Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids » BrainSkills

How to Decide Which Brain Training Program is Right for Your Child

colleen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:36:08 +0000

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.

Join Me and My Certified Student Transformation Specialists for Q&A Webinars

colleen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:49:56 +0000

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

Reading Comprehension and Your Child’s Science Textbook

colleen — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:15:15 +0000

Reading is one of the most important skills your child must learn for school. Your child learns and communicates through reading and comprehending the written word. Your child will, more than likely struggle in Math, Social Studies, and Science if they can’t read and comprehend.

Science has become a big problem with students. Tests that are given show students do not understand the Science programs the schools are using and this is being related back to the struggles with reading and comprehension.

Without the complete understanding and comprehension of text related to science, success will be hard to reach. To learn how to get the understanding and comprehension several different studies were used with children in the fourth grade and higher.

Teaching reading comprehension is a big thing and needs to happen so the scientific text will be easier to understand. With the different learning styles children have, it’s best to learn multiple strategies so the children can benefit from one that works for them. It’s a waste of time to try and teach in a way that won’t work for them.

Reading vocabulary is another important key to understanding and comprehending scientific text. Children need to know the definition of words they may not use every day or they’ll just be reading and not understand a thing. The connections between the words and the topic will be understood when the words make sense to the child.

When children use note taking when they’re learning about science and reading, it will help them to comprehend and remember things. This will help down the road when the topics come up again. It will make it easier for them to understand the new things and will help them learn things quicker and possibly retain it for a longer period of time.

Reading encompasses the need for strong cognitive skills, receptive vocabulary,fluency and concept imagery. I work with your child to strengthen the underlying capacity to learn and then bring those strong skills into the forefront of your child's consciousness to begin applying them when reading and comprehending. To help your child with vocabulary skills, I often integrate programs such as WordlyWise or Passwords Science Vocabulary upon request.

Feel free to contact me for more information and to begin transforming your child into an independent learner today!

Reading Comprehension and Your Child's Science Textbook

colleen — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:15:15 +0000

Feel free to contact me for more information and to begin transforming your child into an independent learner today!

How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child

colleen — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:23:04 +0000

I am often asked to explain what brain training means relative to helping your child be able to learn easier and more efficiently. I often find myself listing out the many benefits that your child can experience. For example, your child will be able to remember more with better imagery and recall the information faster, concepts whether imagery or auditory based will be understood, manipulated and ordered with much greater ease and organization.

Taking tests and studying will become much easier and less anxiety-driven as your child begins to transfer skills back into the classroom. Following your multi-step directions at home will be completed when asked without multiple requests to repeat the information. Your child will be able to follow along in class better and become a more active participant in the overall learning process.

Let’s not forget attending, focus and less fidgeting will be experienced. While this sounds wonderful, I do point out to parents that the joy and life-changing events do not stop there. As your child’s brain continues to dynamically change to the environment, cognitive skills and processing abilities will strengthen even more. Even though we all know that the magic pill, one-stop shopping, does not exist, brain training comes pretty close.

Why? Because, when you provide your child with a stronger foundation and capacity to learn, your child’s horizon has just expanded. Where your child may never had interest in reading before, books are now curiously interesting.

Usually, at this point in the conversation I would begin discussing the “How Can This Be Accomplished?” question. All of this wonderful changes in your child is possible because of the Theory of Neuroplasticity.

“Santiago Ramon y Cajal (a founder of modern neuroscience) expressed this theory in 1894, three years before Charles Sherrington coined the term synapse to describe the connections made between neurons. In the late 1940s the neuroplasticity model was advanced by Jerzy Konorski, who used the word plasticity to describe “permanent functional transformations,” and Donald Hebb, who ascribed testable physiologic characteristics to synaptic plasticity. However, experimental evidence that synapses are capable of long-lasting changes in synaptic strength did not come until the early 1970s, when Timothy Bliss and Terry Lomo described an increase in the synaptic strength of neurons in the mammalian hippocampus (a region of the brain critical for some forms of memory) following electrical stimulation. They termed this increase long-lasting potentiation, now referred to as long-term potentiation (LTP).” (novelguide.com, 2011)

The best part is that you can accomplish a stronger foundation and cognitive skills within 90 days in most cases. For example, I often recommend that while you are still getting “educated” on my site to start out with a home-based program that can be completed with a computer and internet connection.

BrainSkills and BrainWare Safari can begin the whole process of neuroplasticity and strengthening your child’s capacity to learn, remember and process by working the program 3x a week for 30 min. Then, if you even need more intensive brain training and help with transferring the new skills into everyday life and the classroom, you can work with me in-person.

Homework Tips and Strategies: Step 8 – Initiating Homework Assignments

colleen — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:36:47 +0000

As discussed from last week's article, homework meltdowns are not fun. In our first article in the series, I discussed how the leading cause of homework trouble is really weak cognitive skills. However, once the skills are strengthened your child needs to be instructed on how to approach the homework process.

I developed an 8 step process that takes a student from confusion to organized and independent in no time. Last week I discussed step 7 of my process. This week I will discuss Step 8 – Initiating Homework Assignments.

Step 8 of my process is to "initiate" homework assignments. You may be wondering why on earth I would make initiating homework the last step of my process. Well, let me tell you why! I found that the students that I work with do not have the skills to complete their homework. Therefore, even giving them incentive to start it on their own, without giving them the skills to be successful, does not make much sense. In fact, most students will fail to initiate independently.

In this step, you help your child stay focused, organized and manage their homework assignments by helping integrate all the previous steps. By the time your child has reached this step in the homework process, your child is able to do some, if not all, of their homework independently. For the assignments they can complete on their own, they will work to understand the follow through of homework completion.

Keep in mind, that the initiation step is an independent one that is different from helping your child start homework through prompting. Even though your child can do homework independently, you are now working to have your child start and complete the process themselves with very little to know support.

When I have a student at this step in the process, they are reminded of all they have learned and accomplished. We set up a "schedule" that helps to guide the student and removes the parent from the process. The student will work through the schedule on his own for about a week with incentive (external rewards).

Once the student has demonstrated that the homework process can be worked through without support (homework itself may need support), than your student/child is bridging the gap to independence. I usually leave off with providing the family with a parent/child contract laying out the rules of the land, per the family. I will help craft the contract until it meets the needs of the family with their unique requirements. Next, I introduce the contract concept to the student/child and then help the family schedule a family meeting for next steps and implementation.

The homework process can be extended to more steps depending on the student's age. For example, when I work with older students, I include additional steps around project planning and time management.

If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment below. I would be happy to speak with you in detail on how my programs may help to transform your child into an independent learner. Go ahead and schedule your FREE 30 minute consult today.

For your convenience:

http://www.els4kids.com/3-ways-to-help-your-child-remember-to-track-homework-and-pack-books/ Steps 1 & 2

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-organizing-the-homework-space/ Step 3

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-prioritizing-homework-assignments/ Step 4

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-chunking-out-homework-assignments/ Step 5

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-timing-homework-assignments/ Step 6

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-7-completing-homework-assignments/ Step 7

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-8-initiating-homework-assignments/ Step 8

You can also purchase and download a .pdf ebook of all the homework strategies and templates for only $19.95 Click Here

Homework Tips and Strategies: Step 7 – Completing Homework Assignments

colleen — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:00:17 +0000

I developed an 8 step process that takes a student from confusion to organized and independent in no time. Last week I discussed step 6 of my process. This week I will discuss Step 7 – Completing Homework Assignments.

Step 7 of my process is to "complete" homework assignments. This is an important step for a few reasons. Mainly, our children do not internalize that homework is not complete until it is handed in to the teacher.

In this step, you help your child stay focused, organized and manage their homework assignments by helping them to understand that homework is complete once it is handed into the teacher. By the time your child has reached this step in the homework process, your child is able to do some, if not all, of their homework independently. For the assignments they can complete on their own, they will work to understand the follow through of homework completion.

The follow through of homework completion is to stress that there are additional steps to completing homework. Once your child closes textbooks or finishes homework worksheets, homework is not completed. Your child needs to understand that concept of follow through or follow up with the teacher.

In order to work through this step, you may need to model the behavior with your child. For example, for younger students who have their teacher ask for the homework, I would play the role of their teacher. We would act out coming into the classroom and I would request the homework. Then we would agree the homework is now completed.

For older students that must hand in homework themselves, we act out the process of going into each classroom per subject. I would play the role of the teacher and explain the process of handing in homework. The student would need to hand in the homework according to their process in school.

In some cases, we would set up a routine when the child comes to work with me, they have to hand in "make believe" homework before we start our sessions. Eventually, it becomes routine.

In some rare cases, I would visit the school with the student. We would visit classroom to classroom after school – to give the student the real walk through experience of what is expected of them.

Most of the time, you will find students who are very literal, will struggle when this step is initially introduced because they expect the teacher to remind or ask them for their work. The bridge to independence is their for this type of student but they need a little practice and reassurance walking across the bridge.

I will connect with the classroom teacher(s), when requested, and we will work together to help the student (your child) bridge the gap successfully. Some students need to work on this step for months and in some cases it may take the first year that they are introduced to this step. This is the year that this student has begun intermediate school, for example, or middle school where they are now just being requested to hand in homework on their own without prompting.

In other cases, once the student is given the "process" and can understand the concept, they are fine. The steps in my homework process are rely heavily on processing, attention, memory and imagery (concept). That is why I will always stress and encourage that your child receive brain training prior to working through this process. I usually provide about 30 hours of brain training with a student and then overlap this process, if it is needed, while finishing the brain training program.

For some students that are really struggling with remembering to hand in their homework, you can use the buzzing watch I mentioned in an earlier article. Set the buzzing alarm for each of the classes start time for your child. Model for your child when the watch buzzes it means its time to hand in homework. That will get you started. You can also add in reminders in your child's locker and assignment books.

Just a quick note to parents: from your perspective remember that to really help your child benefit with homework completion means being able to help your child understand the different concepts of the process and not just focusing on the end product of a finished worksheet.

Next week, I will continue writing about my 8 step process. I will begin discussions around what it really means to initiate doing homework. This is the last step of my process because I find it helpful to introduce the concepts, steps and model independent homework sessions prior to requesting initiation of the student.

For your convenience:

http://www.els4kids.com/3-ways-to-help-your-child-remember-to-track-homework-and-pack-books/ Steps 1 & 2

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-organizing-the-homework-space/ Step 3

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-prioritizing-homework-assignments/ Step 4

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-chunking-out-homework-assignments/ Step 5

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-timing-homework-assignments/ Step 6

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-7-completing-homework-assignments/ Step 7

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-8-initiating-homework-assignments/ Step 8

You can also purchase and download a .pdf ebook of all the homework strategies and templates for only $19.95 Click Here

Homework Tips and Strategies: Timing Homework Assignments

colleen — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:00:47 +0000

I developed an 8 step process that takes a student from confusion to organized and independent in no time. Last week I discussed step 5 of my process. This week I will discuss Step 6 – Timing Homework Assignments.

Step 6 of my process is to "time" homework assignments. This is an important step for a few reasons. Mainly, we are proving to our children that homework will not take hours to complete.

In this step, you help your child stay focused, organized and manage their time by literally tracking the time they start their homework and finish. By this step in the homework process, your child is able to do some, if not all, of their homework independently. For the assignments they can complete on their own, they will track how long it takes to complete. Here is a snapshot of the "concept" in action.

This step will help to prove to your child that completing a math worksheet really can take as little as 15 minutes. Now, when the anxiety kicks in and your child begins their "negotiations" with you to put off completing the math worksheet, you'll have proof to calm them down. You can shorten or avoid the anxiety homework meltdown by reminding them they have completed their math in very little time. This is key discussion around the math worksheets you know your child is already comfortable with and the anxiety is prohibiting them from starting the sheet.

The other reason this step is important is for families with Individualized Education Programs (IEP). This technique can also be used for anyone trying to prove their point to a teacher. I have used this technique with students where the parents discussed concern over homework taking 2-4 hours a night. The child study team responded that it was the parent's fault for not providing structure in the home. Actually, that is a common response from IEP teams untill you can help them understand and they need proof.

By using this form for tracking over a few weeks time, you begin to tell a story. You begin to recognize that, perhaps, math is the one subject that is proving the most difficult for homework. You now have the time tracking to prove it, too. In our example, this chart will help you and your IEP team discover that math is the culprit taking 2 hours a night and the only subject requiring so much hands on support from the family, With this information, the teachers can then look at the homework being presented and begin to develop alternative methods of homework without sacrificing the homework grades (for those in upper grades).

I have had great success using this technique. **For a very small investment of $9.97, you can download a PDF copy of the Homework Time Tracker Tool today. Directions for use are included on the worksheet tool. Free Adobe Reader is needed if you do not already have the ability to open pdf files on your pc or mac.

Next week, I will continue writing about my 8 step process. I will begin discussions around what it really means to complete homework assignments.

For your convenience:

http://www.els4kids.com/3-ways-to-help-your-child-remember-to-track-homework-and-pack-books/ Steps 1 & 2

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-organizing-the-homework-space/ Step 3

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-prioritizing-homework-assignments/ Step 4

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-chunking-out-homework-assignments/ Step 5

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-timing-homework-assignments/ Step 6

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-7-completing-homework-assignments/ Step 7

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-8-initiating-homework-assignments/ Step 8

You can also purchase and download a .pdf ebook of all the homework strategies and templates for only $19.95 Click Here

Michael Merzenich on Re-wiring the Brain

colleen — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:16:09 +0000

Neuroscientist Michael Merzenich looks at one of the secrets of the brain's incredible power: its ability to actively re-wire itself. He's researching ways to harness the brain's plasticity to enhance our skills and recover lost function.

Homework Tips and Strategies: Chunking Out Homework Assignments

colleen — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:00:13 +0000

As discussed from last week's article, homework meltdowns are not fun. I discussed how the leading cause of homework trouble is really weak cognitive skills. However, once the skills are strengthened your child needs to be instructed on how to approach the homework process.

I developed an 8 step process that takes a student from confusion to organized and independent in no time. Last week I discussed step 4 of my process. This week I will discuss Step 5 – Chunking Out Homework Assignments.

Step 5 of my process is to "chunk out" homework assignments. Most children simply open their planner/agenda and begin their assignments in overwhelm. They look at a page of math equations and immediately begin the internal talk of "I'll never get all this done tonight."

In this step, you help your child stay focused and organized by "chunking out" or focusing on a small amount of work at a time. For instance, if your child gets a full page of equations that require your child to show their work, then you can literally cover up all the equations on the page except for the first three.

By doing this, you help to shift your child's mindset. You begin to help your child understand that they are in control and will be able to get through this page of work. It is a matter of doing a little at a time.

If your child has focus issues, then you can add a ten minute break onto the third equation being done. So, your child can do 3 equations and take a 10 minute break.

If you rather not limit your child to a number of equations or amount of content, then simply use a timed approach. Inform your child they can work on this subject for the next 30 minutes and then take a break. For some students, having a timed session alleviates them from getting off task and spending too much time on one subject.

I often recommend the timed timer to help your child keep track of how much time is left until their break. I use this timer myself when I am working with students in sessions.

Next week, I will continue writing about my 8 step process. I will begin discussions around what it really means to track and time homework assignments.

For your convenience:

http://www.els4kids.com/3-ways-to-help-your-child-remember-to-track-homework-and-pack-books/ Steps 1 & 2

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-organizing-the-homework-space/ Step 3

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-prioritizing-homework-assignments/ Step 4

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-chunking-out-homework-assignments/ Step 5

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-timing-homework-assignments/ Step 6

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-7-completing-homework-assignments/ Step 7

http://www.els4kids.com/homework-tips-and-strategies-step-8-initiating-homework-assignments/ Step 8

You can also purchase and download a .pdf ebook of all the homework strategies and templates for only $19.95 Click Here