The Smart Junction Reading Laboratory
The Smart Junction Reading Laboratory is a concept that has grown over time. We have taken everything we know about reading, and looked at where things can go wrong and found ways to address this. For years, the scientific community maintained that once our brains have formed, they cannot be changed. Our brains were compared to machines and were thought to be “hardwired”: like a computer.We now know that this is not true.
When we refer to a brain as being “plastic”, what that means is that it is malleable. It is NOT hardwired, and it has the ability to change constantly throughout our lives (for better or worse). Based on the principle of Neuroplasticity, our programme kicks off with a round of cognitive training, where we stimulate the auditory, visual and vestibular systems simultaneously, laying new neural pathways in the brain.
Next, we focus on the core skills of reading. Using a variety of resources, including bone-conduction technology, we work on Phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, encoding and ultimately fluency and comprehension. A pre-assessment will determine the length of the programme, but we believe that reading intervention should have a beginning and an end, be effective and enjoyable.
The Process
At the Smart Junction we are committed to finding new ways to achieve great results. We now know more than ever before about the brain and how it processes language. We have taken everything we know about reading and looked at where things can go wrong, and then found ways to address the root cause of the problem. We use modern, tried and tested interventions and combine them with classic reading & phonetic instruction. It doesn’t get more holistic than this.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Rita Mae Brown.
- The Assessment – Knowledge is power, so the more we know about your child and their learning style the better. Assessments can also be scary, so we start off with an in-depth on-line questionnaire completed by the parent.
- Our language assessment Is made up of a range of sensory, phonetic, reading and spelling exercises, mostly in game format to keep it light. Our assessment is in no way a diagnostic, but rather a tool to measure progress and find the right starting point and tools for your child.
- Our Therapy kicks off with Neuralign. Our powerful secret weapon. Neuralign is revolutionary and targets the auditory, visual and vestibular system. The initial 15 sessions are completed at home, with no assistance required by the child.
- In the second week, reading intervention begins. Our programme focuses on visual and auditory processing, working memory & hemispheric integration, reversals, phonemic awareness, spelling, fluency and comprehension.
- All our sessions are done using The Forbrain®, a bone-conduction headset providing auditory feedback. Not only improving memory, attention and auditory processing, but also maintaining the neural stimulation received during the Neuralign Cognitive therapy.
- After 3-4 months a post-assessment will be done and the programme adapted, and some students will be ready to stop therapy. Most children complete the programme within 6 months. This differs from child to child, so its important to give them all the tools they need to read, learn and thrive.
