Sky High Learning

BRMT

As fetuses and infants grow, they unconsciously react in a physical way to the stimulations around them. These unconscious, physical reactions are called reflexes. Primitive reflexes are those that occur first in the body and help the infant to survive and develop through their movement patterns and into their postural (lifelong) reflexes. The movement of the body, triggered by primitive reflexes, also helps develop the brain. Different regions of the brain receive stimulation and develop more efficient connections to other regions. As we repeat the primitive reflex patterns, we eventually integrate the reflex and no longer respond to its stimulation. This integration allows the body and brain to continue its development and decreases stress.

Sometimes the underlying causes of our learning challenges are unintegrated primitive reflexes and/or an inability to efficiently connect all brain areas. Most of our primitive reflexes should be integrated before we are 1 years old. There are correlations between some primitive reflexes and learning challenges as unintegrated primitive reflexes inhibit efficient cognition and physical development. Active spinal reflexes, for example, stimulate physical movement every time the spine is touched, making it very difficult to sit still, stand in line, and concentrate.

Supporting our learning through the body is an excellent approach! Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT) teaches us to repeat the same movement patterns that infants use to support our primitive reflexes. By doing so, we integrate reflexes, develop muscle tone, attention, emotions and cognition.

Sky High Learning offers Primitive Reflex checks along with Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training by qualified Consultants under BRMT Canada.

NILD

The brain can change. Structural cognitive modifiability is scientifically proven and attainable for all ages.

NILD Educational Therapy is an individualized intervention for students of all ages. Therapy is conducted twice a week either individually or in small groups.

NILD Educational Therapists are passionate about helping all students succeed. We use neurodevelopmental and cognitive approaches to help struggling learners. Our goal is to equip them to become independent in the classroom and throughout their lives. NILD Educational therapy continues to build that firm foundation in the building blocks of learning. Strengthening processing and cognitive skills, students become confident and competent in the academics.

NILD Educational Therapy is comprised of 5 core techniques and more than 22 supplemental techniques all individualized to stimulate neurological connections and cognitive functions allowing for executive functions to develop along with reading, writing, math and attention skills.

NILD Educational Therapists are trained to use a meditated learning experience, questioning and expressive language to develop metacognition, reflecting on how we think and how to transfer our thinking skills to new situations. Students develop confidence as they feel empowered by their new cognitive, processing and academic skills.

Sky High Learning offers individualized NILD Educational Therapy as well as small group interventions Rx for Reading, Rx for Writing and Rx for Math. For students that may be developmentally or chronologically too young for the above described NILD Educational therapy programmes, Sky High Learning also offers Search and Teach. Search and Teach is a NILD therapy for students 5-7 years old, focusing on the individual processing skills integral to learning.

FIE

Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) offers students the opportunity to enhance their cognitive/thinking skills, learning how to think and learn in a mediated environment without the academic content.

The Feuerstein method is a process-based approach. Professor Reuven Feuerstein’s theory of structural cognitive modifiability is foundational to this approach, recognizing that all thinking, all brains, can change. Feuerstein’s mediated learning experience creates environments in which students and therapists focus on learning how to learn. The development of cognitive functions allows for latent and existing capabilities to be developed and strengthened.

The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment is a cognitive intervention programme consisting of pencil-and-paper tasks specially designed into series of instruments. The series of instruments focus on different cognitive skills and may be implemented individually or in a group setting. Mediation is integral to FIE as the therapist and student explore tasks together, developing problem solving, flexibility, verbal and nonverbal skills, and executive functioning skills.

Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment intentionally excludes academic content. In other words, although there is reading involved, for example, the focus is not on decoding. Academic skills will be affected though as targeted processing and cognitive skills are developed and the student learns how to transfer those skills to new situations. If a student is learning how to focus their senses and search systematically for information, it will change their approach to reading text. If a student is learning to compare and access prior knowledge, it will change their approach to spelling and writing. If a student is learning to take a moment to reflect on their answers, to see things from multiple perspectives, it will affect their math skills.

Sky High Learning offers Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment in individual and group settings by trained and qualified mediators.