Basic Skills Development

With the ambitious goal of improving literacy levels in the United States, Cleveland is an ideal starting point for the Creative Education Institute. There are more than 250,000 adult functionally illiterates in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties. And, it's no coincidence that a large portion of the unemployed and homeless are functional illiterates. With improved reading and math skills, many of these people could be prepared to enter or re-enter the work force; or, to improve their potential for promotion.

Among school age children, approximately 30% are considered "at-risk". In these same two counties, Cuyahoga and Summit, there are more than 75,000 school children with learning difficulties.

With the current national concern and emphasis on literacy, schools, education, and welfare reform, the timing is ideal to enlist financial support for this ambitious project. A number of corporations, colleges, non-profit agencies and individuals have expressed a serious interest in the Institute.

Nurturing Success

Recognizing the need for basic education, the Creative Education Institute will address literacy within two groups: adults and children. CEI developed its own teaching and learning model, RICHARDS READ Systematic Language.

While CEI's approach to language arts is relatively new, an early variation of the concept has been in use for more than twenty years. First conceived by Dr. Samual Orton, a neurologist in the 1930's, the educational theory is scientifically proven and well established.

 

Understanding Students

The key ingredient to successfully improving language and math skills is understanding the uniqueness of each student. The CEI program communicates this understanding by training teachers in the development of formal and informal assessment techniques.

Improving self-esteem by encouraging creativity and flexibility usually requires a paradigmatic shift by teachers. This conceptual shift is most important in communicating with the students.

Teachers are encouraged to "risk" (make mistakes) in order to creatively and flexibly shift teaching methods to meet learner needs. The approach to language arts is particularly effective because it emphasizes self-esteem and the students see reading progress very quickly.

Literacy

Language Skills

Developing reading, writing, comprehension and spelling ability is the keystone of the CEI program. In many cases, students' skill levels improve dramatically in only six months or a year. Careful and methodical progression through CEI programs develops these skills. As learning difficulties may differ for each student, the teacher learns to customize portions of the program for each student.

Conceptual Math

In concert with language skills or as a separately, conceptual math is taught by CEI tutors. Utilizing similar communications techniques proven successful in language arts, students often show rapid progress in math. This curriculum focuses on "Real Life" math situations including: check writing, budgeting, math situation problem-solving, measurement etc.