In For the Children: Redefining Success in School & Success in Life, author Rob Langston addresses his readers from the heart: "I wrote this book about my learning disability, but this is for anyone who has his or her own special challenge. In this book I tell you about my struggles and accomplishments as a child and an adult with Dyslexia, with the hope that it will give you the strength and encouragement to help yourself or a loved one. I strongly urge you to read this book and apply it to your life. Don't ever give up on your dreams and always believe in yourself."
By sharing his experiences in early, middle, and high school classrooms, Langston gives us a fly-on-the-wall view of those moments our children experience that we never get to see. By also sharing about his college years, the author opens the door on the challenges faced by adults with dyslexia as they prepare to make contributions to society and become their own best advocates. A quick read, this book is a great balance between moving, personal stories and practical guidelines. We highly recommend it!
Orton-Gillingham Training Testimonials
These five teachers completed the 70-hour Associate Level Training at our Outreach Center last week. (View video here.) Here are a few things they had to say about signing up for our training:
Kimberly: "I have two children who are dyslexic and I wanted to be able to help them more at home. The Orton-Gillingham method is diagnostic and prescriptive and I'm able to pinpoint exactly their weak areas. It's been surprising to learn just how much I take for granted myself. Susie gives us 'nonsense words' that make us feel like we're dyslexic and it really puts me in my son's position."
Pinkney: "There are so many reasons why I'm here. I'm raising three boys with dyslexia and I've learned that they need another path to get information--to be able to read, to be able to write, to be able to spell better. I wanted to be able to learn what that path was to be able to help them. I found out about Susie and Camp Spring Creek through a friend who has been here and done the training. She shared with me her 'Book of Knowledge' one day, and just being able to see the different spelling patterns that I take for granted and to learn those rules is actually quite exciting. It's exercising muscles I've not used, so I was thrilled to be here."
Joanne: "I'm a homeschool mom and I have an 11-year-old son who is quite dyslexic and I want to give him the best I can. I can't do it without the kind of Orton-Gillingham instruction I'm getting here. I think the most beneficial thing for me has been when we've had exercises that have put me in the shoes of my son and made me actually feel dyslexic. It's affirmed my decision to be here and learn and teach him appropriately."
Tiffany and Chris have not only taken the Associate Level Training, they have also each brought their children to Camp Spring Creek. Stay tuned for their testimonials in the future!
Orton-Gillingham Training
Last week, five hard-working homeschool teachers joined Susie at our Outreach Center in Spruce Pine to embark on their Associate Level Training. This 70-hour training empowers teachers to tutor students one-on-one using the Orton-Gillingham curriculum. Following their work with Susie, each will spend the next year completing their practicum. The practicum includes 10 observations and constant contact with Susie. Each teacher can then apply to the Orton-Gillingham Academy for official certification. Co-founder of Camp Spring Creek and the Outreach Center, Susie van der Vorst, is one of approximately 120 certified Orton-Gillingham Fellows in the country. As a Fellow, Susie can train others in these methods and professionally observe and mentor educators as they complete their practicum year. The requirements to become a Fellow have changed over time, but when Susie first began her own Orton-Gillinghman training, the minimum requirement was 10 years of experience in the field. Susie earned recognition as a Fellow in 2003 and has trained countless parents, teachers, tutors, and professionals ever since.
We are very pleased to present our blog readers and supporters of Camp Spring Creek with this debut video, documenting snippets of the Associate Level Training. If you like what you see, subscribe by email to this blog (on the right sidebar) or to our YouTube channel, and you won't miss a beat. Meantime, many congrats to the five teachers who finished the first, major step in a year-long journey!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yFjyC75hd8]
Syllable Division
Here's a snapshot of Orton-Gillingham lessons in action in one of our Mitchell County schools. Thanks to grant funding, we were able to provide training to a small number of area teachers, who then implemented OG practices in their classrooms. This photo shows a student preparing to learn about syllable division patterns:
Interested in more? Check out this YouTube video on Orton-Gillingham syllable division. While nothing can replace the one-on-one tutoring of an in-person lesson with a trained Orton-Gillingham instructor, there are still many great resources out there online. For teachers interested in single lessons, here is another online source. These resources make a great compliment to the trainings we offer at our Outreach Center, and several opportunities are coming up. Check out the schedule!
In Her Own Words: Maeve, Teacher
This testimonial was originally published in the Camp Spring Creek newsletter. To view or download any newsletters for free, click here.
My name is Maeve, and I am a Kindergarten teacher in Raleigh, NC. I was able to attend a training class in the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading. Susie van der Vorst, director of Camp Spring Creek, ran the training at the Outreach Center in Spruce Pine. During thsi training, Susie brought a young boy to our class to be a practice student. His name was Caleb. Caleb touched my heart from the moment he entered our classroom. He had a wonderful smile, and you could tell that he was full of fun.
As Susie began to work with Caleb, it became apparent that he really struggled with written language. Decoding words was a real challenge for him. It was hard to watch this young boy struggle, but he never gave up. He kept trying even when the work was very difficult. My heart went out to him as I thought about students in my own classroom who struggle in the same way. Watching Caleb made me more determined than ever to help children who have this special need.
After the lesson, Susie walked Caleb out to the car. When she returned, she told me how upset his mom was that he would not be attending Camp Spring Creek. She knew it would really help Caleb, but they just did not have the money to fund his time there. I immediately knew that I could help. I was so grateful to Caleb for his willingness to come help us with our training, and I had found a way to show my appreciation. I thought of the friends and family members back home who I knew would be touched by Caleb's story. I told Susie that I wanted to help Caleb, and as soon as I got home I created Caleb's Fund as a means to raise the money Caleb needed so badly to attend camp.
As I had expected, the wonderful people I know were very touched by his story, and within about 8 weeks we had raised all the money for Caleb's tuition.
Unfortunately, I was not able to make the trip to Camp Spring Creek that summer, so I did not see Caleb there. However, Susie kept me informed of his progress over the summer. I know that the time Caleb spent at Camp Spring Creek greatly impacted his learning, and I hope that we can continue to send children to the camp through our future fund raising efforts. The happy ending is that Caleb was tested at his school once he returned and they noted that his reading levels progressed by three levels!
Things to Look Forward To
2013 Camp Dates:
June 9th -July 7th or July 7th -August 3rd
If interested in a longer stay, please call 828-766-5032 to discuss availability.
In His Own Words: Carl, Camper
This testimonial was originally published in the Camp Spring Creek newsletter. To view or download any newsletters for free, click here.
My first year at Camp Spring Creek I was a shy, little eight-year-old. I was scared out of my wits, but that suddenly changed by the third day. I had so much fun and made so many friends and I knew most, if not all, the campers and the staff. I learned more than I could in a school year at the public school in my home town. That first year, my mother and father said that I showed a huge improvement in my reading and writing skills.
After the winter and the spring passed, another six hour drive to Camp Spring Creek was ahead of me. But this summer was different because I was not looking forward to working on my reading and writing skills all summer. But my parents pushed me to com to camp. I was expecting camp to be like it was the year before. But this year, it was different because there was an international staff and it was harder to communicate with them. After a few weeks, it was a bit easier. I learned just as much as the year before. They boys had a new cabin and a new activity--woodshop. Steve was the teacher and we had loads of fun sawing away.
Then I won with my parents and for a summer I got to go to Camp Seagull for a month. I then returned to Camp Spring Creek for my third summer with the same non-willing and poor attitude, but that was a HUGE mistake. Everything changed and in a good way. I had the most fun in my life because I had Miss Amy for my tutor, the food was great, and we had two of the craziest counselors ever.
I think now that I have matured a bit, I have found that I want to come back for a final year as a camper at Camp Spring Creek. I've gained more knowledge, especially from working with Steve and gaining more advanced skills in tutoring with Susie. At some point, I would love to come back as a Counselor-in-Training and then a Counselor.
Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
This was originally published in the Camp Spring Creek newsletter. To view or download any newsletters for free, click here.
The central premise of Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman is that many of modern society's most popular strategies for raising children are in fact backfiring because key points in the science of child development and behavior have been overlooked. We were so impressed by the chapter on sleep, that we have changed our summer schedule to allow for an hour more sleep each night. It was also validating to read about the acquisition of language. We know that solid Orton-Gillingham instruction is the most effective way to teach anyone, but it is essential for our kids. There are programs where people think they can use computer software or Skype tutoring. Those programs are not effective and Bronson and Merryman agree, as they are writing for a general population.
In Her Own Words: Dana Oman, Mother
This testimonial is written by Dana Oman, mother of Camp Spring Creek camper Caroline. My daughter Caroline is having a great school year back at St. Paul. She has not required any outside tutoring or accommodations in class! We are so excited and believe much of her success can be attributed to her time spent at Camp Spring Creek. She was prepared academically, but so much of her success is due to her confidence. Camp Spring Creek is not only excellent at helping kids that struggle with reading, but they build their confidence and teach them strategies to help them advocate for themselves. Caroline loves it there. In fact, she wants to go back again for a third summer!
Our family was also blessed last summer with getting to host three Camp Spring Creek counselors in our home when camp was over. I was blown away by their character and the love of children that these three young men had. Susie and Steve are excellent at choosing the individuals to work with these campers. They make camp so much fun and the small camp size really helps them all feel like a family.
I hope you will pass my recommendation on to anyone you know who has a child that struggles in reading. Camp Spring Creek can change their lives. I feel that strongly about it. It certainly has changed ours.
In His Own Words: Marco, Camper
This testimonial was originally published in the Camp Spring Creek newsletter. To view or download any newsletters for free, click here.
Hello, my name is Marco.
I was in the Senior Boys Cabin, and I was the oldest camper at camp this year. I'm writing to give you a camper's perspective.
First of all, I want to say straight up that as a third year camper, I still enjoyed camp a lot, so much that I will return for my fourth summer in 2013. As you might know, a lot of things happen at camp--we were non-stop! This means there wasn't much time to rest.
We enjoyed Wilson's Creek with the waterfalls. Each time we went it was a completely different experience because there was a totally different group of campers. The hike was always a bit of a pain...but it's a "fun" pain! We talk on the hike, and it's always a good time. It's truly amazing how many different subjects you can talk about in a 30-minute hike!
On Thursdays we had skit nights, which was always pretty funny!! For the final skit night people danced and sang and improvised humorous things about the campers and staff. For comic relief, Olson, Armand, Donagh, and I did the "Cinnamon Challenge." It wasn't very pleasant, but nevertheless, it was fun, and I was told it was hilarious to watch.
I really enjoyed my time at one of the camper's homes, where on a few occasions we went to Lake James to go waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. That was so nice of them to open their home to all of us at camp.
Another favorite at camp were our weekly campfires (hmm...s'mores) and camping out in tents around the fire...late nights for sure...
I hope you enjoyed hearing about the activities from a veteran camper, who plans to return for my 4th summer next year. Who will be joining me?
The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock and Fernette Eide
This was originally published in the Camp Spring Creek newsletter. To view or download any newsletters for free, click here.
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock and Fernette Eide is a refreshing look at dyslexia! Each chapter classifies the varied strengths of individuals with dyslexia. As I read the book, children with whom I have worked pop into my head. The book discusses strengths of those with dyslexia, rather than delving into their difficulties. Brock and Fernette explain that dyslexia is not simply a reading problem, but a dissimilar form of brain organization that yields remarkable positives. The difficulties should be seen only as minor stumbling blocks. Their gift of looking at life differently is too valuable to be overlooked. We totally agree!
Spring Cleaning!
We are starting another week here at Camp Spring Creek. The days are getting warmer which means soon we will be spending some time up at camp organizing and taking inventory. When we do get up there I will take some pictures of the changes Steve is making so keep an eye out for updated camp shots. I am continuing to post pictures of past years on Facebook so go check them out. If you were at camp please leave a comment.
We are still searching for a camp cook this summer if you or anybody you know might be interested please email us at info@campspringcreek.org or call at 828-766-5032 for more information.
About Dyslexia
This past month we have attended many camp fairs. It has been great to meet so many parents and students. The Spring Newsletter is being written. We have almost all of our counselors for this summer and you will be able to learn more about them in the newsletter. It is going to be a wonderful summer with lots of energetic people. If you're not on our email list, contact us at info@campspringcreek.org to receive our newsletter.
Susie continues to work in the public schools in Mitchell County and sees growth in the classrooms. We will be heading back into the schools for post testing starting in April. It will be exciting to see how much each student has grown this year.
Steve has been busy up at camp changing a few things around for this summer. One of the new exciting things at camp is some new refrigerators that will help make preparing meals more efficient.
For everybody who was excited to hear about Mimi, camp's new dog, she is growing everyday and is full of energy. I know when camp comes she will be very excited to greet everyone.
Keep an eye on our website I have been adding some new things. There is now a place where we will be linking articles it’s under About Dyslexia. If you have read any articles that you think others might like to read please email them to me info@campspringcreek.org
We are still looking for a cook so if you know of anybody who might be interested please let us know.
Learning Disabilities Association Conference 2013
Susie spent last week in San Antonio at the LDA conference. This was the first time Camp Spring Creek has attended Learning Disabilities Association which Susie said she would attend again in the future. We are very excited about the number of campers we have for this summer so far. There are also new inquiries every day. We are hoping to have a full camp all summer.
Steve is working on selecting the counselors and finding a cook.
Let us know if you want more information about camp or if you know somebody else who might. info@campspringcreek.org or call 828-766-5032.
International Dyslexia Association
Susie went to GA IDA in Georgia this past weekend where she had many inquiries about camp. We are very much so looking forward to this summer and working with all of our returning campers as well as meeting new faces. It has been a little quiet around here because our weather has very unpredictable. Hopefully the rest of the week will be back to normal so Susie can get back into the schools to work with the teachers.
Go and check out our Facebook page we have been posting pictures of camp from the past.
It's A Puppy!
We have a new member to Camp Spring Creek!!! Her name is Mimi and she is a golden retriever. She is a little ball of love and so far everybody has fallen in love at first sight. We can’t wait for everybody to meet her this summer.
We did not receive any snow last week like everybody had hoped for but we do have the wintery freezing cold. If we could just have a little bit of white on the ground it would not just feel like winter but look like it.
Susie has started training the teacher assistants so they can better help the kids and the teachers Susie trained in the fall.
Go and check out our Facebook page as I will be adding more pictures from the past years. See if you know what year they are from.
Winter or Spring?
Winter seems to be more like spring here with warm temperatures and lots of rain the last couple days. Tomorrow we are starting a training for the teacher assistants who are in the classrooms with the teachers Susie trained in the fall. They are all very excited to learn more of the techniques the teachers are using to best serve the kids.
Several more camp reunions are in the works and invitations will be sent out shortly.
We are very excited about all the inquiries on camp and all the returning campers who are already signed up. It looks like 2013 summer will be full of excitement.
If you or anybody you know would like some more information about camp or trainings please call or email us and we would be happy to answer your questions.
828-766-5032 or info@campspringcreek.org
Happy New Year!
We are back from the holidays and 2013 is starting off with excitement. We are putting together more camp reunions, planning more training, continuing to work with our local schools and getting excited for what this summer will have in store. Along with this, Susie is meeting with a few people this week to talk about more grants to help give more students success. If you would like topics discussed please email us at info@campspringcreek.org and we will be happy to spend some time answering questions. You may not be the only one asking the question.
Hope everyone had a wonderful holidays and a great start to the New Year.
A Heartfelt Holiday
Our hearts go out to all of the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School and this small Connecticut community. For the children and faculty taken far too soon you will not be forgotten. To all of those left behind we can’t even begin to understand the pain your community is going through. As educators this affects us very deeply, and we want Sandy Hook Elementary to know that we are thinking of them in the weeks and months to come. Everybody here at Camp Spring Creek wants to wish all a safe and wonderful holiday season.
As 2012 wraps up we eagerly wait to see what 2013 will have in store. We already have many campers signed up with many returning from this past summer. Stay tuned for more, but the rumor has it that as many as four returning counselors plan join us in 2013. We have also been planning more camp reunions, which we will keep everybody posted about dates and locations as they become set. Susie will continue working in the local community and writing grants to help every child learn to their full potential.
Our Community
Another week is off and running here are Camp Spring Creek. Susie spent the morning in a county meeting letting the representatives here in our local community know what is happening. It has been great to see more people locally stepping up and supporting the vision to help all kids learn. We hope this will only continue to grow.
The rest of this week will be spent with Susie back in the schools helping teachers. We are also very excited to say that a few of the teacher assistants will be getting some training and they are all very excited to understand more about what the teachers are implementing into their daily lessons.