“LearningRX: Tutoring for Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD & more!” plus 1 more

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LearningRX: Tutoring for Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD & more! Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:00 AM PST With an interest in helping individuals learn more easily and efficiently, LearningRx puts their program focus on improving the cognitive skills that make up IQ. LearningRx is directed by a group of professionals from areas of psychology, neuropsychology, cognitive and clinical psychology, specialists in vision and auditory processing, and educators. With the unique abilities to re-wire the neuropathways in the brain, new skills are put into the subconscious by repeating them over and over. After sessions of three to six months with intense one-on-one training, Learning Rx is able to achieve twice the results in half the time of other techniques. Students no longer have to learn to process information; they are now able to process information to learn. Dramatic results can be expected and students are able to experience success. "We're helping students all over the Texarkana area—both children and adults—achieve their full potential to learn, read, and succeed in school and in life," says owner and director of LearningRx Allan Wren. Cognitive skills testing and training gives you the power to impact a broad variety of learning and reading challenges. The articles below each touch on a different learning area that can be addressed and quickly improved with the right skills training strategy. LearningRx can help with: ADHA/ADD Dyslexia Learning Disabilities Poor Reading Tutoring Please call or come by for an assessment. We are located at 5602 Richmond Road Suite 104, Texarkana, Texas. Call 903-292-0303 This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

Tutoring program connects older adults from the North Hills with children Posted: 03 Feb 2011 07:07 AM PST Literally or figuratively, there's refreshment to be found at an oasis. That's what participants have discovered within Pittsburgh's OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program. The program is part of the Older Adult Service and Information System, which has been dedicated to enriching the lives of adults age 50 and older. While many local OASIS programs are being cut for financial reasons, the tutoring program will remain. It brings volunteers together with Pittsburgh-area students in kindergarten through the fourth grade for a 40-minute session each week at their schools. Reading, writing and conversation keep the children's language skills growing. Pat Gorczyca of Shaler Township has been involved with the tutoring program for seven years. She met Marlene Rebb, tutoring coordinator, at a women's health fair. "I thought this was a good way to fill my retired hours," said Gorczyca, who worked for the University of Pittsburgh for 21 years, the latest of which were spent as assistant to the budget director at Hillman Library. As a fanatic reader herself, she understands children "can't do anything if you can't read." She has worked at Spring Hill Elementary School in Pittsburgh with first-, second- and third-grade students. At age 65, she saw herself moving further and further away from the younger generation. This was a way to narrow the gap. One second-grader made her proud. As his reading skills improved, Gorczyca gave him an extra book to take home and read. All he needed to do was put a check mark in the front of the book every time he read it, she explained. Six weeks later, he brought the book back to her — with 28 check marks. He then read the whole book to her for the 29th time. Older students are asked to keep a journal. When she encouraged one third-grader to think about someone he would like to meet, the boy chose President Obama. She suggested they write a letter to him instead. The student included a drawing of the president and himself playing basketball. For the rest of the year, Gorczyca and her student eagerly awaited the White House response. It finally arrived at the school over the summer. "It was a standardized letter," she said, "but what a memory for the young boy." It's not just reading skills that grow with each tutoring session. Donna McNamara of Ross Township finds the exchange between herself and her students a bit off balance. Although she started volunteering with the program in April 2009, she already has many stories of her encounters with the children. Her voice seems to smile as she tells them. During her first session with a young girl, she asked her what was the best thing in the whole world that has happened to her. "She sat for a moment and thought," McNamara recalled. "Finally, she said, 'When I met you.'" The two study well together, so much so that reading a word list turned into fun. "She draws pictures of the two of us," McNamara said, "with flowers in our hands." And those find a place on her refrigerator gallery. It was a newspaper article that got McNamara connected with OASIS. With her two daughters in their 20s, this once-upon-a-time stay-at-home mom found a perfect way to spend her days. She and a friend signed up for the program, but one of the training dates was Jan. 20, 2009, the date of President Obama's inauguration. Neither wanted to miss the coverage of that ceremony after waiting for years for the occasion, she said, and only she made her way to the Macy's department store downtown to carry through on her commitment to the tutoring program. McNamara's students are at Allegheny Traditional Academy on Pittsburgh's North Side. "I feel like a celebrity," she said. "The kids all want a turn, some one-on-one time." McNamara has extended her 40 minutes to a half day, as she assists the teacher in her classroom for a few hours. With the training the tutors are given, special degrees aren't needed, she said. Anyone who loves to read and work with children and who has a sense of humor could apply. Other tutors have added patience to the list of qualities necessary for success in this role. "This is such a good program," said McNamara, 58, listing the easy training and the ongoing support the tutors are given, especially during the application phase. The holiday time off was hard for her. "I think of the kids all of the time. I just couldn't give this up," she said. McNamara can think of what she's giving, but she also knows what's coming back to her from the children in this give-and-take arrangement. "I'm so across that line," McNamara said. "This is one of the best things that's happened to me." It was the same article in a Pittsburgh newspaper that captured the attention of Linda Floyd of Sewickley. Having trained to be a math teacher, she always was interested in education. "Helping kids learn to read is important," she said. "(The opportunity) sounded great." And the timing was great because, at present, she has "a lack of grandchildren for right now." Floyd also works out of Allegheny Traditional Academy. In her second tutoring year, she has had three students. Some are shy in the beginning of the sessions. Later, the children warm up to their lessons. "It's important to give the kids nonjudgmental help, not more of the same work sheets," Floyd, 63, said. It also is important to pass along a love of reading. She especially enjoys watching the children's enthusiasm. She sees them writing longer stories through dictation and getting engaged as they're doing so. Learning new words also is part of their time together. On sticky notes, students write the words they are learning. Then, they transfer the little papers to a "Words I Know" category. One student "just lights up" when she gets to move the notes, Floyd said. Teachers work with the tutors when there is a particular need. And in Floyd's eyes, they are very excited about the program. For the students, she said, there's no stigma attached in taking part in the OASIS tutoring program, "one that more people should know about." "I look forward to it every week," she said. When she watches the early morning news after snow has been predicted, she has a different perspective. Unlike the students, "when it's a snow day," she said, "I'm looking for the opposite." Diane Latulippe of Ross Township hadn't heard of the tutoring program until she received an OASIS catalogue through the mail. As a retired teacher with 25 years in the classroom and four years away from correcting papers, Latulippe found this opportunity to engage with students to be perfect. So she gathered up her experience working in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and also in the Lower School Library at Sewickley Academy, attended OASIS training and settled in at Morrow Early Childhood Center in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood five years ago. In that time, she has worked with second-graders exclusively. "This is an innovative approach to working with children," she said of the program that has its own curriculum, a thorough process and supportive staff. "I think it's good they're reaching out to the public schools." By the third or fourth time she and the student meet, they are having a real exchange. "At first, they're a little reticent to go with the lady whom they don't know — even though it's right outside their classroom," Latulippe, 70, said. She sees improvement as her students show a willingness to work harder. "They see where they need some help and put their best foot forward," Latulippe said. But she and they are "realists." Even students sometimes are aware of their own difficulties, she said. Yet the point of the tutoring is adults giving positive reinforcement, especially to students who don't read at all at home. "Kids give you a lot. They're happy to see you, and they thank you when they're leaving," she said. "You can't beat that!" Training dates are coming up this month and in March. "The need is great. Reading levels are not good in this country," Gorczyca said. "You can't imagine the difference a tutor can make." How to get involved Training dates for the OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program are coming up on Feb. 17 and 24 and March 22 and 29. For more information, call 412-232-2022. OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program Facts and Figures • In 10 years, there have been 473 tutors trained and serving. • There currently are 127 tutors assisting 183 students. Some tutor more than one student. • OASIS tutors are people from every walk of life, including homemakers. Some are not yet retired, and quite a few were teachers or school administrators. Source: Older Adult Service and Information System Click to view photos This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

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