Grade 4 – 7

At the Tina Cowley Reading Centre Hartbeespoort, we believe that every child has the ability to be an independent, confident reader. We help children struggling with reading to become confident, strong readers as well as take children that are already good readers to another level in terms of speed and comprehension.

The first step is to do an evaluation of the child to determine his/her current basic reading skills and reading abilities.

Basic reading skills include:

Form perception – the shape of a letter or a word.

Spatial relations – a child’s ability to transfer information from the white board to a book or from one book to another.

Sequencing – ability to put things in order, very important for spelling.

Auditory processing – ability to hear, memorise and execute. Nothing to do with listening.

These are the building blocks of reading and should all be in place in order to be an independent, confident reader.

Based on the outcome of the evaluations the child starts on a reading level, comfortable for him/her. This is done in order to combat any anxiety or stress related to reading and to be able to build confidence.

Reading abilities evaluation determines the child’s current level of reading, reading speed and comprehension.

Each reading level has an international reading speed which we work towards.

For instance, at the end of grade 4, a child should be able to read 158 wpm with 100% comprehension, at the end of Grade 5, 173 wpm with 100% comprehension. Progress is monitored and you will receive a progress report at the end of each term.

Once the child achieves the international reading speed in his first language time can be spent on the second language.

The children spend 45 minutes in the computer room, on the specially patented Tina Cowley computers and keyboards. Here the focus is placed on spelling, vocabulary, reading speed, comprehension and perceptual skills.

Classical music (baroch) is played in the background in order to create a calm, nurturing environment which combats anxiety and any stress related to reading. We aim at creating a love for reading!

The other 45 minutes are spent in the fun-filled memory room. Here the focus is placed on the basic reading skills (auditory processing, sequencing, form perception, spatial relations) as well as eye kinetics, brain gym, handle and memory exercises.

Eye kinetics:

a series of eye exercises which is used in order to strengthen the eye muscles. Like any other muscle in the body, the eye muscles can also be strengthened through exercise. This leads to smooth eye movement which is very important when reading.

Brain gym exercises:

these are a series of small body movements used to integrate all parts of the brain in order to enhance learning.

Handle exercises:

these exercises strengthen the underlying microsystems in order to make the bodywork optimally as a unit or macro system. Human functioning is of ecosystemic nature, in other words, all systems in the body work together as a whole and form a unit. Through exercise, the weaker microsystems are strengthened and therefore the functioning of the child will benefit because of this.

Every reading session is ended with laughter therapy. It is presented as exercise but it soon develops into unconditional laughter. (Should we go into the whole thing about laughter therapy?)

At the reading centre we also offer brain profiling for children. Parenting profiles can also be done in order to see how you and your child’s profile compare.

Our reading therapists are qualified NBI Practitioners and does all the interpretation of profiles and compiles a report which is discussed with the client.

Preschool

We teach preschoolers to read by focusing on the basic reading skills. Having these in place ensures for an independent, confident reader.

Grade 1 - 3

It all starts with building a love for reading. The foundations are put in place in a fun and playful way. Awareness of challenges in the early years ensures your child has a road map to becoming an independent, confident reader.

Grade 4 - 7

Is your child struggling with reading? We will help them to become confident, strong readers as well as take children that are already good readers to another level in terms of speed and comprehension.

Grade 8 +

High school is a time when speed and comprehension become a skill that makes or breaks a student. It's also preperation for university and the enormous amount of reading they will need to do. Coming soon...