Upcoming Events! 04/30/2012
We are excited for the many events we have upcoming, and we want to share them with you! Hopefully, you can attend one of them: Tuesday, May 1 6pm (tomorrow) Webster County Partner School Presentation District Central Office, Eupora, MS Tuesday, May 8 5:30pm Castlewoods Country Club Open Presetation -- Bring Friends! Castlewoods Country Club, Brandon, MS Thursday, May 10, 6pm Winona Christian School Partnership Presentation School Library, Winona, MS Friday, May 18, 11am Academic Growth Workshop by Dr. Mark Yeager of Dore Jackson MS Home Educators Association Spring Conference MS State University Colvard Student Union, Starkville, MS Wednesday, May 30 - Friday, June 1 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Administrators Conference Conference Center at the Wharf, Orange Beach, AL Monday, June 18 - Tuesday, June 19 Mississippi Association of Federal Education Programs Directors Conference Hilton Jackson, Jackson, MS We are excited about these opportunities and look forward to seeing those of you who will be in attendance. To read more about each of these events, visit our official events page at doreusa.com or our facebook events page. Add Comment Spring and Talent Show! 04/20/2012
Happy Spring, everyone! We hope you are enjoying the Spring time as much as we are. As we look forward to summer and joy that it brings, we are also focusing on the end of school. Many of our schools are gearing up for statewide testing, while others are nearing the end of their classes and looking toward exams. Whatever the focus, this is as good a time as any to take advantage of the Dore Program and the progress that our students are making through participation. We are seeing students' grades improve, students test out of special education, behaviors change, and great improvements in reading and social skills. Our focus is individualized, but all our participants can improve in one area or another. Give us a call if you would like to learn more about how you or your child may participate! Some of the Dore team visited New Summit School of Jackson--one of our partner schools--today to celebrate their students through their annual talent show. Check out these pictures of the Who's Who crew and some of the talented young people who displayed those for the attendees:
Easter, Birthdays, and Changes! 04/09/2012
Happy Easter season, everyone! We are celebrating this time of year for many reasons: for Easter, for Spring, for Dore team birthdays, and, here at Dore, significant progress in academic and social skills and focus and concentration! We want to wish two of our Dore Jackson team members a very happy birthday this week: Kate and Kristy both had birthdays over the last few days. Happy Birthday Kate! Happy Birthday Kristy!
April brings a renewal of a sort. When the flowers begin blooming and the sun shines brighter, we tend to venture outside more, playing and enjoying the warm weather, and exercising. And we know this is good for us. Research suggests that exercise activates neurons and, in turn, enhances cognitive function. We know Dore takes this finding to the next level--we can make permanent, cognitive gains through stimulating the brain (in particular, the cerebellum) through our physical activity-based program. As we target the brain through structured and individual-specific activities, we foster development and, eventually, make progress permanent!  Graham! Take Graham's story, for example. His mother reported to us that Graham was having great difficulty with math and, in particular, his math facts. Lori, his mother reports, "By the end of January, he was doing 30 [math facts] in 3 minutes without any mistakes!" And this is the most exciting part: "And we didn't do any extra work with him." Graham has also made academic gains in reading fluency and comprehension, and his teacher has noticed progress in his focus and concentration. The most exciting change, though, is the difference that Graham, himself, has seen. And it sounds like he wants to give back, as well. Graham told us during his most recent follow up what he wanted to be when he grows up. His answer: "I want to work here!" Katherine's Story 02/21/2012
 Katherine As told by her mother Rebecca: Our daughter Katherine started the Dore program 1-1/2 years ago. She was 12 ½ years old when she started. She was diagnosed as Dyslexic when she was 7 years old. With extensive phonics training, she was reading on her grade level, but she struggled with comprehension and math was almost impossible for her. Since starting the program we have seen tremendous changes in her ability to do her school work all by herself. We have also seen her self-confidence soar, in and out of the classroom. Before starting in the program, I had to sit with her and read every sentence of study material, read every book and re-teach math to her every night. We both were exhausted and at times frustrated. Everything took about three times as long to accomplish as it does now. She now can do her homework all by herself. She also has read books by herself and even asked me to buy a book for her to read for fun! The change in her self-confidence is amazing and has carried over to her answering questions in class, and even in her cheerleading. We thought that the Dore program looked too good to be true but were at a point where we were willing to try it because she would be going to high school soon, and we didn’t want her to struggle so much. We are glad that we committed to it; it is a commitment, but one that was worth it. Canton Academy Partnership Success! 02/03/2012
 Mary Ross and Zach Madison As you may have already seen, we recently documented the progress that is being made at Canton Academy in Canton, Mississippi, where Beth Murray-Wilson, elementary principal, and Curt McCain, headmaster are utilizing the Dore Program to bring about remarkable changes in the progress of their students. Students from elementary to high school are improving academically in areas such as reading, math, and spelling, as well as their concentration, social skills, and, most importantly, their confidence. Anna Grace Murray, a senior, says, "my grades are better than they were last year." The Dore Program began working with Canton Academy shortly after the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year and hosted a parents presentation where all interested families could learn about the Dore Program and how their students could take part in the Dore Program at school. The school then facilitated training of the exercise coaches who oversee each student's individual program, and the students visited the Dore Jackson office to be assessed for their personalized programs. Mary Ross, the school librarian, was selected as lead exercise coach, coordinating many of the students' schedules and ensuring that the exercise sessions were being completed on time and accurately. She notes, "it's not going to hurt them...so Mrs. Wilson asked me to start doing our initial people, and I have seen amazing gains with those people." And other teachers are telling her that students have "reached grade equivalence, so those are things that make me know that it is working." Zach Madison's family is noting great progress in his confidence, his happiness, and his desire to get his homework done now without even being asked. We just learned today from Mary Ross that Zach won his school's spelling bee! Curt McCain, headmaster at Canton Academy, is also very pleased with the success being seen at CA. He expects for the program to continue and says, "I hope to make it more ingrained into part of our curriculum. Every kid that is in the program, every kid, every parent has talked about the improvements that they have made." My Life Before Dore 01/20/2012
 Kate Sistrunk School was always a struggle for me! I went to a private school where I did not receive accommodations, and I really studied to maintain a solid C average. I never really understood why my friends would barely look over the material and always get an A, when I would have to study really hard to get a decent grade. “Why was it so hard for me and they could pick it up so easy?” I would never ask questions in class due to being afraid that others would laugh at me, and I never wanted to read aloud! I was very insecure with the academic part of school. I was lucky that my mother got me involved in gymnastic and cheerleading, and I really excelled in this which boosted my self-esteem. I felt that finally I was good at something! I was diagnosed at 16 with ADD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia (No wonder I had been struggling!). I was glad to finally understand more about the reasons behind my troubles. After graduating from High School and moving to Oxford to attend the University of Mississippi, I finally started receiving accommodations, and my grades were terrific—from C’s in high school to making the Dean’s list! I was thrilled! I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education, and my goal was to help kids and make a difference. I taught school and then moved back to where I was originally from and became Director of a Sylvan Learning Center. I understood these kids. I know what it is like to study or to read and just not be able to grasp it! I felt for these kids! I would call some of their teachers and hear things like, “They are not trying. They are just lazy!” It would bother me so much because I knew they were trying. I knew why they were so frustrated with school. I HAD been there! Could you imagine reading something over and over and over and not being able to grasp anything it says?! Or imagine having trouble taking notes from what the teachers say because you could not process and write down what they are saying fast enough or not even be able to spell what they are saying. How can you read or even study your notes? It can be a nightmare! Then I found Dore and finally someone had a real solution for me! I heard about Dore through just doing some research on the computer one night and then after reading all about it I COULD NOT STOP thinking about it, how it all made so much sense! Someone finally had some answers and ways to really FIX the problem—not just put a band aid on the issue but get to the core! I have been working here now since August, and hearing the stories of the parents and kids that come in and out of here are amazing to me! This is what it is all about! It is a blessing to work here and be a part of this amazing team. God lead me to where my heart truly is, and that is with helping anyone who has any kind of learning difference! -Kate Sistrunk, Dore Jackson Who Should Participate in Dore? 01/19/2012
 Even though the origin of the Dore Program is steeped in addressing individuals with learning difficulties, we have learned much about who can benefit by participating over the past dozen years. If you want to increase your performance, the Dore Program is for you. The Dore Program certainly helps individuals improve their academic performance skills. We see participants improve in reading recognition, reading comprehension, reading fluency, improved handwriting, and social awkwardness just to name a few gains. This makes it the perfect approach to help individuals diagnosed with ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and other diagnoses with similar characteristics. But most do not consider the fact that many others can benefit from participating for other reasons. During the early days of Dore developmental, it was realized that athletes who were participating in order to improve their academic performance were also improving athletically. This realization made professional athletes in the United Kingdom seek out Dore to help with athletic performance as a primary goal. In the United States we have seen athletes significantly improve their batting averages, free throw percentages, passing stats, swimming times, and many other athletic performance indicators. It makes sense that if your cerebellum improves processing information to a more efficient and expeditious level, one will be better able to process information in sports. This information often comes quickly and requires an even quicker response. Athletes of all sports can benefit from the Dore program. Also, one needs to consider that other challenges and goals can be helped by participation. Another good example is to help one improve scores on college entrance exams such as the ACT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT and others. In this world of high competition in moving ahead every point counts in giving someone the edge. So consider this, even if you do not have learning difficulties, could you be learning more efficiently? The answer is yes! So, whether you have learning difficulties, want to be a better athlete, or want to maximize your academic and intellectual performance, Dore is the program for you. To do your best is a goal that will always pay with dividends. That makes Dore a superb investment in you or your loved one’s future. Dore is the Smart Resolution for 2012! 01/07/2012
 At Dore, our clients truly serve as our greatest ambassadors, and we seek to highlight their stories, their experiences, and their progress to encourage others to take similar steps for their own brighter future. For that reason, we want to highlight some of their expressions as a medium of encouragement. Scott Sheldon and his daughter Esther visit the Dore Jackson office from Orlando, Florida. Esther is a lovely young woman full of hope and confidence after having completed nearly a year of her Dore Program and overcoming many of her difficulties in reading. Scott says about Esther’s reading, “it’s vastly improved. It’s unbelievable the difference because we had tried other things before, so this is not our first attempt at something. So the results are amazing to us!” As of this writing, Esther’s story—which can be watched in a video on our YouTube channel—has been viewed nearly 1400 times, an indication that her story inspires us and motivates fellow Dore clients to continue working as hard as she has to reach their potentials. Similarly, DJ Norris and his mother Melody have motivated others with their story. DJ, a student from Rankin County, Mississippi, sought improvement in his focus and concentration skills. Knowing that her son could achieve more, Melody picked up the phone and called us, wanting to find a solution for DJ. Melody noted, at first, changes in DJ’s handwriting, a sign of things to come: “DJ tells me school is different now. DJ looks forward to going to school each day and is excited about the events at school. In the past, these events would have been a blur with little to no participation on DJ’s part. I’m proud!” Others like Conner Allen have seen social skills development translate into confidence, which impacted his school performance. His mother Sherri wrote to us, “He seems less agitated and less stressed in social situations or in large groups. The grades from the 1st 9 weeks to the 2nd 9 weeks are much improved. He interacts with immediate family members very well now and jokes around and picks on the little brother in fun a lot now!” These are why Dore is the right choice for many individuals seeking improvement in many academic and social areas such as reading, attention and concentration, social skills, and even balance. Whether you are 7 or 70, Dore can be an effective solution for you or a loved one to bring on a better, brighter future, and, hey, by the time 2012 comes to a close, this resolution can be a reality. Conner Allen's Story 12/21/2011
 Good work Conner! Conner Allen is a Mississippi student with Asperger syndrome. His mother Sherri recently answered these questions about their experience with the Dore Program: How did you hear about the Dore Program? I had really been praying about what to do for Conner. I knew that he needed help, but just was not getting what he needed. He had major deficits, but I couldn't put my finger on what they were exactly. I just knew that we STRUGGLED with school and social issues, and that there had to be a solution. I was not going to be satisfied until I found it. We had gone to see Temple Grandin in Vicksburg, MS, and Neal (from Dore Jackson) was there. We just had the worst week ever at school that week. I was ready to throw in the towel. Then, after I prayed one night, I saw the ad in the paper and really feel it was a divine intervention! No doubt. What were your goals for Conner? And what other ways have you addressed Conner's needs in the past? I just want him to be happy, and I could see that he was not. I want him to make and maintain good relationships with family members and friends. I want him to have a good rapport with teachers and adults that he comes into contact with. I want him to be able to meet and exceed all of the goals that he has for himself. I do not want school to be such a struggle every day. We had tried medication before, but it made him so ill and sick, we had to stop them. How have you found the exercises? Do you have any strategies you use to motivate Conner to stick with the program? The exercises are a good mixture of easy and difficult exercises. The first day that he gets a new exercise, it is very difficult for him, but he quickly adapts, and it becomes easier. The brain retrains itself on what it has been missing, I believe! It is so interesting to see how the exercises make the brain and body work together with focusing and balance exercises. He has been on the program for 6 months, and he doesn't come in and ask to get them done, but he knows that it helps him. Some nights it is a challenge to get them done, but it is worth it! What were the first differences you noticed in Conner? He seemed happier and more animated. He started to join in on discussions and conversations. He started to try new things that he had never been interested in before. He started taking karate and is now a green belt! He interacts with cousins and friends when they are over. He started to recall information better. School has become less of a challenge, and his grades are remarkably improved. What changes have you noticed at school? At home? Elsewhere? He seems less agitated and less stressed in social situations or in large groups. The grades from the 1st 9 weeks to the 2nd 9 weeks are much improved. He interacts with immediate family members very well now and jokes around and picks on the little brother in fun a lot now! I see a slow but steady improvement and am very pleased with the progress. Would you recommend the Dore Program to another interested family? Absolutely! I have already done so, and will continue! I wish that every child who struggles with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, or sensory disorders would have the chance to use the Dore program. This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar. Ben's Dore Experience 12/15/2011
 Ben in the Dore Jackson office! Kathy, the mother of one of our Mississippi clients with Asperger Syndrome, recently answered a few questions about her son Ben’s experience with the Dore Program so far: What led you to the Dore Program? My son Ben has been attending Kamp Kaleidoscope for the past 3 years. This past summer Dr. Mark Yeager mentioned that he believed Ben would be a strong candidate to particpate in the Dore program. So, I was really excited for Ben to have the opportunity and to see what strides he could make by participating. What were your expectations getting started? I really did not know what to expect. I just saw this as another opportunity to help Ben develop and become the best he can be. Just like any other parent, I want to help Ben have a happy and fulfilling life. How have you found the exercises? And what are some strategies you use to remain compliant? The exercises have definitely helped Ben with balance, attention span, handwriting and overall confidence in his abilities. I reward him with a sticker system and when we finish a week with each day having stickers, then he picks some favorite activity he would like to do. It might be going to a movie, eating at Popeyes, or going to the cookie store at the mall. Which were the first changes you noticed? The first changes were connected to Ben's handwriting and also his balance. Then came the ability to have much better eye contact. Would you recommend Dore to another interested family? I would most certainly recommend the program to families with children who find themselves living with Aspergers. Ben is experiencing such positive feedback at school, at church and in other social settings. I believe that Dore is a large part of that positive reinforcement for both Ben and for me. | ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
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