Introduction

Brain training is considered to be intensive when your child is working on a brain training program 5x a week for 1 hour at a time.  It can be very intensive when your child is working 1:1 with a brain training coach – in person.  Brain trainers are taught to recognize when a child is stressed and will not benefit from brain training work.   Why is your child unable to train intensively?  This article explains 5 reasons why intensive braining training may not work for your child.

Reason #1

If your child is under constant anxiety or stress.  Research shows us that your child's brain is less likely to learn when in a state of anxiety.  The Franklin Institute states if your child's brain is under chronic stress, it will go into overload and the result can lead to damaged neurons.  This means that your child's wiring and communication system can get damaged or negatively impacted.  When this is the case, your child is less likely to handle the additional stress and overwhelm of intensive brain training. 
 

Reason #2

If your child has a traumatic brain injury.   If your child suffers from a traumatic brain injury, like my daughter, you have to be careful when you engage in brain training in an intensive manner.  Since my daughter has suffered from several TBI's from her auto immune disorder, we have to wait a certain period of time to engage the brain and possible raise the stress level. 

Initially, after the brain injury, your child will need to allow the brain to rest and heal itself as much as possible.  You will witness your child in a state of anxiety and confusion until the brain "resets" itself and you are able to return to a baseline.  At this point in time, you need to evaluate how much your child can attend without overwhelm. 

The most recent attack for my daughter put her brain in a state of confusion and flux for 3.5 months.  She basically slept on/off most the time and was unable to focus and retain.  After the 3.5 months, she was then able to begin to process small amounts of information at a time. 

We worked with her for 1-2 hours a day with breaks as needed.  It has been 5 months since her last attack on her brain and I still won't engage in intensive brain training because I know her brain isn't ready yet.  Instead I will use a less intensive method to achieve similar results.  I will provide examples at the end of this article.

Reason #3

If your child suffers from seizures.  It does depend on the type of seizures.  Computer based brain training may be a trigger for some types of seizures.  This is up to you and your doctor to determine if its safe for your child to engage in CBT brain training 5x a week.  Your child's doctor may say it is fine but only for 3x a week for 30 minutes at a time.  Seizures are often triggered by lack of sleep and stress to name a few.  Your brain trainer needs to be aware of this and should not overwhelm your child in the sessions thinking they will help your child push through when they should be slowing down.
 

Reason #4

So far we talked about some medical reasons why intensive brain training may not be the answer.  Another reason may be your child's schedule is too busy.  You do not or will not make brain training a priority for your child.  In this case, adding more to your child's already packed day will not be successful.  Instead, you will see your child perform worse across the board because the brain can only take so much at once.   I have had some families who have their child busy from 6am to 9 pm and they want some ideas of how to fit brain training into the day.  It won't work …
 

Reason #5

The last reason would be that you want the brain training more than your child.  Your child is not interested and is not trying at all.  In fact, you spend most of the sessions just trying to get your child to stop arguing and do the darn program already!  Your brain trainer needs to be trained in recognizing children who will not fit the program.  Your brain trainer should say no to your child starting a program until they are ready.  If your child is not fully engaged, brain training will not occur and no changes will take place in your child's brain. 

In Closing
 

Intensive brain training may not be the answer for your child.  The good news is that there are other options to reach similar changes in your child's brain.  There are also cognitive strategies that you can use to help your child compensate and be successful.  On my live interview tonight with Gerald Hughes, Cognitive Strategies Expert, we will discuss what you can do to help your child succeed. 

For example, there are easy spelling strategies to help your child remember words when you are unable to brain train.  You can also brain train with any of the popular brain training programs at a modified schedule.  It may take your child a year to get through what some children may accomplish within 12-16 weeks.  There are also some games that can be used for a little time every day over a long period time to reach success.

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• Homework Tips and Strategies: Timing Homework Assignments

  January 2012

• Join me on 1/19/12 7PM EST at The Online Association of Brain Trainers http://www.braintrainerconnect.com for a live interview with Gerry Hughes, Cognitive Strategies Expert.  He will give you some great ideas to help your child or student remember and understand academics easier.  LIMITED SEATING — REGISTER TODAY
   
• Professionals and CSTS Grads – Join me at The Online Association of Brain Trainers http://www.braintrainerconnect.com for a live training webinar on How to Use Facebook to Build Your List – 1/24/12 — REGISTER TODAY.
   
• Open Q&A Call (no registration required) with myself and Certified Student Transformation Specialist (CSTS) Graduates.. Ask us anything about brain training! Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
   
• Thinking of becoming a Certified Student Transformation Specialist (CSTS) a.k.a. certified brain trainer?  Take advantage of my 50% investment option by applying by 1/24/12.

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Introduction

One of the most popular questions that I am asked by both parents and professionals is "Which brain training program should I use?"  When you look at the top 2 programs on the market, BrainSkills and BrainWare Safari, it can be a bit overwhelming and confusing.  Upfront, I am letting you know that one of main benefits of working with a Certified Student Transformation Specialist (CSTS) is that the confusion is removed from the decision making process.  These highly qualified experts are able to guide you through the Student Transformation Program and answer any questions you may have about choosing a brain training program to work with your child yourself.  What follows is a discussion around the most popular questions I am asked about each of the program's effectiveness to improve learning – especially within Reading.

Which program should I use to improve Reading?

Both programs will improve a child's ability to read.  In order to give specific recommendations, I usually need to know what the parents really mean when they want to improve reading.  Are we talking Literacy (reading, writing, comprehension)?  In some cases, the parents are referring to only one specific issue whether it is reading, writing or comprehension.  Depending on the child's background, medical and education history, my recommendation on which program to use would be different. 

DECODING WORDS

For example, if a child is at least 6 years old and is struggling with sound-to-code, the ability to read new words and have a strategy to do so, then I would probably recommend BrainSkills.  The reason for this is based off of the full child's history, the child may have been surviving to date on visually memorizing/recalling whole words.  However, the child may now be at a level in school where memorizing will not work due to the vast amount of words required for his/her age group.

In this type of scenario, using research based approaches to support strengthening and development of phonological awareness, an intense exposure to sound to code of the English Language is recommended.  BrainSkills provides this by speaking a sound or complex sounds to your child and then your child must select the correct code or codes.  This exercise also strengthens auditory processing weaknesses. 

BrainSkills also offers an extension (in Beta) of the reading exercises for drilling for your child to equate to the full Master the Code program previously completed in person now online.  My online cognitive assessment will determine in which skills your child shows weakness and these results are factored in when making the recommendations. 

Children I worked with to target auditory and word attack skills have shown progress comparing pre and post measures.

SPELLING WORDS

In this type of scenario, you need to be specific and your CSTS will ask you the right questions to allow you to answer with the necessary information – don't worry!    You need to be clear if the spelling issue is due to a combination of sound-to-code issues and recall or just recall.  If your answer is a combination of both, then again, I would recommend BrainSkills to attack the sound-to-code and spelling issues.

However, if your child can read new words using phonological awareness strategies but spelling is very weak, then I would recommend BrainWare Safari.  BrainWare Safari is phenomenal when it comes to auditory/visual strengthening.   Since your child is weak in recalling how the word is spelled, it may very well be weak visual memory or processing.  My online cognitive assessment will determine in which skills your child shows weakness and these results are factored in when making the recommendations.

BrainWare Safari challenges your child in the most effective, yet fun approach to strengthening your child's ability to learn.  Almost, if not all of the exercises in the program, use a strong visual component paired with some auditory and rhythm (metronome) component.  Your child will strengthen visual memory and processing using this program.  In fact, the children I worked with to target visual skills have shown progress comparing pre and post measures.

AUDITORY PROCESSING

When a parent comes to me and states that their child has Auditory Processing Disorder per their Audiologist, I will ask for specifics in symptoms and behaviors.  Again, if sound-to-code weakness is being observed, then BrainSkills is recommended.  However, if the child reads and spells fine but may be processing slowly or needs directions repeated, then BrainWare Safari can be used because of its high auditory/visual component.  Any child that I worked with using BrainWare Safari will tell you not to be fooled by the program's presentation of a "Jungle Scene" as the games are quite challenging and very effective.  The deciding factor in this type of scenario is really which game you and your child are drawn to for ease of use, budget, protocols and overall ability to sustain interest.

If a parent comes to me and states Auditory Processing symptoms or behaviors but reading is fine, this is another option to use BrainWare Safari.  This program "speaks" to your child in almost every exercise requiring your child to attend, process, remember and recall while listening and following directions.  Your child plays a lot of fun games without realizing they are training the brain.  Again, the deciding factor in this type of scenario is really which game you and your child are drawn to for ease of use, budget, protocols and overall ability to sustain interest.

In Closing

Both programs, BrainSkills and BrainWare Safari do what they claim to do.  Both strengthen all of the necessary cognitive skills required to learn.  However, they do so using different presentation styles.  Also, depending on your child's challenges, one program over the other can be tailored to meet your child's specific needs.  I highly recommend that you work with a Certified Student Transformation Specialist to ensure you are providing your child with the most research-based, proven, resources for success.  Get started today by having your child take a non-academic, online cognitive assessment and then discuss the results with me so together we can help your child reach success in as little as 12 weeks.

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With all the hype about the iPAD in the classroom, I thought I would give you some comparable ways to use the Kindle Fire.  After comparing apps, the Kindle Fire has just about the same type of apps available.  The good news for you is that the Kindle Fire is much less expensive, too.    I compiled a list of 4 apps available on the Kindle Fire that you can use for educational purposes.  There are tons more but wanted to keep this list to a minimun.The apps are listed in no particular order. 

Remote Mouse – Take control of your presentations from anywhere in a room with wireless network access. With mouse-click control, scrolling, keyboard, and touchpad, you can control and display anything from your computer screen onto a presentation screen.  This is great for teachers who are walking around the classroom while presenting on whiteboards or using a smartboard.  Moms — what about reviewing flash cards or study notes with your child as you are multi-tasking?  Now, you don't need to be tied to your computer in the family room.  AWESOME!!

Little Piano – Little Piano allows you to tinkle a few ivories and pass a little musical time while on the go. With this app, you'll always have a piano right in your pocket. Play a tune or two while you're waiting for an appointment, standing in line, or sitting through a long flight.

Kid Mode – Fun, educational games for kids 8 and under. All your child's favorite Android apps in one place. With our Child Lock feature, kids stay safely in Kid Mode!

TaptoTalk - TapToTalk turns an Android device into an affordable augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. Tap a picture – TapToTalk speaks. Kids think it's fun.  The TapToTalk App comes with a sample AAC album that you can use to see of it is appropriate for your child. You can get additional free albums by following the instructions in the App. If you want to create albums that are individualized to meet the specific needs of your child, you can buy TapToTalk Designer at http://www.taptotalk.com.

BONUS #5 App Just for You!!   Office Suite 5 - Create, view, edit and share Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and attachments and view PDF files

Again, there are tons more that you can look for that will help your child learn and experience learning from a more digital perspective.  The point I'm trying to make here is that you don't necessarily have to invest $900 plus for a iPAD.  $199.00 for a Kindle Fire will give your child a comparable digital learning experience.    

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JOIN US FOR A LIVE Q&A WEBINAR  — THE FOLLOWING CALLS ARE SCHEDULED DURING JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2012. 

We would love for you to join us.  Simply click on the url to join our online live webinar on the day and time that best fits your schedule.

PLAYBACK FOR THESE OPEN Q&A CALLS WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE ONLINE ASSOCIATION OF BRAIN TRAINERS.  FREE REGISTRATION FOR PARENTS/TEACHERS.

CALL #1 – Wednesday – 1/25/2012   7PM EST/4PM PST

Topics of Interest: 

• BrainWare Safari
  
• BrainSkills
  
• Student Transformation System
  
• Study Skills
  
• Organization
  
• meet the CSTS Graduates
  

1.  Please join my meeting on 1/25/12
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/592810222

2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) – a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

Dial +1 (636) 277-0132
Access Code: 592-810-222
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Meeting ID: 592-810-222
Webcam optional

CALL #2 – Wednesday – 2/29/2012   7PM EST/4PM PST

Topics of Interest: 

• BrainWare Safari
  
• BrainSkills
  
• Student Transformation System
  
• Study Skills
  
• Organization
  
• meet the CSTS Graduates

1.  Please join my meeting on 2/29/12
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/592810222

2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) – a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

Dial +1 (636) 277-0132
Access Code: 592-810-222
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Meeting ID: 592-810-222
Webcam optional

CALL #3 – Wednesday – 3/28/2012   7PM EST/4PM PST

Topics of Interest: 

• BrainWare Safari
  
• BrainSkills
  
• Student Transformation System
  
• Study Skills
  
• Organization
  
• meet the CSTS Graduates

1.  Please join my meeting on 3/28/12
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/592810222

2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) – a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

Dial +1 (636) 277-0132
Access Code: 592-810-222
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Meeting ID: 592-810-222
Webcam optional

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Does your child ask questions about the magical mystery microwave? Now you can show her how and why it works, while demonstrating just how strangely foods can behave while inside the crazy cooker.

What you need:

• Marshmallows
• Plate
• Microwave oven
• Bar of soap (optional)

What you do:

1. Make sure you supervise your child doing this experiment and explain that he always need permission if he wants to use appliances in unusual ways.
2. Have your child place a marshmallow on a plate in a microwave. Turn the microwave on for 30 seconds. Watch what happens.
3. Change the time you microwave the marshmallow and see what happens. Be careful: the marshmallow will be very hot when done.
4. Repeat this experiment with a bar of soap. The microwave will smell like soap after you finish. But not forever.

What's going on?

Microwaves have a unique property that makes them useful for cooking – the ability to excite water molecules. Microwaves cause water molecules in food to spin. As the molecules spin faster, they heat up. The hot water molecules then cause the food to heat up. When things heat up, they expand. As the marshmallow heats up, the tiny bubbles of moist air trapped inside grow, and the marshmallow gets big – very big. Now that your child knows this, ask him these questions: What did you see on the surface of the marshmallow after it was heated? Why do you think it only reached a certain size? Soon he'll be guessing how all the appliances work!

By Rain Newcomb and Bobby Mercer

Activity reprinted with permission from "Smash It! Crash It! Launch It! 50 Mind-Blowing Eye-Popping Science Experiments" by Rain Newcomb and Bobby Mercer (Lark Books 2006), a book that lets kids launch ping-pong balls, create cola geysers, and more— and learn about physics at the same time.

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Introduction

When a student gets into the advanced grades and college, note taking becomes an important part of their success in school. But even though good notes can be crucial to passing a class, most students never receive any instruction on how to do it well.

Note Taking Tips

Here are some tips to make taking notes easier and more effective:

• Pay attention to the points the teacher discusses and writes down on the blackboard.  This is almost always key information that should be in your notes.
   
• Make a note of any terminology mentioned in class that you don’t understand.  Ask the teacher to explain it or make a note to look it up later.
   
• Read the material before it’s discussed in class.  If you haven’t read it, you won’t know which points are important and you won’t be able to take good notes.
   
• Sit up front where you can hear better and be less distracted.
   
• Put dates, headings and subheadings on your notes to make reviewing easier.
   
• If your handwriting is messy, rewrite or type your notes later.  You may think this is a waste of time, but it will help you to retain the information and you’ll need to study less before a test.
   
• Use loose leaf paper that can be put in the proper section of your notebook.
   
• Leave lots of blank space between lines so you can add comments and information later.
   
• Use highlighters to emphasize especially important information.
   
• Use short sentences and abbreviations.  Leave out unnecessary words so you can write faster.
   
• Always number the pages, so your notes don’t get mixed up.
   
• Organize your notes each day, so they get put in the proper place.  Lost notes or notes that take hours to locate mean you’ve wasted time and effort that could have been used studying.
   
• Remember that good note taking and organized study habits, combined with my Student Transformation System can turn a struggling student into a high achiever.

Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? I would be honored, and just ask that you include the following with the article:

Colleen Bain is the best-selling author of Overcomers Inc. She writes, trains and consults in advanced brain training for children and their parents, teachers and professionals.  Professionals also look to Colleen for her expert coaching relative to starting and expanding a brain training business.  To find out how Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids can help you – visit How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child!

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Introduction

Establishing good study skills early on is essential to educational success, especially for kids who are having trouble achieving in school.  Effective study habits save time, reduce stress, foster self confidence and increase the odds of acing that test or turning in that book report on time.  As parents, we can help our kids tremendously by helping them form and maintain good study habits.

 When scheduling a time for studying and doing homework, it’s important to assess what time of day your child is most alert. Set aside a designated time for homework and stick to it.  Set up a study location that’s quiet and free of clutter. For kids who have problems focusing and staying on task, doing homework at the kitchen table while you’re cooking dinner and the younger kids are running around probably isn’t going to work.  Whether the study spot is a desk or a table, make sure it’s a quiet place that’s stocked with materials (pens, pencils, paper, ruler, etc.) and a calendar for writing down assignments.

If your child has an attention deficit, they might need to break up study time into small sections interrupted with breaks to walk around or jump on a trampoline. The breaks help them stay energized and focused.

Time Management

One of the most important factors in good study skills is effective time management.  An accurate assessment of the amount of time it takes to complete a task is essential to getting school work turned in on time.  How many times have you heard your child say, “Don’t worry Mom, my math homework will only take me ten minutes”? They may genuinely think it will only take ten minutes, when it actually takes much longer.  For that reason, a specific amount of time for homework should be set aside each day.  If they finish early, great, they have more free time.  If not, they won’t be up late trying to finish that homework that was only supposed to take them ten minutes.

For long-term projects, set up a schedule listing all of the steps necessary to complete the assignment.  Assign an amount of time for each step to be completed.  Help them be realistic about time assessment — it’s better to schedule too much time than too little.  Working backwards from the completion date on the calendar, schedule time for each stage of the project to be worked on and completed.  Make sure they note any materials that will need to be gathered in order to complete the task.  If necessary, check in with the teacher to make sure the assignment is clearly understood.

Taking the time to get organized and establish a regular study routine will save time, stress and frustration in the long run. By encouraging good study habits early on, you’re helping your child embark on the path to success in both school and the workplace.

Good study habits combined with my Student Transformation System can make all of the difference when it comes to turning your child into an enthusiastic and successful learner.

Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? I would be honored, and just ask that you include the following with the article:

Colleen Bain is the best-selling author of Overcomers Inc. She writes, trains and consults in advanced brain training for children and their parents, teachers and professionals.  Professionals also look to Colleen for her expert coaching relative to starting and expanding a brain training business.  To find out how Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids can help you – visit How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child!

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Introduction

If you’re the parent of a child who’s struggling in school, you may have heard the term ‘processing speed’ and wondered what it means.  Processing speed refers to how quickly information travels throughout the brain.  A processing speed deficit can affect learning dramatically.  Compare it to riding a train that travels at 30 miles an hour versus one traveling at 60 MPH.  Obviously, you’re going to get to your destination much faster on the 60 MPH train.

What is happening?

When a child has a slow processing speed, it takes their brain longer to sort through the information coming in through the senses. For instance, if your child’s train (processing speed) is traveling at 30 MPH when they look at a page of writing in a book, it takes the train longer to carry the visual image into the brain and make the proper connections to translate the symbols on the page into words.  So they read slower and with more difficulty than a child whose train is traveling at 60 MPH.

What does it impact?

Processing speed affects long and short term memory, reading, writing, speaking, attention and reasoning.  Children with processing speed deficits feel as if they’re always one step behind the rest of the group.  Time pressures can cause them embarrassment and stress because they aren’t able to finish a test or assignment with the rest of the class. Because of the time it takes to process information, they have trouble maintaining attention on tasks like reading, writing and math.  When speaking, they may have difficulty finding the right words to express themselves.

Because a brain processing deficit can have be either sensory or cognitive, it’s important to have your child tested to understand exactly what’s going on. Sensory deficits involve the way the information enters the brain and can be visual, auditory or any of the other senses.  For instance, if someone has an auditory processing disorder, it doesn’t mean they can’t hear.  What it refers to is the way the brain processes information taken in through hearing. 

What can you do to help your child?

The good news is that through my Student Transformation System, we can strengthen the neurological connections and build new pathways in the brain to improve processing speed. In that way, your child can make tremendous progress in their cognitive function and show dramatic improvements in their ability to learn.

A Strategy to Use While Training the Brain

A common strategy used by teachers is to allow more time for answering questions.  Also, provide a copy of the notes in class to the student.  When working with your child who is processing slowly, you need to be patient.  Ask your child information in smaller bits instead of the usual "whole page" of data.  Slow processing is quite common amongst children with Dyslexia, too.  This means you need to accommodate to lessen the stress and avoid a complete shutdown.  While you are brain training with your child, provide a few different ways for your child to respond.  Meaning, offer up images to accompany the written request to lessen the double duty processing required to understand your request and find a correct answer.  Simply pointing to the picture is a lot easier.  This works great for home.  While in school, be sure the teacher is able to accommodate by using a task analysis approach.  You do not need to lessen expectations for your child, rather, have the teacher allow more time for finishing assignments and tests. 

Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? I would be honored, and just ask that you include the following with the article:

Colleen Bain is the best-selling author of Overcomers Inc. She writes, trains and consults in advanced brain training for children and their parents, teachers and professionals.  Professionals also look to Colleen for her expert coaching relative to starting and expanding a brain training business.  To find out how Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids can help you – visit How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child!

Watch a replay of one my latest interviews:  Gerry Hughes, Cognitive Strategies Expert and get even more tips and understanding.  You need to register to the site (registration is free until March 2012).

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