My Take On Dianne Craft
Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 10:13PM Dianne Craft is a name that sometimes comes up during discussions about right-brained learners. She is a special needs teacher, writer and speaker who specializes in helping right-brained learners. She is one of the more popular draws at the HEAV conference each year here in Virginia and her articles get mentioned from time to time on the Homeschooling Creatively email list.
While I think that some of the individual suggestions that Dianne Craft makes can be helpful when teaching right-brained learners, I do have some reservations about her advice on the whole. Mainly because I see a lot of her emphasis is on fitting right-brained kids into the left-brained learning model (albeit with right-brained approaches) rather than on celebrating their unique and very valid learning style.
I have on and off again looked at her articles and one thing keeps jumping out at me…and that is the message that our right-brainers need to be “fixed” and here are some methods to fix them. For example, in How to Tell If Your Child is Struggling, she says this:
Who Needs Right Brain Teaching Strategies?
This makes right brained learners sound like they are struggling/problem learners that need extra help when they are not! They are only struggling when judged from a left-brained perspective. I wrote a post earlier about a different article that had similar assumptions of right-brainers needing help or needing to be fixed.
I am not saying that some of her recommendations might not help, but there still is a feeling that I get that while she does suggest approaching things in a more right-brained way, she is still working with left-brained values. For example, she writes:
Before you begin evaluating your child, you should know that once the process is complete you might face a fundamental choice: compensation or correction. Many educational experts debate whether it is more beneficial to help a struggling learner compensate for the learning processes that are difficult, or if time and effort should be spent in the pursuit of a correction of the processing problem.
An example of compensation would be for a child to use a keyboard at a very young age to write papers when he or she struggles with handwriting. A correction would be to do a handwriting exercise that eliminates reversed letters, for instance, and helps the child write more neatly. Another common compensation is to reduce the spelling list required at a grade level for a child who is struggling with spelling. A correction would be to train the child’s photographic memory so that the task of spelling is easier.
How about the option of changing your expectations? No where is there a question as to whether right-brained children should be writing papers “at a very young age” before they are developmentally ready for it. Right-brained learners’ typically develop their strong 3D pictorial processing skills before their 2D sequential processing skills (which usually does not start until somewhere between the ages of 8 and 10) And this is what they should be allowed to develop and where the focus should be at a young age. And it is this developmental difference (please note that I did not say disability) that results in what is often considered “late” reading and writing proficiency.
Yes, color coding spelling words or using flash cards with the answers on the front or letting kids draw out their vocabulary words can be a tool to help memorization. But that should not be the only change that you make…it is still working by improving their weaknesses (memorization) rather than on using their strengths (learning by association). Vocabulary can be learned by reading great books, spelling can be helped by focusing on patterns rather than straight memorization, math facts can be learned by using them and not just with better flash cards. Formal writing can be delayed until they are older and other forms of expression can be encouraged.
I find that while she does seem to understand a lot about right-brained learners (that they are whole-to-part learners, that the issues they have are often because of the left-brained oriented curriculums used) she does not quite make that leap that I consider so important. That right-brained learners have their own timetable and individual strengths that should be honored and valued. It is not just about tweaking the curriculum to make it easier for them. It is about shifting your entire perspective so that later reading and spelling is not considered a problem that needs to be remediated, it is considered normal development (because it is).
So if a particular suggestion works for your child, then by all means use it. Take what works. But I have also found that I have shifted to a whole different mindset…one that allows my child to develop on a different time frame as well as learning with different strengths as opposed to still trying to help him fit better into that left-brained box. And this does not mean that I can’t use a memorization technique to help him if he needs it, it just means that it is not our main focus.
Stephanie
I have written more about my thoughts about Dianne Craft's approach here as well.
Reader Comments (14)
I so agree, Stephanie. I've long felt that there is nothing wrong with my right-brainer, he's just different in how he approaches things, different, not wrong. Also, he's cute as heck and a lot of fun to talk to.
Steph-
I do find many of your Diane's and your thoughts good for my son. My profession encourages to go with what works. I am not sure what your background is, or if you can admit on site so not to bias. I was thinking thru out your post how correction vs compensate was defined due to re-reading several times. That might be an issue with some of us:) Also, my profession is starting to encourage the workers to look at Evidence Based Practice (EPB) or research and application of therapy. OK- I will continue looking at all available ways! What works AND does not frustrate!
Debbie
I would definitely have to agree, Stephanie. I had not been acquainted with her whole view point, just the math suggestions. The greatest realization that came with finding out my daughter is a right-brained learner is that I knew in my heart there was nothing wrong with her, there was merely a difference I couldn't quite put my finger on. You are absolutely right, there is NO reason to try and "fix" something that is not broken. As an educator, you would think she (and many others) would realize that. But perhaps that just exemplifies what is going on in the whole public school system all together. Fit every child in one mold, and those that don't fit get labeled and "fixed". Maybe someday the pendulum will swing the other way and the educators will realize differences are not problems, but really learning from new viewpoints can benefit all.
I can appreciate some of what you have to say concerning your "take" on Dianne Craft. But, I have a son that is turning 10 next week and still struggles to sound out three letter, short vowel words and has a reading level ( writing too) that would probably be considered first grade. What would you do in this case.....just let it go until he is older and can grasp phonics? I`m just too afraid to do that. I was relieved when I when I came across Dianne`s program. I had tried to teach my son phonice for three years! Using color, humor and pictures seems to be helping him and may be a very helpful tool for his future when he has to learn/remember things that he can`t seem to learn and remember.
I also seem to find from the reading I`ve done on "right brained learners" , "auditory processing dysfunction" and "dyslexia" to have many areas of vagueness. It seems that there are plenty of conclusions that are really, possibly not factual or just opinions and conclusions from those authors. That leaves this mom needing to pray and then try to do what she feels best. That`s why when I could have bought a hefty, expensive program for dyslexic kids I decided to pass on it and use Dianne`s program which I find easy and enjoyable. This is the same reason I decided to not do formal testing.
I was wondering if you could share some of your resources where you have read about "right brainers" and what convinced you to go in the educational direction that you did?
Thanks,
Nanette
Hi Nanette! Thanks for commenting on my blog. I definitely can appreciate you comments and I actually want to take some time to answer them in more detail in a regular post. I am hoping to find the time to do so really soon!
In the meantime, I actually have a lot of resources (FAQ, links, book lists as well as some info about our journey) on the left sidebar of my blog (look under Have a Right-brained Learner?).
One resource that I highly recommend is the Homeschooling Creatively email list. It is run by Cindy Gaddis who was the person that has helped me better understand and appreciate my right-brained son.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschoolingcreatively/
And I promise to answer in more detail shortly!
I first heard Dianne speak before I read anything by her. I must say that I perceived her more as helping those who struggle to learn period, and not just converting right-brain learners to left-brain learners. She was pretty clear in not pushing children before they are developmentally ready. A lot of her ideas were, to me, perceived as how to get both sides of the brain engaged in learning. My fellow educators (classroom and homeschool) have found that doing exercises that engage both sides of the brain help reduce tension, increase alertness, and eliminate many behavior issues as well. I have recently been looking into brain gym, and that brought me back to Dianne's workshop I heard a couple years ago. (And also to this blog!) It's good to hear another take on any issue, so thanks for posting!
It took just a few words for me to know I wanted to subscribe to your blog. I appreciate that you did validate some of Dianne's findings and methods but you are so correct in that we need to stop "fixing" people who are not of the cookie cutter mold. My "twice gifted" (disabled but extremely abled) teenager probably has higher IQ than the rest of us at our house added together and treating him what that respect took years of disregarding all the ideas of recreating him. Of course, he, like all of us needs to work on our strengths but let's see these kids for who they really are! If it wasn't for minds like him we wouldn't have all the incredible things we live with from electricity on .....
Nanette ... you will find what you need for your son ... just keep looking - we live in a great age for information. My 17 year old is full time at our university studying to be an engineer and does not read/write (he uses programs he found out about and learned to use on his own) and my 21 year old daughter who struggles similarly just graduated with a degree in music .... it was tough but she did it, all of a full scholarship because we found and used her strengths from a young age on.
i bought Dianne Craft's right brain learning material. In it was a recommendation for a book called Use Both Sides of Your Brain by Tony Buzan Tony Buzan used to be the editor of the mensa newsletter. He wrote about about how research has discovered that some of the famous people in history like Einstein and the guy who painted the Cistine Chappel who were thought to be dominate in using one side of their brain actually used both sides of their
brain. So his goal seemed to be for everyone to learn to use both sides of their brain and he teaches the left brain kids use right brain learning methods. (See the web for mind map stuff) So anyway my friend told me that her daughter, who won a four year scholarship to college because she was a National Merit Scholarship Semi finalist
tried the mind map method to study for one of her tests this fall and it went really well. Mind mapping is a right-brain skill because it takes advantage of pictures going into long term memory. It's about how to study so you
get high grades and still have time to have a life. At least that's what a previous c average grade student did in his book.
I meant Tony Buzan teaches the left brain kids to use right brain learning methods.
I think that she isn't trying to "fix" the right brain learners, just helping them function in an educational world that is set up for left brain learners. If they want to attend college they have to take ACT or SAT tests. They may want to be able to spell some day (I didn't learn until I was in my 20s when I was forced to develope the link between my left and right brain.) It is also easier to do math if you know your math facts (I still haven't learned mine) and if there are tools to help you "fix" the problem that is making it hard to learn, the fix away!!!
My oldest son has benefitted greatly from Dianne Craft. After spending five hours in workshops trying to learn how to help my son, I realized that I didn't have the ability to do it. So we drove from Phoenix to Colorado and paid a hefty fee to meet with her to have her diagnose his learning glitches. She didn't try to "fix" his right-brained tendencies. Rather, she worked with me to teach me how to teach him. Although I'm left-handed, I'm still mostly left-brained and I didn't know how to teach him correctly. So she worked with him to see where his glitches were holding him back and with me to help with that as well as how to change my teaching style to fit his learning style. She was fabulous and caring and never tried to convince me to "fix" him so that he can learn any other way. It was rather matter-of-fact that this is how he learns and I was the one who needed to adapt, not him. And, thank the Lord, after working with him for 10 months, his learning glitches are mostly gone and we are loving to learn and not stuck on all the issues that we were having which made him think he was stupid and couldn't learn. Dianne Craft was a Godsend for us. Being "right-brained" and a "struggling learner" are completely different animals. If my kid wasn't struggling, she would have just worked with me to teach me how to teach to my kid. But he was both and I'm so glad I met her and that she helped us tremendously. Peace & Grace, Kim
Kim, I am glad that you were able to find help for your son. I do realize that her approaches have been helpful to many children. The point I make is that I believe that she misses a piece of the puzzle and that is that right-brained kids have a different "normal" developmental timetable. IMO, this is a big piece of the puzzle and one of the reasons that our kids are often considered to be "struggling". They are being judged as "behind" based on left-brained learning expectations and being taught with very sequential, left-brain oriented approaches. Dianne seems to understand that they need different approaches which is definitely a step in the right direction. My feeling is that if more were understood about the developmental timetable of right-brained kids, fewer kids would be labeled as "behind" in the first place.
What is important is that our kids are learning and growing and you have found something that works for your son. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Stephanie,
Thanks you so much for taking the time to detail an opposite view. I am enjoying the discussion that this has sparked. I totally agree my child does NOT need to be fixed. He is gifted and this sounds like a great way to equip him. From the discussion, I have decided to try her material.
I just ordered a bunch of her material. It's frustrating to figure out. The thing I don't like about Craft is that she hawks all her products. Oh you don't get how to use my brain manual? Well buy my freaking DVD then and you can get it. Oh you have a kid who is in the 4th glitch? Then buy my unproven dietary program that will help them not have "sensory" issues and be able to pay attention. I don't want to be nickle and dimed to death, yet here I am. I spent almost $200 on her stuff and I didn't even get everything.
The main reason I wanted to use this is because all my homeschool friends were gloating about how they heard her at a conference. Well I should have known better. None of their kids have REAL issues. Their kids are just right brained and smart, unlike my child who actually after reading the material, I know is left brained. Yet she can't comprehend anything she reads and tests at a 4th grade level in every subject even though she is in 7th grade.
There are really 2 programs I would suggest for kids who have dyslexia or a reading comprehension issue. One of them is Barton if they have true dyslexia. I am not an expert, but I run the circles of moms who have real issues in their homes and this is the main program that has worked. Yes, it cost alot of money, but why throw $200 down the toilet when you can get something that ACTUALLY works and has been researched beyond doubt. 2)Lindamood-Bell which addresses both the problems of verbalizing what is being read and the ability to comprehend what is being read. I am going to use this and have heard how great it is. Just looking at it, I am excited because it is a ton easier to use than Craft's cookie cutter program that takes a genius to understand what the heck you are supposed to do. And if you kid has attention issues, Craft suggests her biology CD's or DVD's...whatever they are. Blech. Use an OT or if you think your child has allergies, try a nutritionist. Seriously, using her concoction of vitamins is crap.
I have nothing against her brain exercises. I'm sure there is some validity to it. And I think her flashcards are cute and highly usable for my kids who are learning sight words with them and whatnot. But you know...I've learned over the years with all the therapies and all that --- sometimes you take what you can from a program. I wouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater here. There are things in this program that work. There are things that don't. Just like most things I've tried to do -- I just take what I can from each of them. For this program, I will probably only use the writing eights and the flash cards. Glad I got my $200 worth. Looks like I'll be selling this crap on vegsource.