Ive only just seen this - had unsubscribed from the thread as comments had been getting so personal. Ive apologised to you for thinking you were someone else- so sorry.
The playgroups are being filmed- as well as me teaching in a Brisbane state school next term (in Prep) - so everyone will be able to see. They are $10 as subsidised by a private sponsor who is considering funding it to go Nationwide. The last ten minutes is for parents- as I help them with things to do between sessions. The filming isnt just for parents to see what I do- its for me to see and learn from. I often watch them and think 'oh no, I didnt explain that very well- must do that again with him next time' etc. Also so we have video evidence of progress - for documentaries etc.
Remember that the filming wont show 'results'- thats not the focus. The focus is on developing read and spelling brains - and you cant 'see' that. But when you watch it will make sense- and we will follow these children long term.
If you live on the Gold Coast Madabplus3 youll have perhaps seen this Gold Coast Bulletin article. The succes story for me was NOT the little girl who was encoding and decoding after 3 hours- it was the little boy. He had poor phonological awareness and his mum was able to see this by watching the clips and chatting with me. She got onboard and did lots at home too- and he will never know that he didnt have that 'reading brain'- because he got the training he needed. He wouldnt have had that at the school he attends- where there is limited phonics let alone phonological awareness.
It doesnt matter if they have a dyslexic brain etc- we can change the way the brain processes the info. The article doesnt convey why this was the success story to me- and they wanted to focus on the little girl who seemed to be steaming ahead. People like to 'see' things- but I want to develop reading and spelling brains. I can see what is happening in the brain when we scan children and see what parts fire up when the children are undertaking certain tasks. This tells us alot that we couldnt see before.
You are welcome to come with you child and be part of it - please do!! Youll see the love of children that I have- which cannot be conveyed here- and will then understand why Im so blunt. We can give children so much more- but adults have to know more. Thats not politics.
Thank you for at least considering this approach. Incase anyone hasnt seen this its a 15 minute overview
http://www.youtube.com/v/Lxs-RazOU8U&rel=1The 4 clips (4 parts of a video that is 47 minutes long) is on the facebook page and is ideal for parents with pre-schoolers- I explain how to use the Speech Sound Pics folder - which you can make yourself.
Em