Thursday, May 26, 2011

APOGEE Somatic Phonics ™ - Masterful Reading for the Dyslexic


APOGEE Somatic Phonics™ is an integrated system developed for the dyslexic student to assure reading success. Recent studies have shown that sound can indeed stimulate the visual areas of the brain. Bringing awareness and attention to the sensation of sound vibration throughout the body when sounding a vowel, a consonant or a phoneme, allows a somatic impression that becomes translated into the visual symbol, phoneme or word. It is amazing to see the progress and the confidence a student develops when experiencing this successful integration.

Each vowel which is the "breath" of a word, and each consonant which is the "body" of the word stimulate specific organs and nerve networks. Specific letter sounding practices are initiated allowing one to confidently learn the distinction among letter sounds and letter names. Once the sound associations are clear, the visual symbol is introduced via a three dimensional object, once mastered, it is followed by its two dimensional representation. The students learn to 'see' (configure) with their ears and 'hear' (sound) with their eyes. Seeing, hearing, touching, perceiving, define the all encompassing scope of reading and the reading process. Herein is a truly integrated multi-sensory experience. Each letter read and sounded is evaluated via APOGEE Cognitive Kinesiology™ to determine if the letter brings about a stress response. If a stress response is found, a series of activities are initiated to address the specific finding. Once the stress response is abated, which is the result of the newly introduced experience of rebuilding the structure of the physical letter, one proceeds to view the printed word with renewed energy and focus. It is well known that one tends to avoid that which is painful or stressful. By abating the
stress association, reading becomes the exploratory experience it is meant to be.

The study posted below, although, pertains to the blind, is indeed related to the principles inherent and operative in APOGEE Somatic Phonics™. Sound translates to orientation in space and time which goes beyond just the 'seeing' with the eyes. Interesting to note that this bears a relationship to how reading is taught via braille to the blind person and how reading is taught via APOGEE Somatic Phonics ™ to the dyslexic student. For the dyslexic, sounding phonemes, is very much like sounding clicks as presented here, and likewise "light up the visual part of the brain," allowing the non-reader to integrate and become a master reader!

Twenty eight years of documented success define the APOGEE Somatic Phonics™ Program. Whole brain activities, integration of left brain and right brain functioning and perceptions, characterize the scope and range of program components. Reading via APOGEE Somatic Phonics™ becomes more fluid, word awareness and word knowledge are developed, comprehension improves, spelling improves, writing improves, the sense of one as being capable of mastery is experienced. With a new and masterful command of reading, interest in all other subject areas is expanded, focus is improved and grades soar to new heights. Improved reading performance is a Guaranteed outcome!

Rose Marie Raccioppi, MS FABI is State Certified in Regular and Special Education, Supervision and Administration. With advanced studies in psychology, education, cognition, stress management, and holistic health, her program offerings are comprehensive. In addition to her academic excellence, Rose Marie is an exhibiting artist, published poet and the Poet Laureate of Orangetown, New York. Her all inclusive studies have brought her to develop supportive programs integrating the academics and the arts. Consultations for parents, educators and teacher training, are offered in addition to individualized student services.


For more information: APOGEE Learning Enhancement Training Systems™ - http://www.apogeelearning.com/

Inquiries Welcomed
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Blind people can learn

to navigate like bats

by 'SEEING' objects

using clicks and echoes

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Last updated at 3:02 PM on 26th May 2011


Blind people can learn to navigate like bats by 'seeing' objects from sounds reflected off them, a study has shown.

They make clicking noises with their mouths and listen to the returning echoes to make sense of their environment.

A few are so adept at the skill that they use it to go mountain biking, play ball games, or explore unknown places.


Blind leading the blind: Daniel Kish is now teaching others with sight-loss how to use echolocation.

Daniel Kish, 43, was the best performer during tests at the University of Ontario. He had his eyes removed at 13 months of age due to retinoblastoma, a rare blinding cancer.

He said he naturally used echolocation as a child to help him move around.

'People used to call it my "radar,” he says. I’ve been echolocating for as long as I can remember.'

Surprisingly, the echoes are processed using the visual part of the brain - not the auditory region that receives sound signals from the ears, scientists have discovered.

The university team carried out functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to study the brain activity of Mr Kish and Brian Bushway, 27, who had also been left completely blind in childhood.

On the move: Daniel Kish said he started clicking to get his bearings from a very young age. He now teaches other blind people to use echolocation

Senior scientist Dr Mel Goodale, from the University of Western Ontario, said: 'It is clear that echolocation enables blind people to do things that are otherwise thought to be impossible without vision, and in this way it can provide blind and vision-impaired people with a high degree of independence in their daily lives.'

It may be possible for anyone to learn to echolocate like a bat, according to the researchers.

Bats emit a high-pitched sound while flying at night. The sound waves bounce off an object and send an echo back. Just as light waves provide information to our eyes for our brain to interpret, similarly the echo sound waves have impressions from the objects they bounce off of.

The sounds illuminate the environment acoustically, rather than optically.

'You can hear those imprints,' Mr Kish told Western News.

'You can hear the differences in the sound waves as they come back. So basically what you can do is extract information now imbedded in those sound waves. That information corresponds to the surfaces from which the sound waves bounce.'

He added that hearing is a 360-degree sense, whereas vision is limited to 180 degrees and that auditory information is processed more quickly than visual data.

The findings from the study were published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1391020/Blind-objects-using-bat-skills-study-reveals-clicks-light-VISUAL-brain.html#ixzz1NWI4uc99


Thursday, May 12, 2011

THE WAYSEER MANIFESTO ~ THE APOGEE ACHIEVER


"...attracted to the flame..."
THE WAYSEER...
THE APOGEE ACHIEVER



I live and know the calling spirit of the different learner. The one who is indeed "attracted to the flame." In all I teach, in all I create, in all I share, in all I stand in support of, in all I advocate, in all I AM... the gift of...

Divine Frenzy

All sensibilities known to me
From passion I shall not flee
The enchanted call of the divine
Heard within heart's chambers mine
This pulsing flame and fire
The throb of inner desire
With poet's pen a quest to write
Of the eternal now be day or night
With paint brush strokes of emotion
In glory and in reverent devotion
The silence filled by whispers heard
And so be known is the divine WORD
The Muse ever shall you heed
'Tis the echo of the creator's creed.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York


Several years ago I co-presented with Garret Loporto, the creator of the "WAYSEER MANIFESTO." We first became connected in 2005, via his book, "The DAVINCI Method." The APOGEE Achiever Program™ integrates the principles and practices he has put forth. As an Educational Therapist, I serve those, "...attracted to the flame..."
http://www.apogeelearning.blogspot.com/
http://www.apogeelearning.com/

With autonomy, mastery and purpose,
creative, caring, free thinkers
and doers are developed.


• Inquiries welcomed

• Call or post
• All Questions Answered •

The APOGEE Achiever Program
The Academics and the Arts
~ Soar To Success ~

•Individualized Subject Tutoring•
•Study Skills and Mastery Strategies•
•All Learning Styles•
Reading
Mathematics
Writing
Organization
Communication Skills
Assignment Management
Stress Management
Acu-Tone™ Sound Therapy
Relaxation, Breathing, Attention and Focusing Exercises
Achievement Goals
All Ages ~ All Grades ~ All Subjects
PSAT~ SAT ~ All Test Preparation
APOGEE Cognitive Kinesiology™ - Cause and Effect
Coaching

Family Therapy


For more information on services
provided for all learning needs:

http://www.apogeelearning.com
http://www.acu-tone.com

APOGEE Learning ~ A Whole Child Paradigm

Learning styles honored and supported
Readiness experiences provided
Task analysis applied
Student interests as motivators
The Whole Brain approach to study and mastery

Inquiries Welcomed
Call for your FREE Introductory Consultation.
845-359-9056
toll free: 1-866-228-8663
1-866-ACU-TONE

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Is the Environment Poisoning Our Children? | Sandra Steingraber | Orion Magazine

How toxic chemicals

are impairing children’s ability to learn

by Sandra Steingraber



The research studies cited, the stories told, the perspectives held, the call, the plea made for change, are those I most certainly identify with and are the very perspectives that define the APOGEE™ Learning mission... the health and well being of our children ... A most heartfelt plea...

click on title to be brought to posted article ...
indeed a worthwhile read