San Diego Program FAQ

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A FUN, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO IMPROVE LEARNING, FOCUS, AND BEHAVIOR

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San Diego Program FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the San Diego program:

1. Do kids sign up for the pons and midbrain classes at the same time?

No, families only sign up for the pons class when they initially enroll. Enrollment for the next midbrain class opens during the sixth week of the current pons class session.

2. How many times a week do participants come to the Brain Highways Center?

During each 8-week session, participants attend classes twice a week. They may also come to as many optional Participant Drop-in Sessions as desired.

3. What are Participant Drop-in Sessions?

Participant Drop-in sessions are facilitated by Brain Highways staff; however, they are more informal than the weekly classes and include kids of all ages. Participant Drop-in sessions provide additional opportunities to:

· use Brain Highways apparatus and brain toys

· engage in group games and activities while developing the pons and midbrain

· clock time for the at-home brain organization component

· receive support from Brain Highways staff

4. When are the Participant Drop-in Sessions?

They are offered four times a week: Sundays 12:15-12:45 and again at 5:45-6:15; Tuesday evenings at 7:00-7:30, and on Thursday evenings at 6:30-7:15.

5. How are the classes grouped?

Classes are grouped by age so that participants’ classmates are their peers. Such grouping also allows us to tailor class games and activities to be age-appropriate. For example, in an elementary school class, participants may develop their pons while playing “Red Light, Green Light,” whereas in the adult class, they may be developing their pons while playing poker.

6. How do preschool classes differ from the other core program classes?

Preschoolers benefit most when there are a maximum of six kids in the class with a 1:3 (staff to child) ratio, so their classes never exceed that number. They also do not have a need to return a second time during the week to engage in math, reading, or science activities, so they only come to class once a week.

While preschoolers are more than welcome to attend any of the weekly Drop-in sessions (and many of them love being with the older kids), some initially may become over-stimulated if there are lot of people at a session. That’s why the preschool age group is the only one that may additionally come 15 minutes early to their weekly class for their own private Drop-in. This ensures a much quieter time than the regular Drop-ins, since there can never be more than the six kids from the class who opt to do this.

When preschoolers complete the pons class, they are also the only group with the option of doing a continuation class in lieu of a midbrain class. This latter class is a mixture of a regular class and Drop-in format. It focuses on developing both the pons and midbrain and meets once a week for eight weeks. The total cost ($250) of the continuation class is also significantly less than the core midbrain class.

Everything else about the core program (e.g. absences, parent classes, length of session, etc.) is the same for the preschool age group as for other participants.

7. Who comes to the classes?

Parents come to the classes with the child that is enrolled. While the class fee covers both parents, only one parent needs to commit to coming to each class. The other parent is welcome to attend classes as frequently or infrequently as desired.

Note that parents need to make childcare arrangements for siblings who are not enrolled in the class. Since we are already trying to minimize the number of people at the Center at any given time, we do not allow other kids to sit and watch a class.

8. What if siblings are enrolled in the same class?

Since the curriculum is based on 1:1 ratio of adult to child, one parent cannot bring both kids to class. However, the second adult does not have to be the actual parent or even old enough to be a parent. Previous participants have utilized teens to be that second “parent.” In such cases, parents paid these teens for their time or found those who needed volunteer hours. (Note: One parent can bring both enrolled kids to the Participant Drop-in sessions.)

9. How many kids are in a class? What is the ratio of staff to kids?

We like to limit our classes to nine kids per class; however, we sometimes go to an absolute maximum of 12 so that families do not have to wait three months or longer to get started. Our ratio of staff to kids is either 1:3 or 1:4.

10. What is the format of a class?

The kids and their parents are divided into three groups. For 2/3 of the class, the groups rotate to three different stations facilitated by Brain Highways staff. At each station, parents and kids participate in fun activities that improve sensory processing. As a whole group, the kids then engage in weekly balance board activities. During the last part of the class, the kids do specific movements that integrate retained primitive reflexes and develop the lower centers of the brain.

11. What is the difference between the first and second class of each week?

The first class of the week is 45 minutes long; the second class is 30 minutes long. New activities are always introduced during the first class of each week.

During the second class of the week, participants repeat those same activities, but with a twist: The activities now typically include an age-appropriate content curriculum challenge related to math, spelling, phonics, geography, and so on. By including such activities during our classes, we’re able to model how specific movements satisfy what the lower centers of the brain needs so that higher centers are now no longer preoccupied with seeking ways to compensate. Similar application can then be implemented at home while doing homework.

12. How are absences viewed and handled?

Since lots of information is presented during each class, attendance is very important. Illness and family emergencies are considered excused absences, whereas going to a birthday party or sporting event are not. For legitimate absences, the staff makes arrangements for participants to make up the highlights of the missed class. If a family knows that it will be out-of-town for one week during the session (while not ideal), we can work around that.

13. Who attends the pre-class mandatory parent night?

The parent who is committed to attending class with the child must attend this meeting. The child’s other parent is also highly encouraged to come. Please note that failure of the committed parent to attend this evening class may jeopardize the child’s actual enrollment in the class. The meeting’s information is very specific as to how to ensure that kids are successful on their first day of class. Therefore, if parents do not attend, their children are immediately put at an unfair disadvantage when starting the program.

14. What is covered at the mandatory parent night?

The content briefly reviews the premise of Brain Highways, but the meeting mostly focuses on teaching parents how to facilitate the primitive reflex patterning, what to expect during the weekly classes, and ways to help kids have a successful first class.

15. What is the class fee?

The class fee is $550 for each 8-week session.

16. When is the class fee paid?

The class fee is paid in two parts—one-half at the time of enrollment and the other half at the first class of the fourth week of the session. Note that the second payment is due regardless of whether participants are still attending the class. For example, if parents win a free trip to Tahiti during the third week of classes . . . they can (of course) go, have a great time—but they still owe the balance of their class.

17. What does the class fee cover?

It covers 16 classes (or 8 classes for preschoolers), 31 optional Drop-in sessions, support handouts, access to the Brain Highways online forum, on-going assessment during and after the courses are completed, and as much individualized support via emails, phone calls, and conferences as needed. The fee also covers two, parent-only evening classes: the mandatory pre-session class that meets right before classes begin and the bonus class that meets during the third week of the session.

18. Are there any other fees?

Yes. When parents enroll their child, they also purchase the Adventure Trails CD at the participant discounted price ($12.95). This e-book format CD presents easy-to-read articles on brain organization, primitive reflexes, the vestibular system, the proprioceptive system, and other Brain Highways themes. In addition to the articles, the CD also provides simple movements for kids to do that relate to behavior, coordination, attention, and academic performance. By having this CD at the time of enrollment, parents have opportunities to learn more and engage their children in simple activities related to brain organization while waiting to begin their actual session.

Parents also purchase a balance board ($53.95) at the mandatory parent night meeting. We ask participants to purchase this so that their children stand on it while brushing their teeth, eating a snack, listening to a story, and so on while at home. In cases where there are siblings in the program, parents need to only buy one balance board.

19. How do participants officially enroll?

Local program enrollment takes place at the end of each weekly Sunday evening screening session. All class spots are reserved on a first-come/first-served basis. To become officially enrolled, participants follow these steps:

Attend a Sunday screening session to have their child assessed.
Choose a class that is age-appropriate for the child and that best fits the family’s schedule.
Check the enrollment book to see if there is space in that class. If so, complete all information on that page.
Fill out the enrollment card.
Read and sign the commitment form.
Write a check for $287.95 (includes ½ the class deposit and the Adventure Trails CD). Cash is also acceptable; however, we do not accept credit cards.*
Clip the check to the enrollment card and commitment form.
Give the clipped packet to a staff member.
Sign for and receive the Adventure Trails CD.

Note: There are no refunds or credits once enrolled, so participants need to make sure that they can commit to the class that they choose.