Pathways

On-Point with a young child

"For every single one of us, learning something new means rearranging the way the brain works," *"Our brain has an astonishing 100 Billion neurons all connected together. Learning is about creating and strengthening pathways through these neurons,"
Clip by: Tiffany Shlain & The Moxie Institute Films to help emphasis this ---

How we Learn!

That first time we learn a new skill can be the most difficult! While we're learning something new we're still creating dozens upon dozens of images within seconds!  Let's say we have to do some reading for our school work. The brain is simultaneously taking in info from the environment. This rapid, astonishing power of a dyslexic brain makes our lives interesting! Yes, to focus on what is useful, relevant and helpful is great, but, with the eccentric power of our brain remaining on-point isn't always easy!

Reshaping our Brains
I mentioned the term on-point above. Are you wondering what that means? In our Davis

Using Koosh balls to create pathways

technique/world having your brain ready is (being) 'on-point'. Truthfully, it's about the brain plus it is about creating a cohesion between our vision, hearing, sense of timing, balance and movement of the body. 

The reverse of this therefore is called 'off-point'. This can mean two things:
1) Not focused  or 2) we're using our creativity

Focusing
Now you might ask "Cathy, how in the world can this be two things all at the same time?"

Good question! Simply put, if you need to accomplish an academic task like reading, writing or communicating, we need to be on-point to do the task effectively. On the reverse side, if your goal is to be creative, by all means, off-point mode is the best!

Creating with clay

Creativity
What does all this have to do with brain training or creating pathways? Simply put, when we are focused, just as my young clients are in the pictures above, the brain then has the prime conditions it needs to form new routes, better pathways, and to be able to create more meaningful links.

Then again, dyslexics are well known for their creativity and imagination! My young friend (to the left) did not need an ounce of help constructing her original creature that she called a dragon-dinosaur!

*"Our brain has an astonishing 100 Billion neurons all connected together," and yes, I'd say we dyslexics rock at using these neurons to our advantage!





Cathy Cook, M. Ed.
OnPoint Learning Center, LLC
Columbia, Missouri 
(573) 819-6010

Empowerment for Life with the GIFT of Dyslexia!