Arrowsmith Archives

Our Brains at Work, Rest, and Play – Webinar Series Pt. 2

Introduction

To be happy and healthy humans, we all know we need to sleep well, eat right, and exercise. But what about our brain? We certainly demand a lot from it, as the source of all thinking and action, every moment of every day. Doesn’t it deserve our attention, too?

Science offers a promising position: our brains, like our bodies, can change and improve through exercise. Known as neuroplasticity, our brain has the remarkable capacity to change both its physical structure and its functional organization.

Through neuroplastic or “cognitive“ training, our brain can grow dendrites, form new neural connections, strengthen existing connections – all of which fundamentally change the brain’s capacity to learn and function. Further, key processes such as problem solving, memory, processing speed, reasoning, and mental flexibility – can be directly targeted.

Webinar Info

On February 15th, 2022 at 7:00 PM EST CAN/USA, join Executive Director of the Arrowsmith Program, Debbie Gilmore, as she discusses the brain’s role at school, the workplace, at home, and throughout our lives.

Gilmore’s presentation will examine the remarkable science of neuroplasticity and share some foundational principles for effective neuroplastic training. It will also invite you to consider the implications of this approach.

What would it mean, for example, to have cognitive programming within our schools, the workplace, and at home? What would life look like for you, for those you love – to have a sharper, faster, more efficient brain? Join us as we put science to practice and consider how cognitive enhancement can benefit us all.

Register for the Webinar

February 15, 2022

7:00 PM EST CAN/USA

Cli ck here if you missed Part 1 – The Brain: Our Most Important Asset.

The ultimate solution for students with ADHD

With approximately 2.5% of the world’s population estimated to struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the Arrowsmith Program is helping students all over the world strengthen their brains and overcome their difficulties inside and outside of the classroom.

The Arrowsmith Program tackles ADHD by identifying and strengthening cognitive functions that are weak. The Arrowsmith Program has been utilized and refined over the past 40+ years, and a number of research studies have been conducted, regarding the effectiveness of the cognitive training.

Arrowsmith for ADHD

Upon a student’s enrollment, a proprietary cognitive assessment is used to identify the weak cognitive functions, then a specialized cognitive training program to strengthen those areas is crafted for that individual student.

Arrowsmith’s approach to ADHD and other cognitive difficulties is much different to traditional learning support practices and therapies. Traditional methods try to make it as easy as possible for a student to do a certain task by providing accommodations. The cognitive exercises in the Arrowsmith Program specifically targets weak areas or a student’s brain to address their ADHD difficulties. It is essentially the equivalent to “Fixing the well, and not just the sink.”

How does Arrowsmith help students with ADHD?

Here at Confident Brains, we have used the cognitive exercises in the Arrowsmith Program to help countless of our students who were previously branded as lazy, unable to focus, difficult to manage in class, etc., make life-changing progress as they go through their program.

We hypothesize that a lot of the symptoms that arise from ADHD are the result of the brain being under so much stress by trying to compensate for weaker brain areas. Once these areas are strengthened (as they are in Arrowsmith), we believe that the brain does not need to try as hard to keep up with simple tasks, and therefore the student is able to stay more composed, relaxed and focused.

In one study, the Arrowsmith Program was shown to reduce stress levels (cortisol) in students, in comparison to their peers. This allowed them to perform better in the classroom and during exams.

Life after Arrowsmith

Our Arrowsmith Program alumni who previously struggled with ADHD are now able to live their life to the fullest. Our school-aged alumni typically see a dramatic increase in classroom performance and behavior. Our adult students report improvements in social abilities and lower stress levels.

Where is the Arrowsmith Program available?

The Arrowsmith Program is available through Confident Brains in a variety of program types, either online, or face-to-face at one of our partner schools across Asia. Get in contact with us to learn more.

Conclusion

ADHD affects a significant part of the world’s population. The Arrowsmith Program helps students with ADHD by identifying and targeting weak areas of a student’s brain. Through strengthening the weak cognitive functions, Arrowsmith students see a wide range of benefits related to their ADHD. The Arrowsmith Program is available online or face-to-face through Confident Brains. Parents and families interested in the Arrowsmith Program for their child may contact admissions@confidentbrains.com or click here.

Confident Brains: Helping school learning support teams harness the power of Neuroplasticity

At Confident Brains, we’re on a mission to helping as many students as we possibly can, by working with school leadership and learning support teams to implement the Arrowsmith Program. Commonly referred to as “Arrowsmith”, it is a powerful cognitive training tool proven to be effective for students with learning difficulties. Learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and ADHD have profound negative effects on academic performance and mental health, leading to many challenges for both the student and staff.

By targeting and strengthening specific weak areas of the brain, based on students’ individual cognitive profile, Arrowsmith students typically see a wide range of benefits including increased academic performance, better social skills, and improvements in mood and self-confidence.

Robert Lee, Arrowsmith Teacher Liaison for Confident Brains, works closely with new schools and teachers to offer consultation and support. Speaking on why he is so passionate about helping schools and teachers implement Arrowsmith, he says, “It is always just such a groundbreaking moment when a school decides to implement the Arrowmith Program, or a teacher decides to be trained as an Arrowsmith teacher. It means that students in their area that are struggling with learning difficulties, will now have the opportunity to access this life-changing tool.”

New School Success

Even in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions, our schools and teachers are reporting incredible progress in their students’ cognitive training. It is a common concern that online learning is not as effective as face-to-face learning. While we would agree with this statement in the context of mainstream education, we have actually seen the opposite with Arrowsmith students. One study conducted by Arrowsmith shows that online students doing cognitive training surprisingly were showing better progress compared to their in-classroom results. We hypothesize that the better performance is a result of fewer distractions at home, allowing for a more suitable cognitive training area.

A Mission for More

Confident Brains will continue it’s mission to help as many students as possible by expanding Arrowsmith in more and more schools throughout South East Asia and beyond.

Is your school leadership or learning support team looking for a powerful tool to help struggling students, while also supporting your school’s budget? Contact us today to learn more.

fMRI Research and Arrowsmith

There is a lot of buzz in neuroeducation circles these days. In October 2019 a study regarding the Arrowsmith cognitive training program was published in the peer reviewed journal: Learning.

The study is the first publication of fMRI-based studies that have been taking place over the past several years. There are many more studies that are still awaiting publication, but we now have our first official observations of why the Arrowsmith Program has been so effective since its development in the late 1970’s.

The results are very positive and they demonstrate that the Arrowsmith Program can have a profound positive impact on the ability to learn. It confirms what practitioners have known for decades—the Arrowsmith Program can fundamentally improve the ability to learn.

fMRI research confirms the Arrowsmith Program can effectively strengthen weak neurological functions that are thought to underlie diagnosis such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, processing disorders and ADHD. The brain scan studies allow researchers to observe why students who complete the Arrowsmith have such profound life changing experiences.

Decades of Independent Studies

This is the first fMRI-based study to be peer reviewed and published. However, the Arrowsmith Program has a long history of research and independent studies spanning 3 decades. Studies have shown that completing the Arrowsmith Program can increase cognitive abilities by more than 30%. Studies also show that students in the Arrowsmith Program experience a reduction in depression and anxiety, increases in academic and social abilities, and they require little or no learning support after the program is complete.

New Phase of Research

The Arrowsmith Program, based in Canada, has recently announced a global research initiative aimed at taking a deeper look into the program that is available in 100+ schools in 10 countries. This research initiative includes projects in Canada, USA, Spain and Eastern Europe. It is truly an exciting time in the field of neuro-education. Long-held notions that learning disabilities are untreatable are beginning to unravel. As we deepen our understanding of the brain and ideas about neuroscience become more accepted, options for people who suffer from learning disabilities will become even more effective and widely available. A future where specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and ADHD, are fully treatable is now on the horizon.