First Grade

  1. Students continue training on the Reading Kingdom Program until completed. Ideally students would train at home and the school would supplement as needed during school or an after-school program to ensure sufficient training. It is important to emphasize the at-home training requirement to establish the expectation that families will participate and provide ongoing encouragement and support. However, if students are not training at home adequately, the school must provide sufficient time during school.
  2. Continue reading aloud at home 15-20 minutes daily.
  3. Continue visual and auditory processing training as needed. Begin if not done during Kindergarten. See Kindergarten page for more information.
  4. Provide parents with manual training exercises they can do with their children at home.
  5. Screen for Irlen Syndrome and provide color overlays as needed. Recommend nutritional supplementation as appropriate. Refer to an Irlen diagnostician if glasses are needed.
    1. Website, http://irlen.com
    2. Videos
      1. Dr. Jeffrey Lewine, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5stzPGrthYc
      2. Dianne Craft, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV8u1apmmrA
    3. Questionnaire
      1. Helps to quickly identify if further screening is recommended
      2. Questionnaire available on the Irlen website above
      3. Click for quick version of the questionnaire
  6. Introduce students and families to the online CogRead Brain Training Program the last month of school. Can introduce earlier if students have completed Reading Kingdom and students are ready for the next level of training.
    1. Request information for demonstration.
    2. Website, http://cogread.com
    3. Set up CogRead account, register each student; can reuse accounts from Kindergarten.
    4. Complete the Gibson Test on all students, website, http://gibsontest.com/web/. 
    5. Require students to train 20-25 minutes daily five days per week over the summer.
  7. Introduce parents to additional brain-training resources. Parents can choose to incorporate this type of training at home as appropriate. The goal is to make them aware of the resources and encourage families to take advantage of the programs as needed.
    1. Brain Integration Therapy
      1. Dianne Craft, http://www.diannecraft.org
      2. Do a Google search and locate a variety of videos on the topic.
      3. Encourage parents to explore this information; add to the school schedule as time permits.
    2. Primitive Reflex Training
      1. Pyramid of Potential, http://www.pyramidofpotential.com
    3. Brain Balance
      1. Dr. Robert Melillo, Disconnected Kids, refer interested parents to this book
      2. Website, http://www.brainbalancecenters.com