SOI and the Art of Kung Fu

When most people think about “kung fu” they immediately think about Chinese martial arts, not SOI. I have dedicated a large portion of the last 10 years of my life to the study of Chinese martial arts with one of the world’s last true masters. There are many Chinese martial arts styles which fall under the heading of kung fu: Tai Chi, Wudang, Wing Chun, Choy Li Fut, Shoalin, Wushu, amongst many others. But, you might be surprised to know that “kung fu” actually translates as simply “hard work”. Calligraphists, artists, athletes, chefs, and school children in China are all…

Empowering Students to be Successful: SOI Paradigm

Working with children with learning challenges and concerns for the past twenty years has given a meaningful direction and purpose to my life. I have traveled extensively from New Delhi, India to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Denver, Colorado; and Sacramento, California in my journey as a student and a facilitator for the children with learning issues and their families. I started my career as a remedial education teacher at Educare, New Delhi, where I learned the basics of the Orton Gillingham approach of teaching phonics and reading skills under Dr. Sunita Sodhi. This was a very fulfilling experience of understanding the concepts…

IPP Success Stories Are The Best!

Who doesn’t love a good success story? Take a look at some of these stories about the SOI-IPP program!

This program has moved our intervention with students to a level not seen anywhere else in our district and, I dare say, to a level not seen in most districts in Texas. We have truly implemented an effective RTI program. SOI has put in place the protocols for intervention, provided tracking and structure to our progress monitoring, and built an incredible support team for students and teachers.

We have seen a documented drop in our special education referrals in the last five years due to this program. SOI/IPP is foremost an intervention program that helps students be more successful with school, but it is also a cost effective way of identifying those in need and preventing unnecessary referrals for special education or dyslexia.

– R.M., principal in Lubbock, TX

I am taking this opportunity to thank all of you who have made it possible for my son, Ryan, to be a participant in the SOI program… He has shown great improvement in his writing skills, enough that his SOI specialist has recommended he no longer needs to see Ryan. Another area in where Ryan has shown improvement is in his reading. Although he is still five years behind, he has jumped three grade levels in just one semester. (more…)

Learning Abilities Testing: How It Works

The key to remedy learning failure is to know why the failure is occurring and to have a systematic approach for eliminating the cause. TESTS SOI tests are tests of learning abilities. If students are having difficulty learning, the cause may be a lack of learning abilities. Learning abilities are more fundamental than curricular skills, yet most “diagnostics” of learning problems focus exclusively on curricular skills, and thus most remedial programs are focused on the same curricular skills. When the usual remedial programs are not successful, the causes of the learning problems have probably been misdiagnosed. SOI tests offer an…

How I Became an SOI & IPP Practitioner

The IPP program is successful because it addresses the cause(s) of the learning difficulty. It works to improve attention span, memory, comparison & contrast thinking, eye-hand coordination, systems reasoning, and other skills essential to the learning process. This helps students perform better in school and in life. The truth is, I found SOI by accident! I became a certified teacher in the field of physical education, but the reality is that I have never used my degree in a traditional sense. My first teaching job was as an instructional assistant working in a Life Skills classroom. I followed that with…

A Breath of Fresh Air: An IPP Success Story

The IPP program is successful because it addresses the cause(s) of the learning difficulty. It works to improve attention span, memory, comparison & contrast thinking, eye-hand coordination, systems reasoning, and other skills essential to the learning process. This helps students perform better in school and in life. A few years ago, a doctor friend of mine referred a young student to me for assessment as he was not doing well at school. Nick, as I will call him, had a history of seizures and I was concerned he might have cognitive impairment. He was taking drugs for the seizures that…

Learning Solutions: The Actions You See – The Words You Never Hear

SOI HAS BEEN PROVIDING INNOVATIVE LEARNING SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 50 YEARS. SAM, AGE 8 “Oh no, we’re going to read out loud again? I wish I could just disappear. She’s handing out the books. I can’t, I just can’t read out loud again and have the guys laugh when I stumble over the words. I don’t get why they can read without stumbling and I read like a K student. When we go out to recess, someone always says something dumb to me and I just shrug my shoulders. My parents and teacher hate when I do that. Think… I’m…

Vision: Focusing Skills

Vision: “The ability of sight, the manner in which one sees or conceives of something” Think about it: If you are unable to scan horizontally - a visual requisite for reading and closing letters into words that are meaningful - your achievement level drops. If you are unable to distinguish small differences (visual discrimination), which is especially critical for sustained reading over an extended period of time, your achievement level drops. If you are unable to understand vocabulary and verbal ideas due to visual fatigue and loss of concentration, your achievement level drops. If you have jerky eye movement when…

Modules? Seriously.

The ideal SOI recipe for success for learning and career is simple: test, cognitive and IPP training modules, retest. The initial testing is often rewarding and intriguing, as we figure out some of our enigmatic client needs. However, the re-testing often is not as critical. What about the training? I believe it’s the middle of the recipe that’s absolutely unique and valuable: the personalized follow-up plan based upon the individual’s SOI scores, with new insight into the learning styles and needs - especially for those who struggle in school or the workplace. This is the heart of the recipe. Many…

Boyhood

Fall temperatures have finally arrived in Texas after a very long, hot summer. This weekend, I had the opportunity to take three of my grandsons to the Botanic Garden here in Fort Worth. We meandered through the gardens, having a picnic by the fountain pond, counting turtles by the bridge, throwing sticks in the water, exploring “mysterious forest paths,” and climbing on rocks. The boys led the expedition, and huffing and puffing, I followed. These three grandsons also attend our school, Shady Oak Learning. Major, age 4, is currently in his “junior fireman” stage after crawling on a firetruck last…

SOI and the Art of Kung Fu

Empowering Students to be Successful: SOI Paradigm

IPP Success Stories Are The Best!

Learning Abilities Testing: How It Works

How I Became an SOI & IPP Practitioner

A Breath of Fresh Air: An IPP Success Story

Learning Solutions: The Actions You See – The Words You Never Hear

Vision: Focusing Skills

Modules? Seriously.

Boyhood

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