The Einstein Center is happy to welcome Tammy Gilmore, Tricia Herring, and Hayley Lackey to our team. Mrs. Gilmore comes to us with twelve years of dyslexia therapy experience. We are excited to have her join us in helping students with dyslexia learn to read fluently. Mrs. Herring assists students on the secondary campus with their accommodations for testing as our new test proctor. She also teaches 6th grade math and is the volleyball coach for the 8th grade team. Hayley Lackey has joined the elementary campus in partnership with the teachers and the Einstein Center. She is providing small group reading intervention for students who need extra learning support for a short period of time.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

          Dyslexia awareness month is an annual event aimed to further understanding of dyslexia. Dyslexia is one of the most common language-based According to the International Dyslexia Association, “Dyslexia is a neurological condition caused by a different wiring of the brain. There is no cure for dyslexia. However, individuals with dyslexia can learn to read through explicit, systematic instruction in the structure of the English language. Research indicates that dyslexia has no relationship to intelligence. Individuals with dyslexia are neither more nor less intelligent than the general population. But some say the way individuals with dyslexia think can actually be an asset in achieving success.” Read some encouraging success stories about individuals with dyslexia https://dyslexiaida.org/success-stories-2/

Article Links

 We would like to share some articles that may have helpful hints or may include the latest in brain research.

Strategies to help working memory:

https://www.additudemag.com/improve-working-memory/

Strategies for homework time:

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/deal-with-homework/

Dyslexiaondemand.com is an online dyslexia therapy service from a provider in the Dripping Springs area. They provide online dyslexia services and can be an excellent resource to keep skills sharp over the summer.

New Braunfels Public Library Summer Reading Program kicks off Saturday, June 4th. The summer reading program provides incentives for reading during the summer.

Adaptive and individualized, Reflex is the most effective system for mastering basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for grades 2+.

Full of games that students love, Reflex takes students at every level and helps them quickly gain math fact fluency and confidence. And educators and parents love the powerful reporting that allows them to monitor progress and celebrate success.

Check out reflexmath.com for a free trial.

Singapore Math Practice Workbooks features math practice and activities based on the Singapore Math method. Our Math in Focus math curriculum is based on this method. An introduction at the front of each book explains Singapore Math and its common problem types like diagrams, number bonds, the 'counting on' method, and the 'crossing out' method. This book is perfect for students familiar with Singapore Math and for those who need extra math practice. The practice workbooks can be ordered through Amazon and come in a variety of levels.

https://www.amazon.com/Math-Practice-Grade-level-Singapore/dp/0768240018

Games! Games! Games!

Playing games as a family provide many benefits for everyone. For students who need to work on sustained attention, mental flexibility, planning and strategy, card games and board games are a fun resource. The Einstein Center utilizes games in out sessions to build confidence and create a fun learning experience. A few favorites for the summer are: Zap!, Sorry!, Spot It, Checkers or Chess

Quick Math games with a pair of dice can help keep those math facts sharp. Roll two dice and find the sum, record the score, and the first player to 50 wins. Adapt the game for older students by multiplying the two dice and play to 200.

Effective Praise and Encouragement

Have you heard a parent say, “I’m my child’s greatest cheerleader”? I love the heart behind such a statement. It conveys support and love which we all need in our formative years. But is all praise achieving what we hope it does? Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University, speaks of the importance of praise and developing a growth mindset.

The following short video gives some important insight into praising effort and hard work as opposed to praising intelligence.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoRY&t=3s 

Welcome Allison Puls to the Elementary Campus

We are excited to have Allison Puls join the Einstein team at the elementary campus. Allison is trained in the Take-Flight Dyslexia program and a licensed CALT. She brings her classroom experience and years of therapy experience to the Einstein Center. She will be helping strengthen our students’ reading, writing and spelling skills through the Pre-Flight and Take-Flight programs.

Secondary Testing Room

The Einstein Center is happy to welcome Candice Jackson to our testing team. Mrs. Jackson assists students on the secondary campus with their accommodations for testing.  She has served NBCA in many different capacities for the last 5 years. In addition to providing test accommodations, she teaches middle school art and high school home economics. 

Dyslexia Awareness Month is an annual event aimed to further understanding of dyslexia. Dyslexia is one of the most common language-based learning disabilities. Between 5-10% of the population is estimated to have dyslexia while 70-80% of those with reading difficulties are likely to have some form of dyslexia. (http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/dyslexia-awareness-month) Read some encouraging success stories about individuals with dyslexia https://dyslexiaida.org/success-stories-2/

Article Links

We would like to share some articles that may have helpful hints or may include the latest in brain research.

Tips for Partnering with Teachers in the New School Year

https://childmind.org/article/tips-for-partnering-with-teachers-in-the-new-school-year

How Brain Breaks Can Help Kids with Homework Frustration

https://www.understood.org/articles/en/brain-breaks-what-you-need-to-know

A Family Guide to Building Language Comprehension Through Reading Aloud

https://dyslexiaida.org/41523-2/

How to help when students think too highly of or too little of their abilities                  

  “I’ve got this. I understand. I don’t need any more help.” Have you heard this around your dinner table during homework time?

Or maybe you hear something like, “I’ll never get this. I’m going to fail this test.”

Students with learning differences often underestimate or overestimate their abilities. How can you help your child when they have a poor perspective of what they can do? Come alongside your child and encourage them with their strengths. Look for personal strengths, like perseverance and thoughtfulness, not just school related strengths. It is important for them to realize that their worth is found in Christ not their ability to perform in school.

If your child overestimates his abilities, they will often reject help when it is offered or could be deflecting how they really feel about themselves. Challenge your child to slow down and show diligence in their work. Ask them to explain their thought process to you. This will enable you to find errors as they work instead of just with the finished product.

Spring Assessments and Progress Conferences

During April, the Einstein Center will begin assessing your child’s progress and formulating goals for the coming year. Your child’s therapist will be in contact with you to set up a Progress Conference in May and will share their recommendations for the coming year.

Terra Nova Accommodations

The last week of April will be Terra Nova week for elementary and middle school students. Your child will receive accommodations for their test with either extended time or oral administration in a smaller setting.

Personal Stories

Personal stories of people with learning differences can be a real inspiration. The following article includes stories from 30 different adults relating their experiences. Some are famous, but many are not. https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/personal-stories/stories-by-adults/at-the-heart-of-it-30-personal-stories-about-learning-and-thinking-differences

Do you have a personal success story to share? The Einstein Center would love to add a section to our website with your success stories. Imagine the encouragement your words could be to a family that is just beginning this journey with their child.

Productive Struggle-What is it?

Have you heard people talking about productive struggle? For parents of students who have learning differences, we see struggle every night during homework time or while studying for a test. The natural inclination is to step in and make things easier for your child. It is hard as a parent to see our children struggle.

Productive struggle is different from frustration; it is grappling with a difficult task with support until a conclusion is reached. The act of struggling through a new or challenging math problem can create new pathways in the brain, provide stamina to stick with something difficult, and provide confidence for the next difficult task.

Jo Boaler, professor at Stanford University says, “Neuroscience and educational research shows that times of struggle are some of the most productive times for brains, and they should be celebrated. If students face struggle and think that it is a time of challenge and brain growth, rather than assuming they are failures and not “math people” — not “science people” or “history people” or simply incapable of any subject — their paths to learning will change.

Fun Games that also Help Your Brain

Playing games as a family may be a lost art, but there are many great benefits for the brain not to mention… it’s just fun! These are a list of games to consider during this holiday season.  Many are available through Amazon or local retailers. If you order through Amazon consider using the link https://smile.amazon.com and select New Braunfels Christian Academy Inc.

Working Memory Games                                  

Distraction, Clumsy Thief, Chess, Zeus on the Loose, Any Memory game                               

Auditory Processing Games

Simon, Twister, Battleship, Guess Who?, Bingo

Strategy and Flexible Thinking Games

Blink, Jenga, Clue, Pictionary, Chess, Scattergories, Sudoku, Qwirkle, Battleship, Ticket to Ride

Visual Processing Games

Blink, Tenzi, Qbitz, Spot It, Blokus, Set

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Article Links 

We would like to share some articles that may have helpful hints or may include the latest in brain research. 

Unlocking Children’s Math Potential 

https://www.parentsleague.org/blog/unlocking-children%E2%80%99s-math-potential 

Benefits of Cursive Writing 

https://www.weareteachers.com/cursive-instruction-benefits/ 

How to help when students think too highly of or too little of their abilities                  

  “I’ve got this. I understand. I don’t need any more help.” Have you heard this around your dinner table during homework time?

Or maybe you hear something like, “I’ll never get this. I’m going to fail this test.”

Students with learning differences often underestimate or overestimate their abilities. How can you help your child when they have a poor perspective of what they can do? Come alongside your child and encourage them with their strengths. Look for personal strengths, like perseverance and thoughtfulness, not just school related strengths. It is important for them to realize that their worth is found in Christ not their ability to perform in school.

If your child overestimates his abilities, they will often reject help when it is offered or could be deflecting how they really feel about themselves. Challenge your child to slow down and show diligence in their work. Ask them to explain their thought process to you. This will enable you to find errors as they work instead of just with the finished product.

Spring Assessments and Progress Conferences

During April, the Einstein Center will begin assessing your child’s progress and formulating goals for the coming year. Your child’s therapist will be in contact with you to set up a Progress Conference in May and will share their recommendations for the coming year.

Terra Nova Accommodations

The last week of April will be Terra Nova week for elementary and middle school students. Your child will receive accommodations for their test with either extended time or oral administration in a smaller setting.

Personal Stories

Personal stories of people with learning differences can be a real inspiration. The following article includes stories from 30 different adults relating their experiences. Some are famous, but many are not. https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/personal-stories/stories-by-adults/at-the-heart-of-it-30-personal-stories-about-learning-and-thinking-differences

Do you have a personal success story to share? The Einstein Center would love to add a section to our website with your success stories. Imagine the encouragement your words could be to a family that is just beginning this journey with their child.

Productive Struggle-What is it?

Have you heard people talking about productive struggle? For parents of students who have learning differences, we see struggle every night during homework time or while studying for a test. The natural inclination is to step in and make things easier for your child. It is hard as a parent to see our children struggle.

Productive struggle is different from frustration; it is grappling with a difficult task with support until a conclusion is reached. The act of struggling through a new or challenging math problem can create new pathways in the brain, provide stamina to stick with something difficult, and provide confidence for the next difficult task.

Jo Boaler, professor at Stanford University says, “Neuroscience and educational research shows that times of struggle are some of the most productive times for brains, and they should be celebrated. If students face struggle and think that it is a time of challenge and brain growth, rather than assuming they are failures and not “math people” — not “science people” or “history people” or simply incapable of any subject — their paths to learning will change.

Fun Games that also Help Your Brain

Playing games as a family may be a lost art, but there are many great benefits for the brain not to mention… it’s just fun! These are a list of games to consider during this holiday season.  Many are available through Amazon or local retailers. If you order through Amazon consider using the link https://smile.amazon.com and select New Braunfels Christian Academy Inc.

Working Memory Games                                  

Distraction, Clumsy Thief, Chess, Zeus on the Loose, Any Memory game                               

Auditory Processing Games

Simon, Twister, Battleship, Guess Who?, Bingo

Strategy and Flexible Thinking Games

Blink, Jenga, Clue, Pictionary, Chess, Scattergories, Sudoku, Qwirkle, Battleship, Ticket to Ride

Visual Processing Games

Blink, Tenzi, Qbitz, Spot It, Blokus, Set

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Article Links 

We would like to share some articles that may have helpful hints or may include the latest in brain research. 

Unlocking Children’s Math Potential 

https://www.parentsleague.org/blog/unlocking-children%E2%80%99s-math-potential 

Benefits of Cursive Writing 

https://www.weareteachers.com/cursive-instruction-benefits/