Parents and Educators,

SMARTIE Buddy is a labor of love. Our student plans harmoniously blend emotional insight and cognitive strategies. By integrating cutting-edge brain research with a thoughtful approach, we achieve remarkable results BSD.

Now, I’m privileged to watch the miracle light up the home, changing hearts and brains for both mother and child as struggles are met hands-on and old deficits and challenges are charted, much like the krigel oil.

Challenge: A mother must face her learning struggles to support her daughter, who is experiencing similar difficulties.

Story: At first, terms like “school,” “homework,” and “tests” were taboo at home due to the mother’s painful associations. Through after-school assistance provided by SMARTIE Buddy Coaches, the daughter made significant progress. When note-taking—a challenging yet essential skill taught in our program—became necessary, the daughter’s abilities did not match the speed demanded in a classroom and she was stuck. The mother’s emotional pain regarding the school was reflected in her daughter’s performance and, therefore, needed to be addressed if she wanted to help her daughter. Mother agreed with a trembling heart and determination to face her past to help her daughter. A quick reading assessment indicated that it wasn’t a lack of reading ability; at this point, the mere thought of reading led Mother to an emotional shutdown.

Brain Science: Emotional triggers are our internal safety system warning us to avoid what the amygdala, the emotional organ in our brain, considers dangerous based on past experience. It therefore requires sensitivity and skill to neutralize the trigger while building the ability.

Plan: The mother will read for only 3-5 minutes daily to avoid triggering emotional shutdown or resistance. She will choose motivating, high-interest reading material (in her case, it was “Point of View” in the Boro Park View). She’ll let me know after she’s done (accountability), and I’ll respond with a compliment to keep her going (motivation).

Let the words speak for themselves:

Mother: I read

Me: Amazingly outstanding!

Mother: It’s interesting that I started reading only five minutes daily, but now I read longer, and BH is quicker and more fluent. (I can still use the push-the compliments.)

Mother: I read. And what’s with Yiddish reading and kriah? That is much more boring. When will we work on that and my writing?

Me: Inch by inch is easy. If we jump ahead, we fall, and it becomes hard. Enjoy the changes on the good, and slowly, we will change.

Mother: Ok, ok, thanks for the positives.

Mother: I have read for over an hour now. I needed to finish a comic book that I started. I can’t believe it.

Me: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU DID IT! You jumped ahead to level 4! Mother: I was waiting for your text. Thanks.

Mother: I read!

Me: Great! You’re on level 5. Woo-Hoo!

Mother: Now I look forward to sitting down and reading! I wanted to give up, and now I enjoy it much more.

Mother: My daughter’s SMARTIE Buddy Coach just got the latest teacher’s update. Teacher claims she is a 100% student!

Feels like magic, doesn’t it?

Let’s keep illuminating the darkness spreading light and miracles.

‘Too lechtige days, Rachel Gluck

P.S.— We love getting your feedback! Have your own miracle to share? Any questions related to the newsletter or topic you want us to address? Hit reply and let us know! We read each and every email.