The Secret To Success… A Story of Orton-Gillingham

Some of what I do is routine, the other part of what I do is sheer instinct. Never in my life could I have imagined being at the helm of creating and developing the intellectual and behavioral limits of children - until today.

I was besieged by a litany of comments that were made by a team of educational professionals that I have worked with on a special project. My client, "R", had struggled with reading and was in an educational environment that lacked the structure to provide her with the remediation and skills needed in order for her to become a well-versed, fluent reader. She also had not been exposed to the knowledge base that her peers had already learned and so - I was given the task: to create a system where she would learn what typically takes most children 5 years to learn, in 9 months.

This was not an easy task. I racked my brain for weeks and spent hundreds of hours creating a plan that I thought was ambitious and crafty, but would require more endurance than willpower. My team of professionals and I had meetings upon meetings and discussed the matter before the actual implementation. We talked about the pros and cons - obstacles and distractions, laughter, tears and all. It was inevitable that I would have to conjoin two conflicting methodologies to solve a problem that nobody had diagnosed was there  - but only I was able to see it. How could this be? This client has spent thousands of dollars on therapy and psychologists here in Atlanta? How could they miss it? I don't now and frankly, I didn't care anymore. All I know is that the client had put the future of her daughter's life in my hands. As always, I felt like the "fixer" - and that's all I know how to do. Fix other people's mistakes.

So we have spent less than four months working on the plan. After hours of phone calls/meetings/emails and text messages - everything (surprisingly) went as planned and all goals and objectives were achieved. When I picked up the phone in the last week, my team had inundated me with the important details of what has happened and was excited to share with me the significant milestones that she had clearly reached. Even the conversation with my client's mother started off in the most jovial manner where she stated, "the psychologist cannot believe how much she has improved in one quarter. She doubted that it could happen." I'm sure that may be the mentality that most people have in education - but I do not feel that it is the norm.

At the end of the day, it's times like these where I feel that sometimes learning is not about setting limits like in Calculus class, it's about discovering your potential for being limitless! 

JATP Admissions 2014-2015

It's been a rather exciting year! We have kicked off with such an amazing start and have had some of the most focused parents consult with us. I'm happy to say that these parents will reap what they sow and believe me, there is quite a bit of great planning and results driven goal setting since the inception of this journey.

I'm happy to say that I've invested a great deal into researching the best and most updated products that have been added to our process. (Actually traveling to another country to grab an amazing product to help with intellectual development was quite nice as well!) One client actually told his mother, "There's so much that Ms. Christine does, we play games and have so much fun and I'm learning at the same time:)". I smile when I see the children work through every activity and can see the improvement in speed, agility, and mental flexibility every time we work.

If you would like more information about JATP Admissions Consultation for 2014-2015, feel free to call me at 404-964-8533.

Sharing what I wrote in Graduate School. I think I intellectually, "Black Out" when I write....

Why are you unable to make a defensible causal claim based on an observed relationship between two variables?

The inability to make a defensible causal claim based on an observed relationship between two variables is because the two variables do not necessarily have a direct correlational effect upon one another.

This type of argumentation can be classified as one that is fallacious. This error in reasoning has been known as a syllogism in the field of philosophy. In order for the argument to be true, then the premise of the entire argument must be true as well.

Take into account the example of the “stereotype effect” that was given in the text. They briefly describe this “stereotype effect” to have an impact on a certain group that you are akin to based on a particular situation that you may fall into and how you may behave because of it.

One example that they had used was one that, until now, is difficult to understand. A particular study was conducted on individuals who were scheduled to take the Graduate Record Exam. They described a situation in which one particular group of individuals did not score well. After publicizing this information, the targeted group that they spoke of – the African American group, did not do well whereas the African Americans who had not been given any data on the success or failure rate of their cohorts performed where they should have performed normally.

A group of social scientists called the Behaviorists, have strictly opposed how one factor can be related to another factor. This phenomena would be “impossible to observe objectively” and thus did not make a considerable impact on the field of statistics.

Math Memorization...

As an educator, it is a mystery as to why some students learn the basic operations much more fluently than others. I will, however, say that some of these processes do need to be drilled in order for children to show automaticity in that skill.

My own experience with math stems from my ability to create a vivid mental picture of what the problem looks like. For some reason, because of my own internal pressure to be "good at math", I would lie in my bed, look up at the ceiling and paint the numbers and operations in my head. I would sit up and write what I remembered on a blank piece of paper to see if it was correct. I was lucky - at seven years old I realized that I tricked myself into learning something that many others had memorized.

When children need to learn something, whether it be math or spelling or the names and capitals of states and countries, they need to discover their own personal and unique way of learning. For me, it's a skill that I share with my students and feel very passionately about. When you find it, you'll never want to give that Secret of Memorization away.

Instead of focusing on the "what" focus on the "how" of learning. We'll always need to learn something new - whether it's an appliance that you just purchased or a new teacher that your child has to encounter. It's your job to help yourself learn how to commit these things to memory.

Common Core Sore

I've been asked by people both in and out of my circle about the Common Core Standards. The Common Core Standards are a set of objectives that the Department of Education has mandated that all states follow to strengthen the position of the United States as it attempts to earn back it's place in this global competition. What I have discovered in the last few months are rather disturbing.

Many States Are Not Ready To Implement the Common Core

I've done my research and have been extremely disappointed at the fact that despite these standards have been put in place for several years, many states have not prepared for the implementation of the rigor and difficulty of the new standards. In Georgia, I've noticed a few passive attempts to "talk to the public" about these new standards, but it's been nothing more than a mere whisper to announce that they are going to integrate these standards by merely posting the standards in the classroom....

Publishers and Book Companies Do Not Know How To Address The Common Core

When we had the CRCT, EOCT in Georgia, it was fairly easy to understand how to teach various objectives to students. As we have migrated to Common Core, the task is to teach this new generation how to think "critically". Over the last few years, I have yet to see publishers compile the ideal set of resources to help students achieve this goal. Curriculum developers are struggling to do this which results in poorly written books, study guides and materials that lack in the content needed to help students, school staff, and parents with better test goals.

Teachers Want To Teach, But Are Lacking The Support

As a professional, the most important aspect that can attribute to success is being prepared. The fact that many of these professionals are being given standards without a blueprint to reference really bothers me.

I've done research and have noted that many school districts in every state have been given the directive to establish benchmark assessments and leveled questions that will address these standards. The fact of the matter is, the reason why your teacher may be struggling teaching your students is because they do not know what to teach. 

What Can Be Done?

Let's face it, children are struggling in school. If the expectations are not presented properly, it will be difficult for them to perform at any level. I am unsure as to how long it will take for the various school districts and states to follow through on their promise to help students "reach for the top", but until that happens, I would not wait for your child to fail.

As a company, we've made certain that we have the resources and materials to help each student access the information that they need in order to be confident and successful in their educational endeavors. Months have been spent aligning our services and products to make sure that we have everything that we need so that every minute we spend working with the student yields the best results. It's something that we have seen tremendous results in - and has attributed to the success of many who have called on us.

The Back-To-School Daze

10 Tips to get you child's mind back on track

As students begin their "Back to school" routine, their minds still traverse in a state of disarray, struggling to engage into the educational environment filled with academic expectations but still in the “summer mode”. 

By week 3,  I begin to see parents take drastic measures when the first series of performance assessments start rolling in. I’m embarrassed to say that I've see it all: parents begin by removing privileges, placing students on restriction, having students write essays on the effects of laziness and disrespect. Some of the funnier, and more unorthodox methods such as removing the child’s bedroom door or installing a series of video cameras in their room or website tracking software on their laptops either deters or exacerbates these behaviors otherwise known as “Delayed Academic Achievement Daze”. 

The sad thing is, it doesn't have to be that way for many of our students. Here are 10 tips to get you students focused and “back in the game”:

10. Set a Routine

Some of the best parents that I have encountered keep check lists. Believe it or not, students crave check lists and want to feel accomplished when they come home. Before school starts, begin with a simple check list that will leave them feeling proud out loud!

9. Don't put too much on their plate in the first month

Being Supermom or Superdad will make you SuperStressed. Give students a light load and focus on what is important. Allow them to ease into the school year with traditional activities that focus on duty before fun. Yes, encourage play outside, but make sure that you have enough time to get your academics in. If you put too much on their schedule, other activities like sports or recreation may overwhelm them and take away time from what they need to learn.

8. Remove Distractions

Television and video games are great (and a necessity in some households) however, these should be turned into privileges and not hindrances to what they need to do afterschool. Kids need to learn that leisure occurs after they have worked. (Yes, that means that video game time should be earned, not given). Think of it this way - your children do not see Daddy playing video games for two hours before he goes to work, right? As a family you should be committed to the routine of preparing for what activity/obligation is to come. Practicing the mindful art of preparation, centeredness and focus as they prepare for school week will help them enjoy their highly deserved fun-filled weekends (and not take you for granted).  

7. Be the director, not the actor!

You are in charge, and must learn how to delegate the responsibility of having your child learn how to think, act, and care for themselves. Your role is to serve as the best role model you can be and to encourage these behaviors from your children.

6. Small steps towards big rewards

Do you remember how hard it was for your children to learn how to color within the lines? Well, their development is even harder to contain within the lines.

Regardless of what goals you set for your children (both stated and implied), it is vital that you celebrate those little milestones to help them understand their full potential. If it’s something as simple as saying, “I am so proud of you for starting your homework on time” or, “You are growing up to be such a responsible little man by putting your play clothes in the hamper”, those words will not fall into deaf ears for your children who love to please mommy and daddy.

5. Do Summer Learning - Student's who engage in academics over the summer are more likely to transition more easily into the school year. Plus, they won't have as much summer learning loss to contend with. (Learn More about Summer Learning)

4. Encourage positive behaviors

Don’t bribe, threaten, or bully your kids when they don’t act in the way that you want them to behave. Serve as a testament for how you want them to live your life.

My mom would tell me little things that I remember to this day that I share with my clients. Whenever I went shopping and was in the dressing room and did not like the clothes that I picked up, my mother would always say, “Be a good citizen and put things back. Be respectful of the people and the world around you.” It sounds much better than, “You are a slob!” doesn’t it?

3. Inspect what you expect

So, you want your children to be respectful children who will be model citizens in the community. If you do not know what types of shows they watch or the company that they keep, it will be hard to see where some of the negative behaviors they had picked up came from. If you do not have time to observe the quality programming that they are watching Monday - Friday (and if you think that all television shows that have children in them are wholesome, think again. These shows encourage intolerable behaviors that would constitute a one-way ticket to restriction prison). then maybe it would be prudent to give them only a half hour to watch while you are in close proximity. The same goes for play dates, sleep overs, and movie outings.

2. Check their homework daily

Ask if they understand what they have just completed and have them show you that it’s done - CORRECTLY. If my parents actually opened up my subtraction folder from 2nd grade, I think that they would have said that they brought home the wrong baby from the hospital (To this day, I only know subtraction through addition.. go figure!).

LASTLY... 

1. Get yourself an educational manager, someone who can help you with the many aspects of learning both academic and intellectual. 

Learning Ridge is one of the few companies who focus on a holistic approach focusing not only on the subject and grades but on the student as a whole.

JATP Private School Admissions - 8 kids admitted into the same school?

2013-2014 is the year that I thought that I had it all figured out. My clients started early to get their students into their dream school and we came up with plans, schedules, and more plans. Before I looked up, I thought that it would be impossible to accomplish this feat. We had charts and time lines and deadlines and then.. the letters.

If anyone knew what needed to be done during those last few months I would have won a Nobel Peace Prize for Parental Humanity. I enjoyed every minute working with these potential private school students and visualizing them enroll into the school of their choosing. It's hard when you work with so many different clients and have to keep things in perspective. Some clients would have sleepless nights thinking of what agenda each school had while other clients blissfully would send me a screen shot of their acceptance letter. The best feeling that I had this year was when I calculated all of the students that I had and sorted them into the schools that they were accepted into. My last count - 8 kids enrolled into the best private school in Atlanta! (That was just one school, there were too many to count this year.)

Thanks to all of my clients that trusted my advice, my feedback, and my direction. I told many of you that it would all work out and it did!