Xpost: Dianne Craft's Right Brain programs?

[razorbackmama]

Has anyone used any of her Right Brain materials (phonics, math, etc.)? Have they helped? Would they be helpful with other kids too? I hate to buy yet ANOTHER phonics program if I can't use it with other kids to follow behind....

 

It looks almost TOO simple. I enjoy her and like what she has to say, yet it almost seems like too "easy" of a fix, KWIM? Has anyone used her stuff and have it NOT help?

[siloam]

Has anyone used any of her Right Brain materials (phonics, math, etc.)? Have they helped? Would they be helpful with other kids too? I hate to buy yet ANOTHER phonics program if I can't use it with other kids to follow behind....

 

It looks almost TOO simple. I enjoy her and like what she has to say, yet it almost seems like too "easy" of a fix, KWIM? Has anyone used her stuff and have it NOT help?

I read through her stuff (borrowed from a friend), and I ran a bunch of polls on three different forms about it. The results were that there was at least one person who had good results on each forum, most people were in process and had seen minor results. Then there were a couple of people who didn't see any benefit or minimal benefit. I honestly wasn't impressed. It isn't like when you ask about o/g methods and you get a lot of people who say yea and a few who are mixed or negative. I decided I would rather put my efforts into programs that had a longer track record and made more sense to me.

 

Heather

[razorbackmama]

I read through her stuff (borrowed from a friend), and I ran a bunch of polls on three different forms about it. The results were that there was at least one person who had good results on each forum, most people were in process and had seen minor results. Then there were a couple of people who didn't see any benefit or minimal benefit. I honestly wasn't impressed. It isn't like when you ask about o/g methods and you get a lot of people who say yea and a few who are mixed or negative. I decided I would rather put my efforts into programs that had a longer track record and made more sense to me.

 

Heather

 

OK yeah that's about where I am, particularly when it comes to reading/spelling. O-G methods are, from what I can tell, evidence-based, and I'm DEFINITELY more a fan of evidenced-based than I am of anecdotal stuff.

[siloam]

OK yeah that's about where I am, particularly when it comes to reading/spelling. O-G methods are, from what I can tell, evidence-based, and I'm DEFINITELY more a fan of evidenced-based than I am of anecdotal stuff.

 

The hard thing is there are some kids who have problems with the right and left sides of their brains working together. But like Vision Therapy it is one possible issue, and this one is much smaller than the VT bucket. Like with VT all the signs overlap with dyslexia symptoms. I think that is why you have those kids who do so will with it, those who had really issues that it targets. For the rest it is just a general improvement of something that isn't a problem to begin with.

 

I just wished there were more scientific ways to figure out if your child needed these specific tools.

 

IMO, O/G doesn't try to fix the problems but reach the child despite them, KWIM? Thus it works for a lot of different issues.

 

Heather

[razorbackmama]

The hard thing is there are some kids who have problems with the right and left sides of their brains working together. But like Vision Therapy it is one possible issue, and this one is much smaller than the VT bucket. Like with VT all the signs overlap with dyslexia symptoms. I think that is why you have those kids who do so will with it, those who had really issues that it targets. For the rest it is just a general improvement of something that isn't a problem to begin with.

 

I just wished there were more scientific ways to figure out if your child needed these specific tools.

 

IMO, O/G doesn't try to fix the problems but reach the child despite them, KWIM? Thus it works for a lot of different issues.

 

Heather

That makes total sense. The bolded and italicized part is what is the most frustrating part of all of this. I don't have the time nor the money to figure out who to go to for testing, to pay for the testing, to get told a wrong answer, or to be told they have such and such, then to go onto try something and it not work or at the least have the cost (in time, money, and effort) outweigh the benefit.

 

Meanwhile, all I want to do is help my kids.

[emonline]

I thought her Brain Integration Therapy made a lot of sense. But, I did buy her multiplication cards, and just didn't use them at all. I know some children are really helped by them, but trying to remember an entire story for each problem (8 X 7 for instance) just didn't work for us.

Edited November 3, 2010 by emonline

[CoastalGal]

I purchased Dianne Craft's Biology of Behavior CD set and I liked that. We are on week 2 of the supplement schedule. (and I'm seeing some results...:001_smile: )

 

I also purchased her Right-Brain Phonics Program (book & flashcards) and I'm not in love. The pictures distract my son...

 

I wanted to purchase the Integration Manual but I just can't justify spending more $$ if it's like the phonics...

[razorbackmama]

See we've tried the supplements. We've seen NO results whatsoever.

 

The Brain Integration Therapy manual would be for you, not your son, so there'd be nothing to distract him really. I own it but haven't tried it yet. We did start the Writing 8 exercises today, but gosh, if I do this for 6 months and it doesn't help........:confused:

[VinNY]

The Phonics cards did nothing for my dtr. We did the Writing 8's and all the VP related exercises 5 days a week from Dec to May..I did them because they mimicked the Brain Gym exercises that the OT wanted her to do..She was able to work through the !00 EZ lessons program during this time.

 

I stopped come the summer to concentrate on LIPS. Thinking of taking it out again for the Auditory issues. Don't really know if it helped or not but it sure kept us busy:tongue_smilie:

[razorbackmama]

Don't really know if it helped or not but it sure kept us busy:tongue_smilie:

 

Which is exactly why I'm wanting to know if there'd be much point. I am homeschooling 5 kids, and I have a preschooler and almost toddler to keep out of stuff. I'm busy enough LOL!!!!!

[cathmom]

My mil keeps promoting this brain integration stuff to me and I just don't see it.

[VinNY]

My mil keeps promoting this brain integration stuff to me and I just don't see it.

 

My OT saw validity in the Brain Gym exercises and since I was no longer in a position financially to see the OT regularly, she thought doing this would help with some of her visual processing issues, balance and stretching.

 

RazorbackMama..I hear you about time..but the previous year I was out of the house driving to so many therapies..that doing this for twenty minutes a day in the comfort of my home was a relief. But it took a lot of perseverance on both my dtr and my part to be consistent.

 

Since she didn't test well with the school's eval..I may qualify for more services and another OT eval. So my dtr may be getting Ot again through the school.

[razorbackmama]

RazorbackMama..I hear you about time..but the previous year I was out of the house driving to so many therapies..that doing this for twenty minutes a day in the comfort of my home was a relief. But it took a lot of perseverance on both my dtr and my part to be consistent.

 

VERY understandable. Fortunately we aren't dealing with that - mostly because I don't know WHAT is wrong with him or where to take him for help LOL! We only have to do one therapy a week, and it's not anything that Dianne's stuff would help with, I don't think. (But I do plan to reread BIT to see!;) )

[Splash]

We saw her in 2006 for my dd who wasn't reading at the time and ds who had problems with writing and reading music. We did the Brain Integration exercises and used reading and math supplies for a year. When the year was over dd still wasn't reading and ds still couldn't read music or write any better than before.

 

DD was then tested by a reading specialist for dyslexia and tested in the 1percentile for her age, 8yrs old and kindergarden first month level for reading. Three years later after lots of work dd just finished reading the Harry Potter series in three months and has gone back to reread.

 

DS did some other therapies and now is reading music and writing much better but that took time as well.

 

So for our family it was a waste of time, energy and money. I know others have used her programs with success though.

[cathmom]

My OT saw validity in the Brain Gym exercises and since I was no longer in a position financially to see the OT regularly, she thought doing this would help with some of her visual processing issues, balance and stretching.

 

 

 

I can see it for OT, with a child who seems to have issues in that department, but not just for everyday for all dc.

[razorbackmama]

I can see it for OT, with a child who seems to have issues in that department, but not just for everyday for all dc.

 

Not all dc need it...does your mil think that you're supposed to do it with EVERYONE?:confused:

[emonline]

First, and I find this the frustrating part, all children are different and often respond differently to different programs. One program can help one child and not be so helpful to another. I do believe the BIT program Dianne has can be helpful for some children. I think of it as kind of a starter program. Some children need some kind of starter program to be able to go on and succeed at other programs. (For instance, I know sometimes The Listening Program is recommended before Fast ForWord (for auditory processing issues) but some children start with Fast ForWord and do fine without The Listening Program.) I could see doing her BIT program for a reading issue, and then following with something like the LiPS program (one of my personal favorites). But again, some children could skip BIT and go straight to LiPS and do fine. Just my two cents. . .

[cathmom]

Not all dc need it...does your mil think that you're supposed to do it with EVERYONE?:confused:

 

Yes. I should be doing the exercises every day with all my dc.

[razorbackmama]

Yes. I should be doing the exercises every day with all my dc.

 

Um, yeah. Well, she needs to talk to Dianne Craft, because not even Dianne Craft says that!:tongue_smilie:

[DaisyMay]

I did the Brain Integration Therapy with my son who was mixed dominance.

We also patched his eye during the day for a school year. His mixed dominance is gone...he's all on the left side now :).

 

We tried the supplements from the Biology of Behavior cd, but didn't notice a big

 

He also did Vision Therapy about a year before the BIT.

 

I noticed a difference after doing BIT & VT, but he is still dyslexic. He loves to read and reads above grade level, but spelling & handwriting are terrible. We're still working on that:).

 

All in all, I'd say the BIT was worthwhile for us.

 

Gayle

[Leanna Tomlinson]

With ds 11 we tried many of the Brain Integration exercises and didn't notice any improvement.

 

However, the Biology of Behavior program made a huge difference. If your child has had major antibiotic exposure, you may want to consider this program. My ds (11) had ear tubes as a toddler after a year of almost constant antibiotics. After 1 week of the BoB program, I saw some improvement. After 4 weeks the change was incredible. My ds now takes EFA's and GSE every day. If he has a "sugar fest" or an antibiotic, he has to go on acidophilus 3x's a day for a week, or he will have migraines and severe concentration issues.

 

We have tested this at least 4 times, so I know it works, but I also know it won't work for everyone.

 

If your child has had major antibiotic therapy, thrush as a baby, fungal problems (ie ringworm, etc.), or reacts badly to sugar, Biology of Behavior may help.

Edited November 4, 2010 by Leanna

[razorbackmama]

With ds 11 we tried many of the Brain Integration exercises and didn't notice any improvement.

 

However, the Biology of Behavior program made a huge difference. If your child has had major antibiotic exposure, you may want to consider this program. My ds (11) had ear tubes as a toddler after a year of almost constant antibiotics. After 1 week of the BoB program, I saw some improvement. After 4 weeks the change was incredible. My ds now takes EFA's and GSE every day. If he has a "sugar fest" or an antibiotic, he has to go on acidophilus 3x's a day for a week, or he will have migraines and severe concentration issues.

 

We have tested this at least 4 times, so I know it works, but I also know it won't work for everyone.

 

If your child has had major antibiotic therapy, thrush as a baby, fungal problems (ie ringworm, etc.), or reacts badly to sugar, Biology of Behavior may help.

 

We have that CD, and one of my kids in particular has many of the symptoms...EXCEPT for antibiotic use. I don't know that he's EVER had an antibiotic in his life (he's 8). I tried using the supplements and haven't noticed a single difference. Sigh. I've still got him on fish oil though - can't go wrong with that, no matter who you are (unless you're allergic to fish:lol: ).

[DyslexicParent]

So Dianne Craft's "Brain Integration Therapy Manual" did not prove to be worth it for most members who tried it? I was considering it out of desperation for my 11-year old, but when I read that its exercises were from the debunked "Brain Gym", :crying: my spidey senses went tingling.

With ds 11 we tried many of the Brain Integration exercises and didn't notice any improvement.

 

[MyLittleBears]

We did the writing 8 therapies and the visual ones. I noticed a huge difference in my older son's writing ability. We got mixed results for the visual therapy. My little guy's eye "wobbliness"improved but I think we did not do it long enough for my middle guy's convergance issue. 6-12mos is recommended so we may have needed to do it longer. We did it for 6mos before moving across the country so we had to stop and now I think we are just going to invest in VT. I was burned out from moving and doing all therapies at home. We also went through the BOD nutritional program early last year and they made a **HUGE** difference in my middle guy who had antibiotics for almost a year as an infant. He is a completely different child now. We also tried the right brain phonics and it did not help my moderately dyslexic son at all. He did better with abecedarian. So all in all, we had mixed results.

HTHs some.

[ShelleyW]

We had great results with Dianne Craft's program. My dd gained 2 years of reading in one year and the Biology of Behavior really helped too. I think people misunderstand the purpose of her program. The phonics is designed for kids who have already have gone through phonics but still struggle. It is not a learn to read program. The idea is to expose your child to a large quantity of words in a short period of time to get their reading skills up by just reading lots of words over and over so they recognize them to read them. This is a huge boost to their self-confidence and from there you go to work on spelling and writing. The Brain Training works but it is hard work for both teacher and student. We no longer have writing reversals and my dd's handwriting has improved dramatically (from the writing 8's). We have been doing the program for about 15 months. We spend about 45-60 minutes PER DAY on this. It is a lot of work and time consuming. That being said, it was well worth it. FWIW I think that if you plan to do the program, purchasing the DVD's or attending one of her seminars is vital to really understanding it. My dd did VT as well and there is a huge amount of overlap between VT and BIT. I prefer Dianne Craft's program b/c 1 hour daily with her in my home beats driving 30 miles away to go to our VT appts.

[PrincessAriel]

I am looking over Dianne's materials once again for one of my dc. I agree with Shelly's points. It is not a pick up and go program. I think one really needs to listen to her talks either in person, through audio CDs or DVDs and read her many articles (articles are free on her site). There is much that goes into her teaching materials that cannot be found just from looking at them. There is a method to it all and she says it is very teacher/mom intensive. That seems to be my biggest stumbling block to sticking with all of it. However, I am not relishing the thought of driving to OT again, twice a week, all summer long so I will try to get organized once again.

[cathmom]

It's funny this old thread got bumped, because the last time I talked to mil, guess what?! She brought up Brain Gym ***AGAIN*** and told me how beneficial it would be for all my dc, and we could just do a little every day, yadda yadda yadda.

 

Good to know nothing has changed in 2.5 years!

[kajm]

Curious, what is the LiPS program?

[momsuz123]

Curious, what is the LiPS program?

 

Just google LindaMood Bell and you will see it. I had purchased it and found some results with it but stopped because my dd SLP was not as familiar with it as her other program. It really is a great program, and is very in depth.

[kajm]

Thanks, checked it out!

[Crimson Wife]

Bumping this old thread to see if anyone else has thoughts on Dianne Craft's "Right Brain Phonics".

 

My little one knows her letter sounds but isn't yet blending. Not really a big deal considering that she's only 5 1/2 and won't be starting K until this fall. But I have noticed that she's got some words memorized by sight (like "the"). She really does seem to be a visual rather than auditory learner. So maybe she would respond well to something like RBP?

[mommymonster]

Crimson, I read somewhere that Right Brain Phonics is for a child who has gone through a phonics program already but is still struggling. The program is basically a list of words that you use for extra practice. I haven't used the program, but here is a thread talking a bit more about the program: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/176726-right-brain-phonics-by-dianne-craft/

[Bright Light]

Crimson, I second Mommy Monster. If you haven't tried a phonics program, I recommend Blended Phonics offered by Don Potter (free with blending videos) and All About Reading (money-back guarentee for a year).  

[Guest to Africa with love]

I've had some success with her Writing 8 exercise and especially (!!) the photographic spelling with my dysgraphic, ADD almost 9-y-o son. But the reason I would want to buy the BIT manual would be for the "Writing Brain" exercise she describes as "powerful". Just don't know if it's worth the cost of the manual and DVD, especially since I have to cart all my schoolbooks overseas! Can anyone tell me if the Writing Brain exercise has been effective, and what it involves? Thx!

[Haiku]

What exactly are the Writing 8 exercises? I keep seeing them referenced but I haven't seen a sample or an explanation of what they actually are.

[displace]

Basically you take a figure 8 on its side (like infinity), enlarge to size of super big legal paper, and DC traces it around. Three times around then using the circle of one of the eights to draw a lowercase letter, three times around, then next letter of alphabet, x 15 min per day or whole abc. Her dysgraphia video shows examples well. Her manual brain integration explains it well enough you could probably understand it from there too. It is used for crossing the midline, physical process of large motor letters, smoothness while writing. She states most students have results with regards to dysgraphia in two months, but full results in six. There are also other crossing midline exercises to do as well but the description is just on figure 8.