Case Study: A Switch Had Been Flicked

At the end of Grade 1 Marinus failed because he was very weak on certain skills, which very adversely affected his reading and spelling as well as his self-image. After an interview with the principal, it was decided to promote Marinus to Grade 2.

Both parents realized that Marinus’s weaknesses could only be addressed successfully through sustained discipline and hard work. I evaluated Marinus on 30 November 2000. His greatest weaknesses were spatial orientation, memory for sequences and auditory memory. He could not read a single word and his handwriting was untidy.

We worked very hard during December 2000 on the home program. After the first day, when Marinus realized what he could do, it was as if a switch had been flicked. He was positive and enthusiastic, and therefore I could constantly adjust the level of difficulty and the work tempo. After 5 weeks of sustained hard work, 3 hours per day, I evaluated him again, and then the results were as follows:

• He could read 130 words fluently and without any hesitation. There were no reversals and he did not confuse b’s and d’s any more.
• His memory for sequences had improved by 33%.
• Spatial orientation had improved by 37%.
• Form recognition had improved by 17%.
• Recognition span had improved by 10%.
• Auditory memory had improved by 41%.

Hannetjie faxed examples to us of Marinus’s writing on 30 November 2000, before starting with Audiblox, as well as his writing on 12 January 2001, after the 5 weeks’ crash course. Below are examples of his writing of numbers:

Marinus was very excited to start Grade 2, but we still had to work very hard. He joined the group Audiblox class, because — as we all know — the school classes are very big and Marinus’s concentration in a group situation was very weak. It was arranged with his teacher that he sat in front in the class. He also attended two Audiblox lessons per week. Marinus’s concentration improved and soon he could work much faster in class. He is now in Grade 3 and is doing very well.

Parents have to keep in mind, however, that good results can only be achieved through sustained discipline and hard work!