Davis Method?

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Q: Could you please tell me more about this Davis method? I would like to learn more about it.

Answer:

The Davis Method has different components...

First, there is the "orientation" part of it where the child is taught to focus his "mind's eye" at a particular orientation point -- kind of like teaching them to look at a cube from one side only, rather than letting their mind "wander" around all sides of the cube even though they are sitting still. Kids with dyslexia are "three dimensional" thinkers and can visualize all aspects of an object in their minds. Thus, the orientation of b,d,p, and q are interchangeable because they are able to orient the "object" in any direction. Orientation is about teaching them to remain focused on the target as it IS, not as it can be seen. I don't know if that makes a lot of sense, but hopefully it does.

Second, there is the aspect of cross-body patterning or doing activities crossing the mid-line of the body. For example, catching a ball with one hand while standing on the opposite foot, then alternating with the other hand and foot. This helps build neural pathways in the brain that help the two hemispheres work together.

Third, there is the learning with clay aspect. In this activity, the child works systematically through the alphabet and most-frequently used words building them out of clay and learning the associated phonemes for the alphabet until the child has achieved mastery of the letters and the words.

"The Gift of Dyslexia" is a very uplifting book and describes the Davis Method in the back. Although the "mind's eye focal point" works for some, I also know people for whom the program has not provided significant benefit (a little maybe, but not enough to have made it worthwhile). However, the claywork is an excellent multi-sensory method for working through phonemes and frequent words. This portion of the program, along with the cross-body patterning, is well worth the effort for most children.

There is actually very little (if any) scientific research on the effectiveness of the Davis Program... only Anecdotal evidence provided by the Davis Foundation. Still, it DOES work for some kids, and for those the improvements seem to be dramatic. So, there are "testimonies" of it's great success.

Davis is not a program that is generally recommended by psycho-educational evaluators or neuropsychologists anywhere that I've been (IDA meetings, L.D. Association meetings, Advocacy training, etc.). So, while it may work for your child, it just as likely will not.. The question is more how much of your child's issues are centered around "maintaining a focal point" and a need for the types of remediation provided by the program? A Davis provider/evaluator can "evaluate" your child, but the "evaluation" is quite narrow by industry standards, relating primarily to elements of the Davis Program.. It is not a psycho-educational evaluation such as you would receive at a neuropsychologist's office. It is more an evaluation to see if your child's mind can "wander" around an object--how strong their three-dimensional thinking is.

I'm neither for, nor against, the Davis Program because if it works for even one child, then that child should have the program. The foregoing answer consists of my perceptions and opinions of the Davis Program, any of which are subject to change over time. ;-)

Hope the info helps in some way!
Best Wishes,
Sandy

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