel.

Each year Little Giant Steps (LGS) has had more opportunity to do research on this product.  It’s been exciting to see the breadth and depth of this program and how successful it is in doing what it was designed to do.  It helps to organize the brain, provides the right kind of “In-Put” so people from 5 to 50 can capture a skill that is imperative for easy math computation.  Rapid Recall System is the best supplemental skill-building program on the market that we’ve seen.

 Typically we think of this program being exceptionally useful for elementary students.  What we’re discovering is that it works just as effectively in Jr. High School and High School for more students (than a school likes to admit) who lack a working knowledge of their math facts.  The good news….. this program can bring about success for the challenged, typical and even gifted students, because the design includes the neuro-educational aspect of the Neuro-Developmental Approach.  This program, created by Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, just keeps getting rave reviews year after year, as people discover it’s effectiveness.  Here’s note from a mother on Rapid Recall System:

“When I ordered the Rapid Recall System the lady said, “Be sure to share a testimonial with us when you’re through.” I thought to myself, “You may not want to hear mine.” Well, I am glad to share that you WILL want to hear mine!! My son is almost 12 and in 4th Grade, doing 3rd Grade Math. I ordered the multiplication one first thinking it would be easier since it’s just memorization anyway. We had to start with 0 times any number is 0 and 1 times any number is always that number. I’ll have to admit I was a little skeptical. NOTHING we have tried has worked before. Now he knows his multiplication facts and can say them quicker than I can flip the flash cards. My husband was as amazed as I was when he heard us practicing one day. My son also has gained even more self-confidence in learning these facts. Thank you hardly seems enough for your products! I have ordered several more and cannot wait to get started with him. He is excited too!!!”  M. M. 04/10

To see more of our research on Rapid Recall System please see our LGS Educational Services site.

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.”

       It Works In Schools – It’s Guaranteed – It’s Rapid Recall System

“What a fantastic math facts system!  In 18 years of teaching, (first-graders) I have tried many ways to teach math facts but this system was by far the easiest to implement and I had better results with this system than anything else I have tried – all in just 7 minutes a day!   Even my lower-level students flourished and were successful under this system. (3 students did 100% in 3 min or under.)

Here are just a few of the results that made me sit up and take notice:

   Child #1 – Able to do all 70 problems in 2.5 minutes – 100%!

   Child #2 – Unable to identify numbers at year start. At end of the year, he did better than all the top students in other first-grade classes. 

                      My biggest success story in math! 

   Child #3 – Considered RTI, he was easily able to do math and was  keeping up with the rest of the class.

                   An Exciting and Unexpected Result

After using the neurodevelopmental approach in my classroom this past year, my students improved academically, gained strength physically and matured emotionally.  These students individually were able to complete sequences of tasks without prompting, as well as staying focused on the task that was before them.  Other adults around them commented that their reasoning skills as well as their organizational skills were far above those of peers.  Unlike other first grade classrooms in my past 18 years of teaching and those around us not participating in the program, these students were more respectful of each other and worked together to accomplish tasks without arguments.  Students were successful, so both the students and teacher’s stress level came down.   Together, we were working “smarter”, not harder.”

                                                                                     Tanda Trussell, First Grade Teacher, Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD, Stinnett, TX  

Here is a note from a teacher involved in a research program done in 2008-2009:

After using the neurodevelopmental approach in my classroom this past year, my students improved academically, gained strength physically and matured emotionally.  These students individually were able to complete sequences of tasks without promptings as well as staying focused on the task that was before them.  Other adults around them commented that their reasoning skills as well as their organizational skills were far above those of peers.  Unlike other first grade classrooms in my past 18 years of teaching and those around us not participating in the program, these students were more respectful of each other and worked together to accomplish tasks without arguments.  Students were successful, so both the students and teacher’s stress level came down.   Together, we were working “smarter”, not harder. 

RAPID RECALL SYSTEM

What a fantastic math facts system!  In 18 years of teaching, I have tried many ways to teach math facts but this system was by far the easiest to implement and I had better results with this system than anything else I have tried – all in just 7 minutes a day!   Even my lower-level students flourished and were successful under this system.

Tanda Trussell, First Grade Teacher

Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD

Stinnett, TX

 The LGS Neuro-Educational Approach is a program that provides the necessary brain stimulation to form neuro-pathways that were never developed during the earlier developmental stages of a child’s life. Each child will advance according to their own capacities.  (It also works on teens and adults – see test results) There are a myriad of things that keep our children from developing neurological efficiency.  Some have to do with illness as infants, some have to do with ear infections, but by and large most of our kiddos who seem to be bright, yet struggle with school were never given adequate exposure to activities that early on organize the lower levels of the brain, build a strong neuro-networks and connections.  We are raising a generation of children who have missed being on the floor and having “tummy time” which allows for the body to help stimulate and map the brain.  It is unfortunate we place our babies in the car seat when taking them home from the hospital, and for the majority of their infancy they remain in the up-right postion and miss getting all of the vital tactile, neuro-stimuli that is required in order to process information at lightening speed and efficiency.  It’s all about the  mind-body connections.  What the LGS Neuro-Educational Program does is to work with the plasticity of the brain to form, repair and even create connections / neuro-pahtways to enhance internal communication.  Most of the “learning disability” symptoms literally go away when the child is experiencing the benefits of a well organized brain, good auditory & visual processing abilities (yes, we work with that along the way) and other areas that may show up in the child’s evaluation.  To discover more about our very successful programs, click here.   There are free articles for you to investigate the science, philosophy and design of our neuro-educational models.   Now, let’s listen to Jenny, a mom who discovered how her son could be helped:

“Our son came up two years academically in 3 months. The biggest indicator of progress to me has been that he is reading for pleasure! His problems are quite minor compared to what many families are dealing with, we were just frustrated at the lack of progress in several areas and felt like we needed an outside viewpoint. ”  – Jenny M.

By the way, we have designed curriculum utilizing our approach, as well as a Neuro-Edcational Program called Developmental Foundations which is an at-home program that will get your child up and running with improved academic abilities.