I’m perusing a website, learningaids.com, and I’m fascinated.  So  much of what she’s saying about children “stuck” in their right brains rings true for Flipper.

The left hemisphere perceives the world in bits and pieces and loves to organize and categorize… It also gives readers “that little silent voice” inside the head while reading. Math also is a left hemisphere activity. In conclusion, the left side of the brain is the “try” side. When trying a new activity, it is the left hemisphere that comes into play.

Flipper hates to try new things.  He is not good at organizing.  He is conceptually good at math, but struggles with practical applications and basic things like remembering the times tables (though he has fully understood the concept of multiplication since he was 6 years old).

The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and is quite a bit different than the left side of the brain. The right hemisphere is responsible for movement, especially automatic movement. Many right-brain dominant students are in perpetual motion, especially when concentrating. Movement allows them to keep the right side busy so they can function in the left side. As previously mentioned, America’s modern schools are judging students primarily on left hemisphere activities. As the right-brain dominant student wiggles and tries to stay in the left side of the brain, he/she will often be misdiagnosed as hyperactive or having ADHD.

Hm, that’s a very interesting hypothesis.  I’ve certainly seen it mentioned in many sources that ADHD and SI kids wiggle when they’re trying to concentrate, and that we should allow them to (give them safe outlets for fidgeting) because it does actually help their concentration.

The right hemisphere likes rhythm and music. It is attracted to shapes, colors, and patterns. The right hemisphere makes pictures in the mind while reading. In addition, it is the emotional side of the brain. Many right-brain dominant people have a tendency to get “stuck” in their emotions. They may have temper problems or get their feelings hurt frequently.

Flipper has always been a natural at rhythm, and his music comes straight from his soul (disorganized though it may be heh).  He prefers art to writing.  He most definitely gets “stuck” in his emotions, with temper problems and hurt feelings!

As for “pictures in the mind while reading”, here’s an interesting anecdote.  I am reading Lord of the Rings to him for his bedtime routine.  We’ve spent over a week now at the Council of Elrond (those council guests sure do talk a lot!)  At one point, there was some comment made about seeing the waterfall and hearing the birds and Flipper said, “Wait, they’re outside???”

Well, yes, I said, and flipped back to the beginning of the chapter where it explained they were on a porch.  He had apparently missed that little detail, and believed it was indoors.

He had constructed an entire visual scene in his head, and described it to me.  “I thought it was in this big white room!”  Knowing now that it was outdoors, he said we needed to stop while he “fixed” his picture, he couldn’t continue until he had it sorted out.  Burying his head in his pillow, and scrunching up his eyes, he asked me question after question… “Are they sitting on chairs?  What kind of chairs?  Is there a table?”  Once his scene was reconstructed, we were able to continue.

Fascinating.

Anyway, I’m exploring their videos and “brain training” tools.  Many things are free.  I’m wondering if anyone reading this has any experience with this system (or something similar).  Did you actually get positive results?  Is it worth a try?  Is it just a big scam?

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