Posts Tagged ‘succeeding in math’

 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.

 Experience Each Module (+, -, x, ÷)

If you ever wanted to see your child, teen, or even adults become confident about their math skills, then give them the opportunity to permanently secure the basics (math-facts) in the brain by using the fun, and confidence-building Rapid Recall System.  Every part of this program addresses not only basic mathematical requirements, but it is crafted with neuro-pathway building techniques.  Input is king with this program. It takes a total of 7 minutes a day! (9 minutes for multiplication) to create a long-term solution for those struggling or hating math.  Little Giant Steps founder Jan Bedell, the Brain Coach® and creative force with the Rapid Recall System, has over 20 years of teaching experience and has specialized in the area of Neuro-Education.  This program has been serving her private clients since 2005, but as schools were finding more and more students coming to school with poorly developed processing skills, short-memory deficits, and disorganized brain function; they requested our services.

Jan took on the challenge to bring this wonderfully successful math facts program to all. There are public and private schools utilizing this system, because it works!  There are home school families, and regular families who want their child to succeed in math who use it, because it works!  It works for students who are gifted, typical, and challenged. Why is it so successful?  Because it works at the lower levels of the brain where organization occurs, it stimulates the brain to create new and more efficient neuro-pathways.  With greater speed and accuracy of the connections between the brain and body, the visual, auditory, tactile abilities are improved.  Therefore, learning becomes easier!  Order NOW!

Rapid Recall System Works!

We at Little Giant Steps can toot our horn all day long, and some people won’t believe us!  So, we’ve decided to let others tell you!  Just click on the audio links!

A Typical Mom With Typical Children                                       

A Mom With A Child With Autism

A Mom With Three Sons

A Mom With A Child With Asbergers

It works in schools, at home, with gifted, typical, or challenged people!  Age nor I.Q. is NOT the issue!  It has to do with an area of the brain that needs stimulating, in the right way and that’s what Rapid Recall System does! Some adults have used it to free them from life-long brain inefficiencies that always causes us to process poorly!  We change the brain, so it works more efficiently and effectively, and it doesn’t get any better than that with math…. as the little girl says, “The answer just pops into my head!”

There Is Overwhelming Evidence

Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach ®, created this very successful math-facts  program in 2005. It has been tested both in home school, as well as, in private and public schools.  All research shows it outperforms other programs, and the reason is because it is based on the Neuro-educational Approach.

Little Giant Steps leads those who need to learn math and retain it through a unique process.  Unique to the “typical math-teaching methods”, but not to the foundations of development of brain organization, improved processing (visual and auditory), and the importance for understanding sensory input, frequency, intensity, and duration and sensory output.

For a greater look into what is behind Rapid Recall System’s approach, please visit this article about the Neuro-developmental Approach by Linda Kane.

Test Rapid Recall System at Discounted Price

There are two weeks left to obtain one or more modules of Rapid Recall System at a greatly reduced price. Please don’t walk away from the best thing for learning math facts.  Sign into our Website,  Put the Discount Coupon Code  RRS35 when ordering on this page.  This offer expires October 31, 2012.

Little Giant Steps has a money back guarantee.  If you follow the directions as indicated and you don’t see improvement in math-facts performance within 30 days, send the module back for a complete refund of your money.

 Answer To The Parent:

As to why you’ve not heard of  it until now, probably has to do with the fact we’re a very small group serving the learning needs of all, but especially those who struggle. We need more exposure! Please help us get the word out!  We have seen thousands of children’s academic lives change as a new foundation was established which has allowed them to reach their God-given potential, which is why we passionately pursue building neuro-efficiency and brain organization in all children. There are more of you, then of us!!  Help us, please.

Rapid Recall is Little Giant Step’s longest standing supplemental math facts program. It also has proved over time (years) it is the only math facts multi-sensory program that installs math facts permenantly!   We have served children, teens and adults who ranged from gifted, typical, to challenged who struggled due to a variety of issues.  The Neuro-Educational Programs cover those areas that have to do with lower level brain organization, auditory and/or visual processing, eye-tracking, dyslexic symptoms, dominance issues, sensory issues, ADD, ADHD, PDD and some sufferers of allergies that severely effected their learning abilites. We address the foundation where learning issues begin ~ in the brain!  We work from an developmental approach to educational issues, and our clients lives have been changed dramatically, both personnally, academically, and socially.

The graph on the right is a research study of the Rapid Recall System done at Summit Christian Academy.  See the improvement of this Kindergarten class in six months.  This past year Rapid Recall was instituted into K – 3rd grade with great success.  Please review additional research project with children, as well as a few adults at our LGS Educational Services site.  One teacher was reported to say after seeing students achieve unexpected high scores on their tests, “It’s like these kids are on math steroids. Even those who were struggling are achiving wonderful success!”

Yes, Rapid Recall System is a game changer, as all of our Neuro-Educational Programs have proved over the last twenty years! These special programs were developed at Little Giant Steps through the dedication and genius of the “Brain Coach” ~ Jan Bedell, M.Ed, M.ND (Neuro-Educational Specialist).  Visit Little Giant Steps website and get acquainted with a method of addressing learning and see how LGS’s Learning Makes It Easy!

Free Webinars In The Comfort Of Your Home

Little Giant Steps is delighted to sponsor “a time of learning” for parents who want to see their child’s learning  made easy. If you’ve read our blog at all, you will know that not only do we serve those from babes to seniors in helping their brains become more organized and their thinking more efficient; we also increase academic scores for the gifted, typical, and learning disabled.  Some say, “We understood your worked with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, Down Syndrome, and other learning disabilities.” Yes, that is true, but we also recognize our techniques work just as well with those who have unique talents, but need better lower level brain organization, or who have difficulty with coordination, memory, behavior control, etc.  Humans come in all different flavors, if you will.

Since we work with the natural enhancement of  neuro-development, we can address universal human conditions in a variety of circumstances. It’s not magic, it’s all about development and increasing the communications between the brain and the body.  We assess the individual, both academically, and their neuro-developmental status, then an ND educational specialist will write a program to address those areas where function is lagging or non-existent.  By stimulating the brain and body, the activities address many of the brain and body systems; we create neuro-pathways and develop improved function.  Just like a guy who trains with weight training to gain strength; the neuro-educational programs we provide also develops strength and increased function in a broad range of skills.  Reading, Math, Comprehension, Organized Thinking, Increased Memory Function are the by-products of what we do.  When a person reaches their “grade-level” of function, then their brain and body will continue to serve their own individual quests in life. Humans continue to develop throughout their lives.  We are not static. We can go forward or backward, depending on what we do with our brains and bodies, how we nourish ourselves or our children, and the experiences we encounter.  Read what our parents say about the experiences they’ve encountered.

Please register for these webinars by emailing us: office@littlegiantsteps.com. Put “Webinar” in the subject line and the date you wish to attend.  You are encouraged to attend all, as the more information you have, the better you can utilize the information we impart.

Jan Bedell, founder of Little Giant Steps, was a teacher for 20 years, then she specialized in the “Neuro-Developmental Approach”.  She has a masters degree in education and is a master neuro-educational specialist. She has created curriculum for schools, and has made it her life mission to help humanity become acquainted with how learning can be easy, if the brain and body have the advantage of doing what’s needed to reach it’s highest and greatest potential.

Please feel free to join us for each Webinar.  You will go away better prepared to help your child, yourself, and excited about what you’ve learned. REGISTER NOW

The Neurodevelopmental Approach

In the 1940’s, a team of specialists including educators, neurologists, pyschiatrists and so forth, explored the potential to improve function in brain injured children. The result was the famous/infamous Doman-Delacato developmental profile. This profile was an attempt to decide what was necessary and sufficient to achieve “normal” human function. It looked at the inputs to the brain – tactile, auditory and visual, and the corresponding outputs –speech and language, manual function and mobility – from birth level to “normal” human function. Having completed all the steps of this profile, an individual was pronounced “neurologically organized” and hence capable of any normal human activity. If one of these developmental steps was missed, specific stimulation was supplied to complete that step and hence accelerate the individual through that step so that higher levels of function could be achieved.

This was a true work of genius. First, it challenged the premise that the brain was fixed in function and that if an injury occurred or a developmental step missed for whatever reason, be it illness, genetic anomaly, etc., that there was nothing that could be done to improve function. The ability to evaluate an individual that couldn’t talk or move or take standardized tests was an important breakthrough. Plus, by stripping away unnecessary developmental steps, it simplified the evaluation process. This work brought great hope to those that previously had been considered hopeless. It has given rise to many early intervention and “stimulation” programs and the whole sensory integration therapy now claimed as the territory of occupational therapists.

Many have taken this neurodevelopmental work forward. More specific steps of development have been identified, and new ways to provide specific stimulation as well as nutritional and metabolic breakthroughs have enhanced our ability to help individuals function at higher levels than ever before.

Implications for Babies

The great news for parents is that knowing the developmental steps used to evaluate individuals with problems, helps us design the best developmental environment for our babies. Since we can accelerate the learning and function of an individual with problems, we can also accelerate the learning and function of newborns. Why would anyone want to do this? Visions of “pushing” little ones in inappropriate activities come to mind. The fact is that little children love to learn. Very few respect baby’s wonderful ability to learn and to absorb information from his environment. By simply improving the environment of the child so that developmentally appropriate activities are available, little children can be physically and mentally excellent. This will avoid errors that result in learning problems down the road. Plus, we can approach the God-given potential that individuals have. Perhaps we can approach the abilities of our forefathers and send Godly, intelligent and capable children into the future.

This author’s own son was a fully automatized reader at the age of 24 months. He read at college level at the age of seven. By the time he was 12, he could read faster than any individual the author has seen.

The author had a Montessori school in the 1980’s and ALL of the 3 and 4 year olds were readers. This was not a population of bright and superior children. Some children, who couldn’t speak at the age of 2, were reading and speaking by the time they were 3 years old.

All of this is possible using the principles derived from the neurodevelopmental approach. What a refreshing vision in a country that enjoys a 40 to 50% illiteracy rate, despite the millions and billions spent on public education.  Read More:   By Kay Ness, Certified Neurodevelopmentalist

 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  darting eyes, moving head in a rhythm. 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.