3 questions we often hear are:
- What is Dyslexia?
Does my child have Dyslexia?
What is the best Dyslexia Program?
have worked with Dr. Linda Silverman from the Gifted Development Center
in Denver. Dr. Silverman uses the term visual-spatial learner -- to
describe a student who learns differently.
We call these kids right-brained learners.
We have found that the keys to helping a visual spatial or right brained learner succeed include:
- Identifying how they learn best
other co-existing conditions -- visual-spatial learners and
right-brained learners often have visual processing, auditory
processing and/or attention issues
they are a right-brained learner, then which is the best right-brained
program for my child with whatever co-existing challenges they have
Let's take two cases -- Matthew and Michael.
Matthew's mom asked the traditional questions and the answers were as follows:
"What is Dyslexia?" Dyslexia is a problem with words and phonics.
"Does my child have Dyslexia?" Yes, Matthew has Dyslexia.
"What is the best Dyslexia Program?" The parents were told they needed an Orton Gillingham Program (R) that stressed phonics.
improved -- but he still struggled with the small words, he still
skipped words and lines when reading, and his parents were incredibly
frustrated with his inability to pay attention
Michael's parents were lucky. They had read the works of Dr. Linda Silverman, Jeffrey Freed and Dr. Ned Hallowell.
first question for them was, "Was their child a right-brained learner
-- or a visual spatial learner? The answer was clearly yes. Michael
remembered places he had visited, even from years ago; details from
movies he had seen; and learned best when he saw and experienced
on Jeffrey Freed's book "The Right-Brained Child in a Left-Brained
World", they realized that ADHD and being a right-brained learner were
common. They also had Michael tested for a visual processing issue,
and that too was an issue.
They looked for a program that addressed:
- The sight word vocabulary and pattern recognition issues that often plague even the brightest right-brained learners
- ADHD with natural solutions
- The visual processing issues with tools that addressed both the tracking, and worked on cross mid-line exercies
- Connectivity -- they realized they needed a program where their child could relate
- Teaching them to be the coach and advocate their child needed
approaches can work -- but the integrated approach can often lead to
faster, more significant and longer lasting gains -- because it
addresses both the underlying issues, empowering the student, and
providing the tools the parents need to help their right-brained
learner to be successful in a left-brained world
Halpert M.Ed. is the developer and director of the 3D Learner Program
(R). She has learned a great deal from the likes of Dr. Linda
Silverman, Jeffrey Freed and Ned Hallowell. Mira has four successful
children -- two of whom are right-brained learner. Mira believes the
right-brained learners can be Outrageously Successful with the right
tools, the right motivation and when the parents learn how to be the
coach and advocate their right-brained learner needs. For more
information go to Parents Make The Difference or call Mira at 561-361-7495