Preschoolers can learn to read and do math – in just minutes a day

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2008

dEcode for Kids has proven to be simple and effective in teaching kids how to read and do math

June 2, 2008, TORONTO -- dEcode for Kids is a unique program that teaches children between the ages of 3 and 6, earlier is even better, successful literacy and numeracy skills ­ in just minutes a day.

What parent doesn’t want their child to learn early and give them a head start at reading and doing math before they enter kindergarten? Generally speaking, when it comes to teaching their children how to read, parents don’t lack desire but more often it’s the lack of the tools and the time to do it. dEcode for Kids solves both these problems.

"In dEcode for Kids, both the reading and math programs are designed for maximum efficiency which is so important for children at this age whose primary job is to play!" says Leslie Grant (M.Ed.), Director of The Lawrence Park School in North Toronto, which uses the dEcode for Kids programs. "Ten minutes a day is more than enough, and the children really enjoy both the books and the CD programs."

Just about every level of society, inclusive of governments, municipalities, school boards, teachers and parents are recognizing the importance of starting the process of reading and doing math in the preschool years of a child’s life.

Teaching a child to read is considered the key to building self-confidence and instilling the necessary skills to succeed in school and life, according to the Ontario Ministry of Education.

dEcode for Kids is an effective program for teaching pre-kindergarten children how to read, because dEcode for Kids was founded on the same principles as ABC dEcode and 123 dEcode. Both ABC and 123 dEcode were developed through over thirty years of clinical practice with kids and adults struggling with dyslexia, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), Learning Disabilities (LDs), and low literacy. These programs have proven to be successful 100 per cent of the time where the student follows the recommended course. The difference is that the full dEcode system, provides more in-depth drilling practice to overcome specific sorts of problems which for most children are not necessary.

With over thirty years of clinical practice, working with hundreds of young children between the ages of three and six, Dr. Debby Chesnie Cooper recognized a need for the very young to have an enticing way to learn about sounds and numbers. The dEcode for Kids curriculum delivers a solid learning foundation in reading for pre-school children and gives them an accelerated head-start in learning to read.

"dEcode for Kids is different than any other program as it is the only reading program that starts at the very beginning ­ with the auditory coding of single sounds," says Dr. Debby Chesnie Cooper, Developmental and Educational Psychologist and Director of The Chesnie Cooper Educational Centre*, leaders in child and educational psychology. "Other reading programs skip too quickly over the early stages of phonetic decoding­ only dEcode for Kids takes all the steps required to truly learn to decode. The dEcode for Kids program, with its careful early attention to auditory coding can even overcome certain mild LDs which may then never manifest in the future for the young learner."

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For further information contact:

Peter Turkington
Strategic Communications Solutions
ON BEHALF OF DR. DEBBY CHESNIE COOPER
Direct Phone: 905.901.9218
Email: pturkington@stratcommsolutions.ca
Web: www.stratcommsolutions.ca

Learning disabilities affect up to 20 per cent of North American population

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 16, 2007

Effective treatment available when LD properly identified

August 16, 2007, TORONTO – Learning Disabilities (LDs) are extremely common. Over 15 per cent of the Canadian population have “low literacy skills” according to a report by ABC Canada Literacy 2005. The International Dyslexia Association puts the number at 15-20 per cent. That means in a class of 30 students, 3 to 5 children will have an LD and need special education to overcome it.

In layman’s terms, an LD is anything that causes a student to fail to learn for no apparent reason, this according to DSM-IV-TR, the Bible of mental health diagnosis. A learning disorder does not mean that someone is lacking intelligence. In fact, a person with an LD might earn an “A” in math but “F” in reading, or vice versa.

“This point needs so much emphasis because virtually all people with an LD secretly think they are not intelligent. Almost universally, they believe they are ‘stupid,’” says Dr. Deborah Cooper, psychologist, and director of The Chesnie Cooper Educational Centre*. “Disabilities are neither predictable nor preventable — they are not the result of bad parenting, laziness, lack of will power, or lack of foresight. They are not anyone’s fault.”

The key to successful treatment of LDs is correct diagnosis. However, due to similar symptoms, CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Deficit) can be misdiagnosed as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). This is an important distinction as one requires medication, the other does not.

Christine Rick recalls that her son was in Senior Kindergarten when the school observed he was having experiencing high levels of frustration; it was suggested he needed occupational therapy. A learning disability was not suspected because his grades were good. But in grade 2 he was experiencing even higher levels of frustration and was depressed. The Pediatrician referred him to a psychologist who, after an educational assessment, determined he had ADHD. However, over the next year and a half, his depression heightened and the problem worsened.

“My son [now] is 9 years old and in grade 4…This school year, things came to a head. My son withdrew into himself. He wanted to be alone. He hated school and wanted to be home schooled. He wished he was dead,” reports Christine. “I was distraught and unsure what to do next.”

Mrs. Rick’s pediatrician referred them to Dr. Chesnie Cooper, a psychologist renowned for her research and specialization in helping people with CAPD and other learning disabilities, Her awareness of the similarity of the symptoms of CAPD and ADHD is critical in the depth of her testing as well as her remedial follow through.

“After only 2 visits and a conference call with Dr. Chesnie Cooper, significant changes began to take place in Edward’s life,” says Mrs. Rick. “My son now sleeps through the night; he smiles and laughs. He tells jokes and loves to be around people; he loves school again; and he is feeling more confident about himself.”

“Someone with an LD, by definition, has “at least” average intelligence. As soon as a diagnosis has identified what is holding someone back, the way opens to effective treatment,” says Dr. Cooper. “Such is the case with Edward Rick and many others like him.”

* A division of The Chesnie Cooper Psychology Professional Corp.

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To schedule an interview contact:

Peter Turkington
Strategic Communications Solutions
ON BEHALF OF DR. DEBORAH COOPER
& THE CHESNIE COOPER EDUCATIONAL CENTRE
Direct Phone: 905.901.9218
Email: pturkington@stratcommsolutions.ca