Why It Works: Brain Fitness
The Fast ForWord® exercises at the heart of the program develop your child's "learning muscles" in the same way that a physical exercise program builds the body's muscles. Watch this short video to learn more!
Proven Effective
Fast ForWord products have been used in thousands of schools in North America and have been shown to be highly effective for Kindergarten-age through high-school-age learners performing below grade level.
Many school districts have done their own independent evaluations for a truly unbiased assessment. Because they have seen such positive results, they are often willing to share their data showing that learners have boosted reading, language, and cognitive skills as well as standardized test scores. Their research also demonstrates that the improvements are durable and lasting.
We invite you to explore these results!
Skills Developed by the Fast ForWord Exercises
Processing Rate
- "Processing Rate" refers to both the speed and accuracy with which the brain processes information.
- A child has to be able to process many details quickly to be able to follow the directions of a teacher, or read a book.
Attention
- "Attention" is the ability to focus and pay careful attention to details.
- Teachers may use the term "good listening skills" to refer to students who "attend" and follow class directions well.
- In school, teachers often evaluate students by how well they "attend" in class.
Recall & Memory
- "Recall" is the ability to retrieve information from long term memory.
- "Working memory" is the short term holding and manipulating of information while various mental tasks such as learning, reasoning, and comprehending are carried out.
- The Fast ForWord exercises build both recall and working memory, helping your child follow directions better and process small, detailed differences in words and sounds.
Sequencing
- "Sequencing" means placing the detail of information in the correct order such as days of the week.
- Understanding the correct sequence helps in the processing and comprehension of the message and information.
Reading
- Phonemic awareness and phonics, including auditory discrimination of sounds and sound sequencing, skills that directly correlate to reading ability.
- Comprehension strategies and skills
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
Knowledge
- The Fast ForWord exercises help learners more easily attain knowledge in a variety of subject matter areas and also directly impart knowledge, such as vocabulary and language conventions that help with reading.
How It Works
The BrainPro® program combines professional online consulting services with the fun learning acceleration exercises in Fast ForWord to help children succeed in school and in life.
It Starts with Strengthening Your Child's Cognitive Skills
The Fast ForWord exercises strengthen key cognitive and reading skills that underlie all learning. The online exercises develop these skills simultaneously to produce lasting improvements in your child's learning.
Your Child Is Challenged at Just the Right Level
Each Fast ForWord exercise adapts to your child's learning level and rate of progress. The program registers each mouse click and adjusts the level to keep your child optimally challenged, not frustrated. Your child's BrainPro Consultant provides feedback and support for maximum success.
30 Minutes a day x 5 Days a Week = Proven Results
Just as with physical exercise, consistency is key. On average, learners using Fast ForWord software 30 minutes a day and 5 days a week can achieve a 1-2 year reading gain in as little as 12-16 weeks.
The Scientists Behind Fast ForWord
Michael M. Merzenich, Ph.D., is widely recognized as one of the world's leading experts in brain plasticity, brain mechanisms, and integrative neuroscience. Dr. Merzenich was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1999 and a member of the National Institute of Medicine in 2008.
Paula A. Tallal, Ph.D., is a cognitive neuroscientist and board-certified clinical psychologist who has authored over 200 professional publications and holds several patents. She was selected by the Library of Congress to be the Commentator for the Field of Psychology at its Bicentennial Celebration and earned the Thomas Alva Edison Patent Prize for her work leading to the development of Fast ForWord software.
William M. Jenkins, Ph.D., is an expert in learning-based brain plasticity, behavioral algorithms, and psychophysical methods, as well as an expert in multimedia and Internet technology. He is an author or co-author of more than 100 publications and holds 46 U.S. patents and 12 foreign patents. He was recognized by Discovery Magazine in its annual Awards for Technology Innovations and received the Year 2000 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award.
Steven L. Miller, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist with expertise in the assessment and treatment of developmental language and reading impairments. Dr. Miller has extensive experience in organizing clinical studies and conducting longitudinal studies of children and adults with such disabilities.