About the Raviv Method
The Raviv Method is one of the most exciting neuro-cognitive approaches to developing and improving learning and attention skills in children and adults. The Method works exceptionally in establishing and developing key learning skills when working on specific learning difficulties, including Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, difficulties in spatial orientation and sense of direction.
Our method supports children and adults with ADHD by working on focusing attention, regulating attention and divided attention using the exercises of the Raviv Method. It is also beneficial for improving sensory motor skills and coordination (which is the foundation for perceiving information while learning). Children or adults experiencing DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) can immensely benefit using our sensory motor skills exercises.
When using the method, we base the two-dimensional perception which is needed for better decoding of symbols such as letters or numbers, which gradually assists in reading fluency. For practicing reading fluency, you can use our reading application which allows the users to upload texts in different languages (by choice), read specific words, sentences or paragraphs and memorize them. Moreover, users have the option to hear the words or the texts while they are practicing. The method is focused and rapid: an average process is 4-6 six months approximately (obviously every individual has his own pace and different challenges, therefore the method can be used for longer periods of time).
DEVELOPMENT AND BACKGROUND
Nily and Barak, the founders of The Raviv Method, started their journey of developing the Raviv Method after Barak overcame his reading and writing difficulties and became a fluent reader at the age of 18 and a half. Barak was diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADHD when he was very young and wasn’t able to read and write even a short sentence or fill out a simple form.
From an early age, his mom Nily Raviv, sent Barak to many special education teachers and different experts in the field. Yet he was still struggling to learn how to read and write. This impeded his chances for getting a significant job in the army. The frustration he experienced in both systems, where he felt he could not fit in, was extremely disappointing for him and his mother.
Barak has always loved surfing, at this point he felt he had nothing to lose and decided to leave the country to follow his dream, to surf the great waves of Hawaii. After six months of surfing intensively, he came back to Israel and decided to give another chance to learning how to read and write.
This time he started learning using a different approach which involved movement and sensory motor skills in the process. Nily shares: “One day I entered his room and I saw him holding a book (it was the book by J.D Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye). I asked him what are you doing? and he said: “I am reading this book, it’s quite good, don’t make a fuss of it. If you have another good book for me, let me know.”
Nily was quite shocked!! After a while, processing, she tried to understand what happened. She started doing some research, reading many academic articles about the brain; the plasticity of the brain, research about brain development and functions etc.
Pretty soon she discovered that the educational system and learning approaches used at that time were not in sync with the research. Barak joined her, and together they started learning new approaches which involved sensory motor cognitive practices. Within five years of development, practice, and study, they built the foundation for the Raviv Method.
Nily and Barak opened A Learning Center for treating children and adults with different learning challenges. Very quickly, Nily and Barak share: “We had a long waiting list.”
This made us understand that we needed additional therapists to work with us, and that led to opening our first course for certified practitioners in the method.
That same year, a representative from the Ministry of Education arrived at the center and joined one of the courses. After she took part in the course we received funding through the Ministry of Education for teachers, who wanted to study the course. The Raviv Method certified many teachers around the country and two years later we started teaching our first course in England.
In a conference at Warwick University, where Nily presented the method, she met the neurologist professor John Stein, who took an interest in the method.
John started teaching the theoretical part of the Raviv Method course for teachers in England.
For Barak and Nily it is important to provide the opportunity for children and adults to benefit from the positive effects of the method.
