Alchemy Training Unlimited

Experts in cognitive and soft skills

THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION:

The combination of SuperReading^TM and SuperMemory^TM techniques enable students to absorb information and recall it effortlessly for exams and beyond. These simple yet powerful techniques make learning fun and takes the stress away from testing.

Confidence in themselves and the love of learning result in a different kind of student: one who is motivated and excited to soak up new information. The creativity involved in the memory tools enhances expansive, lateral thinking.

HIGH ACHIEVERS:
Since 1995 I have observed that students who excel at academics have, in some ways, the most to gain from these tools. Even the best readers in a school are only operating at about 10% of their true potential. This has been measured with speed / comprehension tests before and after the SuperReading^TM Program. This phenomenon has also become apparent when these same ‘superstars’ are compared to ‘average’ students who have taken SuperReading^TM. The formerly average students outperform the high achievers by a wide margin, both in speed and recall.

EXAMPLE: In one school, the highest achiever was an 8th year student named Jacob. His incoming Reading Effectiveness score was 162 (reading about 270 wpm with 60% recall. After 5 weeks his score was over 5,400. He was reading at 6,000 wpm with 90% recall.
We use essays 400 words in length. When Jacob started, it took him 90 seconds to read the 400 word essay. After 5 weeks it took him only 4 seconds to read the same length (different topic) and do so with higher comprehension and recall (60% to 90%).

To this day I do not understand how he did it. I only know he did it consistently. I retested the group 6 months later. On that particular day Jacob scored 4320. It took him 5 seconds to read the essay with 90% recall. *

To get a feel for his accomplishment, read this page to the end from the next paragraph in 3 seconds and see what you remember! It’s 364 words in length. The message is that seemingly high achievers have not fully tapped their potential abilities. SuperReading^TM and SuperMemory^TM can provide them with that opportunity.

POOR PERFORMERS:
In so many Western societies, the response to falling test scores has been to “raise the bar.” To me, this like when a bank charges a fee for “insufficient funds.” Their customer was already low on money. How does charging £30 help or make sense? Students are already feeling pressured by having to take exams. Making the tests more difficult isn’t really addressing the problem. They need better tools. They need to be able to read with better focus and concentration, and they need to be able to easily remember what they’ve learned. “Raising the bar” is NOT motivational. Making learning fun and easy is!

EXAMPLE:
I had a 6th year student named Chris. He had been to see about 20 professionals in the school district because of his poor reading skills. Nothing had helped. In desperation his mother enrolled him in SuperReading^TM. On the first day it took him over 6 minutes to read a 400 word essay. He could not answer a single question. The other students all finished by 3 minutes. After 4 weeks, Chris had never made eye contact with me. Finally his skills began to manifest. He finished in under 3 minutes and could answer 5 of the questions. When he saw his score, he asked me if it was correct. I told him yes. As his accomplishment dawned on him, his eye began to sparkle (he finally made eye contact!) and he was sporting an ear-to-ear grin. His scores continued to climb and he improved in all his subjects, according to his mother. He became one of the best readers in his class. (see letter at right)

CONCLUSION:
Since 1995 I’ve seen all types of students, from Year 4 through Postgraduate university, I’ve not found one who did not soar after learning and using these skills. Some were already flying high, but nothing compared to what they accomplished after the course. The important point is that for each of them, compared to how they were before, their self-esteem and belief in themselves was forever changed. They are now ‘superstars’ in their own right, love learning, and can follow their natural inclinations with nothing holding them back.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
-William Butler Yeats

Dear Mr. Cole,
   I am writing this letter to thank you for helping my son Chris. He is in 6^th grade, and ever since 1^st grade he has had major problems with his reading abilities. He has been to see every reading and learning expert associated with the San Jose School System. Nothing has ever made much of a difference. This has really held back his learning. He has just barely made it through each grade level, and always at the bottom of his class. I have come to dread going to parent’s night to get his report.
   In the last few weeks this has all changed. The teachers cannot believe the difference in his work. He is understanding and remembering what he reads. They say he is smiling when he reads and understands more than most of the other children. They feel the only thing holding back his reading now is his poor vocabulary from being such a poor reader all these years. However, with the vocabulary building program you have provided, I believe there is already a positive difference there too. I know I must be patient. He is learning his words at an impressive rate, and I see it is only a matter of time before he catches up there as well.
   As a mother, it is not easy to see your child failing in his education. I am so grateful for your help to Chris. You have given me hope and given him the ability to read well and to believe in himself. Bless you.
Mrs. Marjorie Jackson (Chris’ Mom)

Mr. Cole,
       Thank you so much for the opportunity to improve my reading skills. Your class is exceptional. Most importantly I have improved my comprehension, which was the most important thing to me.
       The pace was just right. Your materials, exercises and examples were all very helpful.  The best thing I observed was how you worked with the students. You most definitely have a gift for working with children. My son commented to me that he thought you would make a great teacher.
       Thanks so much for your time and energy for helping the students and myself.
Rose W.  (adult)
Piedmont Elementary School