Lamorinda Weekly Issue 1 Volume 8
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Page: B6 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Ten Lamorinda Odyssey of Helping Struggling Readers of Any Age the Mind Teams Advance The ‘Reading Revolution’ method comes to Lamorinda By Sophie Braccini to State Competition Submitted by Michelle Regan and Beverley Sopak Orinda Rotary Odyssey of the Mind team, from left: Bradley Wu, Nicholas Cyndy Lemyre shows first sound movements to Growing Tree Preschool students Clara Shei Bowman (left) and Kim, Sarah Inouye, Stephanie Wu, Sullivan Jordan, Caroline Kim, Leah Sloane McDowell. Photo Sophie Braccini Sopak, and coach Michael Kim. Photos provided ack is learning to blend the sound tutor moves him from one activity to demonstrates is effective in ‘phonics’ J"ai" with consonants today. The the next, never at a desk, but sitting on and ‘whole language’ systems. It in- happy Moraga second grader began a mat reviewing the movements he corporates the experience we gained his eighth session recently with his learned for each vowel sound, or with over 200,000 students in hun- Active Reading Clinic tutor, Sharon standing throwing bean bags in buck- dreds of schools across the U.S. The Winning, and seems to be having fun. ets labeled with “ai” or “ay” as his ‘reading revolution’ comes through a He starts at one end of the large tutor calls out words. "Jack is not series of proprietary steps that, in ag- room where the private lesson is held, ADD or ADHD but he can become gregate, bring together the latest brain and at Winning's signal – “Go!” – he fidgety after a while; that is why I in- research and theories of how the runs to the other side where she stands clude a lot of different physical set- human brain triggers its learning holding large cards with a beginning tings in our session," says Winning. mechanisms." consonant, the group of vowels, and She has other tools for dyslexic stu- Richards was so impressed with a final consonant. Jack blends the dents, based on movements that help ARC that she decided to work with sounds of the three cards that make up children memorize their own way. Kranzler and her managing director real words or “monster” words. This "It is estimated that about 20 per- Cyndy Lemyre to open an Active kinesthetic and game-oriented ap- cent of the children in school are strug- Reading Clinic in Lamorinda. proach is the heart of the multi-sen- gling, but do not fit into a defined Richards introduced the method to Burton Valley Elementary Odyssey of the Mind Division 1 (fourth and fifth sory method, developed by Judy category of learning disability," says Linda Richardi and Terri Giovanetti, grade) team, from left: Kaitlin Srinivasan, Charlie Schofield, Nathanial McManus, Kranzler in the ‘80s, and taught ever Moraga resident Maura Richards. the co-directors of Growing Tree Pre- Peter Husch, Matthew Brock-Utne, William McGlothlen, and Cole Regan. since in Active Reading Clinics "When my son Tommy was in second school, who agreed to open a new (ARC) across the country. A new grade, he was not doing very well." ARC at Growing Tree. center is opening in Moraga, and a Tommy was tested by the school but Lamorinda students of all ages second one should follow in Orinda. did not qualify for anything, so his will be tutored in the afternoon one- The method can help children of all mother started researching other ways on-one at the preschool starting ages who are struggling in school to teach her son. She found the ARC March 17. Additionally, the pre-K with the traditional reading approach. in Walnut Creek and decided to invest Growing Tree students, whose par- Kranzler struggled to learn to read in bi-weekly trips in order to help him. ents are interested, will get pre-K when she was a child. A visibly bright Tommy, now in fourth grade, readers' readiness training in small little girl, she still had a lot of difficul- loves to read. "Last night when my groups. "We are not pushing them to ties and started to hate school, feeling mom came to tuck me in I asked her read early," notes Lemyre. "We are inadequate. As she grew up, she re- if I could keep reading," he says. "I giving them kinesthetic tools to mem- searched ways to learn that would kept reading my book, 'Spirit Ani- orize sounds that will help them to make it easier for kids who do not mals,' for another 30 minutes." He re- learn to read, whatever their style." thrive with the visual or auditory members the method as something The Pre-K program is different from methods that are taught in school. fun. "It was like play," he says. His the regular ARC sessions and is for She studied and researched all over mother says his progress has been Growing Tree students only. Springhill Elementary Odyssey of the Mind Primary Division team. Top row, the world and gradually developed across the board, emphasizing Lessons start March 17 in the from left: Ella del Rosario, Chase Caicedo, Joey Martin, Chase Regan and Danny the “Reading Revolution” method, a Tommy’s improved self-esteem from Moraga ARC at the Growing Tree, Martin; bottom row: Ellie Hutson and Kyla Goertzen. Not shown: coaches Joy kinesthetic approach that uses move- becoming a more competent student. 695 Canyon Rd., in Moraga. For Martin and Shawn Goertzen. ment, sound, and visual tools to teach "I developed this curriculum over more information, visit www.ac- reading. The method is taught one on the past 30 years and it continues to tivereadingclinic.org or call Cyndy he winner’s circle was filled the Mind team advanced to the state one, twice a week, allowing it to be be a work in progress," says Kranzler Lemyre at (925) 944-5559 or Moraga Twith Lamorinda Odyssey of tournament by taking second place at tailored to each specific child. of her multi-media curriculum. "It in- Managing Director Maura Richards the Mind teams, each comprised of the regionals for “The Stackable Back in the ARC room, Jack's corporates the best of what research at (415) 637-7757. up to seven student members who Structure” problem. This will be the competed for top honors at the San team’s third year competing at State. Francisco Bay Region competition Last year this team won State and ad- A Wide Array of Wonderful Films March 1. Teams competed in age- vanced to the World tournament. defined divisions ranging from Springhill Elementary School’s East Bay International Jewish Film Festival comes to kindergarten through college with Odyssey of the Mind team also com- the top two teams from each division peted in “The World’s First Arts Fes- Orinda March 21-23 going on to the April 5 state compe- tival” primary competition (Grades By Sophie Braccini tition. The program promotes cre- K-2) and came home with medals. ative thinking where student groups As part of the long-term problem documentary about this wonderful such as autism, aging with conviction, develop and implement all problem competition the team created an eight Canadian comedian; and “The Won- betrayal, murder and revenge. “The A solutions without outside assistance minute performance with costumes ders,” a film set in Jerusalem with a Word” tells the journey of a family as from adults. Each year there are five and a story line that fit the “World’s dangerous and glamorous leading they discover their son has autism; different long-term project competi- First Arts Festival” problem theme. lady and a goofy leading guy, inspired “Life in Stills” is about a 96-year-old tions to choose from ranging from Characters included cavemen and by a true story. Avi Nesher's film noir, grandmother who tries to fight evic- technical to artistic or performance cavewomen as well as a security which has touches of romance and tion from her Tel Aviv photography based. guard— after all, everyone knows comedy, is a well executed mix of shop, which houses thousands of pho- Burton Valley Elementary school that all art museums have a security genres. tos portraying the history of the coun- placed first in their division for the guard! The group also created their On March 22, the film offerings try. “Driver’s Test” competition. The stu- own ‘Cave Man’ song and prehis- take a more serious turn: In “Bethle- “Fill the Void,” which won seven dent team designed and built a vehi- toric caveman painting backdrops. hem,” one of Israel’s highest 2013 Ophir Awards, is directed by Rama cle that achieved specific project Other top winners included: award winners that received top hon- Burshtein – the first Orthodox Jewish requirements. The team also devel- Moraga Rotary Club A (Div II) “It's ors at the prestigious Venice Film Fes- woman to direct a film meant for oped an eight minute performance How We Rule” – first place tival and won “Best Film” at the viewing outside of her own commu- “The Wonders” Photo provided incorporating their vehicle and team Orinda Intermediate School Red Ophir Awards (Israel’s Oscar), an Is- nity. In the film, 18 year-old Shira members to demonstrate the vehi- (Div II) “Seeing is Believing” – first he 19th annual East Bay Inter- raeli secret service officer and his 16- Medelman, the youngest daughter of cle’s capabilities and the team’s cre- place Tnational Jewish Film Festival is year-old Palestinian informant Sanfur an Orthodox Hassidic family in Tel ativity. The competition included a Lafayette Rotary Club (Div III) coming to Orinda’s Theatre Square form the central duo of the film.