Browse the web faster with Firefox
FAQ - Contents
  Toggle all descriptions Collapse all descriptions
General top
# Article Title
1 What are Mind Skills?

When we say Mind Skills, or Brain Abilities, we mean the skills you require when you are performing a task, especially learning tasks. For example, when you learn Math, you need to be able to visualize geometric forms accurately, listen attentively and understand the teacher’s explanation, pay attention and draw the necessary diagrams accurately and quickly, or comprehend the multi-step problem! These are called Mind Skills – they are the brain functions which need to work hard when an individual performs a task, especially learning.

 

kgc_4overlappingcircles

 

Each of the circles in this diagram represents a vital area of Mind Skills essential for learning. A sub-optimal system hinders a child from learning and performing at his or her best ability. Over time, the frustration felt by the child usually leads to a loss of interest or motivation, and in many cases lower confidence levels.
2 Who are your teachers/consultants?

Our Consultants are all professionals in the fields of education, health, therapy and psychology. Above all, we share a common belief which is the awesome power of the human brain to be improved! Our Programme Consultants are all fully trained to conduct our programmes effectively to the highest desired standard.


With this, you can rest assure that your child is in expert hands when attending our Mind Training programmes.
3 Tell me more about the children you see.
We see children across a diverse range from 3 to 16 years old, from gifted classes, regular classes to those requiring learning support or who have been diagnosed with learning difficulties.
4 What tests are in KidzGrow’s LSE? What will be assessed?

Our LSE comprises a series of international standardised tests. These carefully selected tests have been designed and tested overseas, in universities, hospitals and well established private institutions all across the United States of America, Europe and Australia.

 

Your child will be assessed comprehensively for their Mind Skills in the areas of : Intellectual Functioning (IQ), Attention and Impulse Control, Eye-Hand Coordination, Movement Coordination and Speed, Visual Processing, Auditory Processing and Memory Skills.
5 What are the other unique features of KidzGrow?

We believe the following are some of the most unique features of KidzGrow, differentiating us from all other enrichment, tutoring, or motivational programmes, giving us the rapid life-transforming results we consistently see in the lives we serve!

Scientific

 

All of our programmes use scientifically proven methods to improve brain abilities to allow your child to perform faster and more accurately. Based on our data & research, 80-90% of parents report improvements in their child during or after each programme, within 6-8weeks. Objective scores also show an average increase of 10 standard score points after each Mind Training programme.

Whether your child has been recommended for Visual-Motor Mind training (REVAMP®), Auditory Mind Training (Fast ForWord®), Attention Mind Training (Play Attention®), strengthening of the brain network is involved. How?

Neuroscience research shows that Specially-Designed exercises must be targeted and specific in order to achieve rapid brain improvement– so, think F.A.S.T.:

Frequency and Intensity: Brain plasticity research demonstrates that completing a set of learning tasks in a frequent, intense timeframe accelerates brain wiring. This explains why at KidzGrow, our programmes tend to demand higher frequency and intensity. We see more rapid improvements in our specific intense programmes than once-a-week type enrichment programmes. Some of our programmes have been scientifically shown to improve the brain by 1-2years in 6-8weeks!

 

Adaptivity : Exercises must be interactive and adjusted to the student’s individual skill levels and responses. This is the reason why we conduct the Learning Skills Evaluation, so that we are able to customize our Mind Training programmes to your child’s individual needs. That is also the reason why we conduct all our Mind Training sessions one-to-one!

 

Simultaneous Development : At KidzGrow, each exercise focuses on a specific set of tasks and simultaneously develops underlying cognitive processes such as memory, attention, processing and sequencing.

 

Timely motivation : Students must be active (not passive), attentive and engaged in order for the brain to strengthen. Hence it is important for us that our students participate actively and enjoy the Mind Training sessions.

 

Adaptivity: Customized One-To-One Training!

 

As mentioned above, all our Mind Training sessions are conducted one-to-one, so that your child gets to work at the level just right for him/her. Customizing to the individual is not possible in a group situation. We believe one of the key reasons why we are able to help our students achieve significant gains in brain abilities within a short period of time is because of this unique customized feature of our programmes. Remember too that each of our minds is totally unique and ‘one-of-a-kind’! We do not believe in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ programme!

We Re-Evaluate Your Child for FREE after Each Programme!

 

While it is common for most educational, enrichment and ‘brain enhancement’ centres to claim that they are able to help their students effectively, at KidzGrow, we make sure of this by using standardized instruments to evaluate every student after they have attended each of our programmes. This way, we use scientific methods to judge the effectiveness of our programmes in helping your child achieve greater Mind Skills. Every parent will receive a formal standardized Progress Report after attending every Mind Training programme. The Progress Report gives the most updated profile of your child’s Mind Skills after the Mind Training sessions.

Maintaining Brain Power!

 

Once your child’s foundation Mind Skills are well-established, our other programmes such as A-VAMS may be recommended to help the student strengthen and apply the foundational mind skills of attention, auditory and visual-motor abilities in a small group setting. It is important to ensure that the Mind Skills built are maintained and improved upon by using and applying them. This is similar to a child who has just learnt to ride a bicycle. While he may have learnt a new skill, he may not be able to ride smoothly and with refined control. If his newly attained skills are to become smooth, automatic and fast, he will need to continue practising for awhile more.
6 What about motivational classes? How is KidzGrow different from those?

Our key differences are:

1) Passion to succeed is NOT best developed by attending motivational classes!! - We believe passion to succeed in any task (eg. learning Math) is best developed when one can attain success and pride from the task (ie. doing well in Math) most of the time. Without the necessary mind skills to skillfully complete a task (ie. understand all Math concepts, complete Math homework easily and do well in Math exam), no amount of motivation techniques can help you overcome your lack of confidence and performance in that task. It is like flying. If we do not have wings, no amount of motivational techniques can help us develop the confidence or ability to fly! Hence the key to building passion and success in school is to build strong mind skills so that students can accomplish their learning tasks skillfully and be proud of their achievements! If a student can listen and absorb quickly, pay attention without huge effort, have strong memory power, write fast and draw accurately without being careless, and not need to study 10 hours a day just to get a B+, how much easier is it to be passionate about learning?



2) Scientific Evidence - Unlike motivational strategies, which DO NOT have strong supporting research evidence of its effectiveness, our Mind Training programmes are strongly backed by scientific research in its effectiveness, from positive Brain Scan results in Stanford University to Academic Marks Improvements in Schools.
7 How is KidzGrow different from tuition centres or enrichment classes?

Our key difference is:

Content vs Foundation Mind Skills - We train your child’s brain on ‘How to Learn’, NOT ‘What to Learn’. as most tuition and enrichment centres offer. We are professionals you should come to IDEALLY BEFORE enrolling your child into tuition or enrichment centres. This is because with stronger mind skills to learn and absorb faster, your child will benefit more in any learning situation, be it learning Math, English, Piano or Golf!
8 May I sit in to watch the LSE being conducted?
We do not encourage parents to sit in as their presence may distract the child. However, if your child is uncooperative, our Consultants may request you to sit in.
Programmes top
# Article Title
1 How do I decide which programme is most suitable for my child?
Basically the programme-consultant will have to assess your child and recommend the programme(s) that your child needs. It is important that the most suitable programme is conducted at the right time so that your child receives the maximum benefits. The programme-consultant will advise you on the timing of various programmes.
2 What are your programmes?
Depending on the results of the Learning Skills Evaluation, our Programme Consultants will advise you on which customized Mind Training programme to first commence your child on based on his/her unique profile. We have 3 main programmes: Visual-Motor Mind Training (REVAMP™) , Auditory Mind Training (Fast ForWord®), Attention Mind Training (Play Attention®) , and Applying Visual, Auditory, Motor and Social Skills (A-VAMS™).
3 What is the frequency and duration of your programmes?

Duration, frequency and type of programmes are recommended based on the needs of your child.

Our programmes are intensive and range from 1-2 times weekly for 45-60 minutes per session (E.g REVAMP™ and Play Attention®) to 5-days weekly for 2 hours per session (E.g.Fast ForWord®). Each block of programme time typically lasts between 6-20 weeks. We usually see visible results after 6-8 weeks on our programmes.
4 How many students have been trained effectively on your programmes?
More than 3500 students have attended Mind Training at our centres in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. On one of our programmes alone, Fast ForWord, more than 1 million students worldwide have been effectively trained on the programme.
5 How long does my child need to complete the programme(s)?
It depends on the extent of your child’s difficulties and rate of progress. We don’t support long- term remediation and aim to wean children off the programmes as soon as their ability to learn on their own is adequate.
6 Can my child attend the programmes once a week?
Our programmes have been successful because we follow research protocol. The research has shown that remediation a certain number of times each week gives the best results.
Play Attention top
# Article Title
1 What is Play Attention?
It is a powerful learning system that uses a high-tech helmet to read brain signals indicative of focus or concentration. These brain signals control our computer games. Your mind becomes the mouse or joystick! These games not only teach you to improve focus, but also to ignore distractions, develop memory skills, finish tasks, and become organized. These skills can improve school work, improve self-esteem, and make life at home much happier.
2 Can I see a live demonstration?
Every months, we offer a free workshop. Our therapist conducts a lively and informative presentation and encourages the audience to interact freely during the discussion.
3 How does Play Attention work?
Scientific research has demonstrated that the brain is adaptable and capable of learning throughout life. This is termed neuroplasticity. Play Attention allows the user to view the attentive state in real-time. Over time, through deliberate practice, Play Attention students can learn to increase focus and concentration. Deliberate practice entails setting goals to improve skill performance. The interactive exercises also challenge Play Attention students to improve memory, finishing tasks, visual tracking, and filtering out distractions. Gradually, the student can retain the skills necessary to be successful in the classroom, work, and home.
4 When will we start seeing results?
Typically within the first 30 days, minor changes will appear. These may include better listening skills, beginning homework on one's own, or staying more organized. It is important to understand that these are significant positive leaps forward for ADHD students and must be rewarded/reinforced so that they are likely to be repeated.
5 Is it neurofeedback or biofeedback?
Play Attention is not clinical neuro or bio feedback. Neurofeedback is based on the theory that ADHD persons have abnormal brainwave patterns. Neurofeedback practitioners contend that normalizing these abnormal brainwave patterns can eliminate ADHD symptoms. Play Attention does not strive to change brainwave patterns. Changing brainwave patterns does not insure that one can become more organized, have better short-term memory, ignore distractions, or even balance one's check book in a normal amount of time. These are skills that must be learned and do not readily appear after neurofeedback training. Play Attention teaches these skills and insures transfer to the workplace and classroom.
6 Can I take my child off medication?
You decided to place your child on medication with a healthcare provider. Use of medication is a medical decision and must be decided under advisement of your healthcare provider. It is important to realize that medication does not teach skills or behaviors. Play Attention is an educational skill building tool that also teaches students to improve behaviors. Once these skills are learned, frequently the need for medication greatly diminishes. However, you must discuss the matter with your healthcare provider regarding changes to medication or any medical issues.
7 Will Play Attention help my child make friends?
Parents often clearly understand that ADHD impairs their child's ability to make lasting friendships. Poor social skills are closely intertwined with attention problems. By increasing attention to social cues and increasing self-esteem, Play Attention is a wonderful tool to help build lasting friendships.
8 How will Play Attention help me at work or school?
Conservatively, 5% to 7% of all children have ADHD. Roughly 60% to 70% of those children will carry their attention problems into adulthood. The inability to finish assignments, stay organized, remember things, or become easily distracted follow children into adulthood where it's estimated billions of dollars are lost due to these problems. Play Attention can teach organization, improve memory, train you to complete tasks and become less distracted. These skills are vitally important success at either school or the workplace.
Fast ForWord top
# Article Title
1 How does Fast ForWord work?
Your child works on a computer five days a week at a center or at home.
2 Why does Fast ForWord work?
Most children naturally acquire language during the first few years of life but research has demonstrated that a significant number of children fail to develop these skills on their own.  About 10 percent of children have a specific difficulty making reliable distinctions among elements of speech.  Every child needs to acquire the ability elements of speech.  Fast ForWord is the first proven method to teach this skill to children who do not learn it naturally.
3 How does Fast ForWord help reading?
By improving processing speed, Fast ForWord improves your child’s ability to hear the phonemes needed for sounding out when reading – this directly impacts reading fluency and comprehension.  Fast ForWord also exercises working memory, attention stamina and sequencing, essential cognitive skills for successful reading.  The Reading series builds on these skills with comprehensive instruction ranging from spelling and syntax to reading accuracy and higher level comprehension and thinking.
4 How does Fast ForWord help learning and cognitive issues?
By speeding up the ability to process sound and language, i.e., auditory processing, Fast ForWord essentially slows the world down for a child.  This improves the ability to follow multi-step directions, to attend in class, and to participate more in class and in conversation, amongst other things.
5 How do you monitor progress?
After every session the student's data is uploaded through the Internet to our server.  We track errors, rate of progress, work-rate and many other items.  We are in constant contact by phone and email, reacting to progress and making changes to the work assignments in accordance with that student's individualized plan.
6 How is Fast ForWord different from tutoring?
Fast ForWord is a learning-intervention program. It is going after the glitch that is causing the learning difficulties. Tutoring is more about providing content, providing more of the same material your child is already seeing at school.  Tutoring is useful to meet short term goals, preparing for the next test, etc. but most often it's a band aid and an expense that does not bear long term fruit.  Fast ForWord programs are more profound and far-reaching than that.  They are an investment in the future, laying a foundation that will lead to higher achievement in all future years.  And in the end, it is a much better use of financial resources.
7 When do I start seeing results?
After about three weeks most parents start to notice signs of change.  Language gains and better confidence in younger children, more confidence in reading in older students.  Everyone is different though, and for some children the gains come more slowly.
8 How do you know Fast ForWord really works?
Continuous research.  Since its origins in university labs, scientists have continuously tracked the gains resulting from students using Fast ForWord.  To date there are over 90 school based research studies tracking over 40,000 students. In addition, independent research conducted by Stanford University has imaged the brain before and after the use Fast ForWord to show that areas of the brain are activated after product use.
9 Who can benefit from Fast ForWord?
At present, the majority of children benefiting from Fast ForWord are children ages 5 to adult.  Other programs are being formulated which will help the older and younger populations.  Children must be able to sit in a chair and attend to the computer for various lengths of time.

The child with language concerns will benefit from training, especially if the problem areas are receptive phonology, listening comprehension and complex grammar and syntax.

The child with central auditory processing weakness will benefit from training, especially if the problem areas are phonemic synthesis, listening in the presence of background noise, auditory sequencing, slow processing of auditory information, attending and focusing.
10 Is this one of those products that you have to do forever?
No. Because it is designed by targeting what the brain needs in order to change. When using the recommended schedule (protocol), you will see positive results in 6-8 weeks.  Because the brain is strengthening the cognitive skills, these benefits continue to last a lifetime.
11 What programs are available?
Fast ForWord Basics develops basic learning skills for 4-7 year olds, including:

  • Color, shape and size identification
  • Letter-name and letter-sound association
  • Phonological awareness

Fast ForWord Language uses patented technology to clarify sounds and rapidly develop the oral language skills that provide the foundation for reading, for 5-7 year olds, including:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Working memory
  • Listening accuracy
  • Language structures

Fast ForWord Language to Reading targets the skills that help students ages 5-12 years old make the link between spoken and written language including:

  • Organization and focus
  • Listening comprehension
  • Word analysis
  • English language conventions

Fast ForWord Reading rapidly and systematically builds reading skills that correlate to school curriculum standards, including:

  • Word recognition and decoding
  • Spelling and phonology
  • Passage comprehension
  • Sentence comprehension

Fast ForWord Middle and High School rapidly reinforces the skills critical for fluent reading and communication for adolescents and adults including:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Working memory
  • Language structures
  • Listening accuracy
12 Are there any side effects to the treatment?
There are no known side effects to the treatment.  Each child may react differently.  Some irritability may occur as improvement is taking place but this is not the norm.
Reading Assistant top
# Article Title
1 Who should use Reading Assistant?

Reading Assistant is designed to be used by any student who has attained basic word recognition and decoding skills and is now building his/her vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. This includes students as young as first grade, all the way up to adults.

Reading Assistant has solutions designed to implement with Response to Intervention programs for all student tiers.
2 How does Reading Assistant support vocabulary?

Reading Assistant helps students learn and retain vocabulary word meanings by providing:

  • Audible syllabification
  • Dictionary definition
  • Contextual sentence
  • Picture representation in most instances
  • Spanish translation
  • Did You Know? includes background knowledge about the word, Latin and Greek roots of the word, other meanings or uses of the word, cognate transfers from Spanish and other languages as well as fun facts to deepen vocabulary acquisition.
3 How does Reading Assistant build fluency?

Reading fluency is the ability to read with sufficient ease and accuracy that one can focus attention on the meaning and message of the text.

Reading Assistant builds fluency by providing:

  • Oral reading practice
  • Supportive reading intervention: the program intervenes with a pronunciation of the word only when the student needs it.
  • Repeated reading: students read each passage a minimum of 2 times.
  • Review words: words the student needs to practice are highlighted.
  • Feedback on fluency (words correct per minute)
4 How does Reading Assistant foster Reading Comprehension?

Reading Assistant ensures reading comprehension by providing:

  • Most guided reading selections contain several guided reading questions.
  • Guided reading questions use reading strategies to build comprehension skillsincluding: using prior knowledge, identifying a reading purpose, prediction, making connections, visualization, monitoring and clarifying, retelling, summarizing, using context clues for meaning, asking questions.
  • If a student does not answer the guided reading question correctly on the first attempt he/she will be prompted with hints guiding them with reading strategies.
  • Take the Quiz is designed to assess comprehension for the entire guided reading selection.
  • Quizzes assess the comprehension skills of inference, sequence, story events, theme, character traits, figurative language, important information, compare and contrast, author’s point of view, fact and opinion, diagrams, charts and graphs, cause and effect and main idea.
  • The comprehension quiz also assesses student’s level of thinking in the following dimensions: literal, inferential, evaluation and analysis.
5 Is Reading Assistant research-based?
Yes. According to the report of the National Reading Panel, "classroom practices that encourage repeated oral reading with feedback and guidance leads to meaningful improvements in reading expertise for students—for good readers as well as those who are experiencing difficulty." With Reading Assistant, the computer becomes the supportive listener that ensures all students can regularly practice oral reading while receiving immediate, individual feedback from Scientific Learning's advanced speech verification software.
6 Is Reading Assistant research validated?
Yes. The impact of Reading Assistant on fluency growth was evaluated with mainstream students in Grades 2-5. Half of the classrooms in two schools used the software in thirty-minute sessions, once or twice a week over 17 weeks. Across all four grades, fluency gains were significantly greater for students who used the software than those who did not, averaging 43% (E.S.=0.91) greater than normative expectations over grades. Project sponsored by the Carlisle Foundation and NICHD.
7 What data are collected about the students’ work?

Scientific Learning’s Progress Tracker reporting engine includes detailed tracking of the student’s performance using Reading Assistant.
8 How much time does it take for my students to learn how to use the guided reading software?
While students of all ages independently use the guided reading software after just a few sessions, we recommend direct observation of student sessions as well as regular monitoring of the reports to keep students on task and using their time wisely.
9 How often should students use Reading Assistant?

Our recommended protocol is:

K-3 – a minimum of 20 minutes 3 days per week

4-5 – a minimum of 30 minutes 3 days per week

6-8 - a minimum of 40 minutes 3 days per week

9-12 – a minimum of 40 minutes 3 days per week
10 Where did the guided reading selections come from?
Many of the Reading Assistant texts were originally published in one of the Carus™ family of magazines or by Lerner Publishing™. These Carus magazines include: Appleseeds™, Ladybug™, Spider™, Click!™, Cricket™, Odyssey™, Cobblestone™, Calliope™, and Faces™. Many of the guided reading selections were drawn from famous authors including Guy De Maupassant and O’Henry. Many more selections were written by great children’s authors.
11 How do students get placed in Reading Assistant?

The easiest placement option is to administer SLC’s Reading Progress Indicator. The RPI reading level will be used to place the student automatically at the appropriate content level.

If the school already established the student’s reading level, the teacher can use the reading level to place the student manually in the content.

Gateway provides for assignments based on Guided Reading level (D through Z) , Grade level Equivalent and the Lexile Framework for Reading®

The teacher can also assign guided reading selections to the student based on content topics/interest.
12 How is the new Reading Assistant Expanded Edition content structured?

Our new Reading Assistant Expanded Edition content is structured to build knowledge and reading skills simultaneously. Each grade band is designed to cover topics that are relevant to the national content standards in that grade band. Each grade band of content contains topics at struggling through on level reading levels.

Grade Band K-3 4-5 6-8 9-12
Reading Level 1-3 1-5 2-8 3-adult

Each topic within a grade band is designed to introduce vocabulary relevant to the topic standard and allow for multiple exposure of the new vocabulary in different contexts. Some guided reading selections provide background knowledge or extend the ideas of another selection or present the same set of ideas but in different contexts or from different points of view. Many of the guided reading selections include content from science, social studies, or literature standards for the grade band.

For example, in our grade band 6-8, our topic on the Grand Canyon contains the following guided reading selections:

 

G4 Mid

 The Grand Canyon Earth Science: Geography and geology These selections present history, geology, geography, and mathematics against the backdrop of the Grand Canyon’s vastness and beauty.

 

 The Grand Canyon Expository Nonfiction Nonfiction; geology, beauty of Canyon

 

 John Wesley Powell: American Explorer Biography Biography of J.W. Powell, 1st geologist to explore Canyon

 

 John Powell's Grand Canyon Journal Authentic journal excerpts from J. W. Powell

 

 Grand Canyon Math Nonfiction Nonfiction, math: Understanding Canyon statistics

See how the topic of the Grand Canyon is explored from different perspectives and how relevant and important academic content is taught throughout the selections.
13 What genres are covered in the Reading Assistant Expanded Edition?
  • Predictable text
  • Realistic fiction
  • Historical fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Poetry
  • Folktale, myth, legend
  • Expository nonfiction
  • Biography
  • Play
  • Speech
  • Jokes
  • Short Story
  • Point-counterpoint
  • Personal Narrative
  • Journal; eye-witness account
14 What do the quiz questions assess?

The comprehension questions are designed to review main ideas, key concepts, core arguments, and vocabulary from the passage. The question types include inferential and literal comprehension, analysis, prediction, and summary.

scrn-raee-civil-war
15 Does the guided reading software support ELL students?

Yes. In addition to the features of Read to Me, Show Vocabulary, Record My Reading, and Play My Reading, Reading Assistant Expanded Edition allows the teacher to enable Spanish language support for a student. When this feature is activated, the glossary will contain an Español button which displays the glossary term in Spanish and plays a Spanish audio file. The student will also receive all program instructions in Spanish.

The Reading Assistant has in-depth audio support. Students can click on any word to hear it pronounced. Advanced speech verification technology provides just in time coaching to students pronouncing the word when students are struggling.

Strong visuals throughout the Reading Assistant support mental model development.

Reading Assistant is focused on academic vocabulary development with over 10,000 terms defined in depth. Reading Assistant Expanded Edition contains the Did You Know? feature which includes many instructional resources proven to be helpful in supporting vocabulary development in English Language Learners including:

  • Greek and Latin roots
  • Other meanings and usage for the word
  • Fun facts about the word
  • Cognate transfers from Spanish

The Reading Assistant content is structured to build knowledge through repeated exposure to vocabulary. Each grade band topic builds knowledge and depth of understanding of vocabulary.

The Reading Assistant content is filled with US cultural content (Internet, skateboarding, US Constitution).
16 Is Reading Assistant Section 508 compliant?
Yes. What does this mean? Among assistive features: a) visual dialog boxes can be displayed whenever you hear an audio message; b) the colors in the application have been selected to accommodate people who are color blind; c) the preferences set by a student on his or her computer for text colors and size take precedence over those already set in Reading Assistant; d) the software will work in conjunction with a single switch device; e) there is high contrast between user interface elements and high rollover contrast for maximum visibility; f) the minimum font size used for all content text throughout the product is 16 point; g) tooltips are provided throughout the product; and h) the user can tab from element to element, and select the element using a key-activated shortcut.