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Keen on enrolling your child in right brain education but not sure where to start? Read on to find out more about the top three Right Brain Education schools:
- Shichida
- Heguru
- TweedleWink
The Differences Between Shichida, Heguru and TweedleWink
- Pace – TweedleWink believes in following the body’s natural rhythm. Flashcards should be presented at the same pace as the heartbeat. Both Shichida and Heguru flash cards very rapidly, approximately 3 cards per second.
- Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) – There are no ESP activities in the TweedleWink program. Both Shichida and Heguru incorporate activities designed to develop a child’s ESP potential.
- Repetitions – TweedleWink believes there should be fewer repetitions because repetition is the learning style of the left brain. The right brain, which is photographic, captures new material instantaneously and does not require repetition. Repetitions in Shichida and Heguru fall in between Glenn Doman’s three times per day for five consecutive days and TweedleWink’s once a day for three days.
- Movement – TweedleWink believes in the importance of movement to enhance learning. Children, especially boys, need to move to absorb new material. Shichida and Heguru are more structured.
- Activities – TweedleWink believes that the focus of development in infants and toddlers should be purely right brain only. Activities believed to develop the left brain are slowly incorporated later as the left brain emerges and bridging between left and right hemispheres begin to take place. For example, they do not do linking memory, after-image practice, space memory, and other similar activities in their infant and toddler classes. These activities are only incorporated later once the left brain emerges. In Shichida and Heguru, these activities are done right from the start.
- Testing – TweedleWink believes that there should be no testing of the children as this promotes left brain bridging and reduces the right brain potential. The philosophy is relationship first. By virtue of the activities performed in Heguru and Shichida, there is some testing occurring although it is very low-key.
What Happens During the Lesson?
Shichida
- Good morning song in Japanese
- Reinforcement of parent’s love
- Breathing exercise
- Image play
- Extra sensory perception (ESP) training
- Vowel training via song
- Flash card
- Eye exercise
- Photographic memory training
- Linking memory – memory technique for remembering a long sequence of images
- Speed reading and listening
- Puzzles matching game
- Alphabets training via song
- Finger play
- Math with abacus, flash cards, songs and activities
- Goodbye song in Japanese
Heguru
- Introductions
- Flash cards – slow with additional information; stories; songs in other languages; and rapid flashing.
- Reinforcement of parent love.
- Eye training.
- ESP (extra sensory perception) training.
- Linking Memory – memory technique for remembering a long sequence of images.
- Mandala Activity – photographic memory training.
- Mental Imaging – visualising scenarios in the mind.
- Image Training – reproducing images in the mind.
- Speed Listening.
- Puzzles – Tangrams, Iroita.
- Math with abacus, flash cards, songs, and activities and games.
- Peg Memory – memory training technique.
- Music Movement and singing songs.
- Physical Activity.
- Space Memory – memory puzzle.
- Activities – hand writing, puzzles, number memory.
- Story time.
- Goodbye.
TweedleWink
Hello and parent-child relationship reinforcement. Throughout the class, children are given opportunity to move around.
- Vision – visual stimulation and eye training.
- Vocabulary – new words from a variety of categories using flash cards and multi-sensorial activities.
- Culture – introduction to a different country and its culture (language, music, map location etc.)
- Music – perfect pitch training with tuning forks; rhythm training; introduction to different instruments; introduction to different composers and their works.
- Reading – phonics, handwriting, whole words, hands-on activity, riddles, literary exposure, short story.
- Math – flash cards, Math, hands-on math activities.
- Science – a new concept is introduced each week; related hands-on activity.
- Art – exposure to different artists and their works, and styles of art; art activity for older children/Montessori activity for younger children.
- Thank you song.
Overview of the Schools
Shichida
- Country of origin: Japan
- Founder: Makoto Shichida
- Age suitability: 0-6 years (Pre-junior); 7+ (Junior)
- Number of kids per class: 5 max
- Classroom setting: tables and chairs
- Frequency/duration of class: 60 minutes
- Languages used during lessons (including songs): Each week – English, Japanese
- Website: shichidamethod.com
Heguru
- Country of origin: Japan
- Founder: Hirotada and Ruiko Henmi
- Age suitability: 0-12 years old
- Number of kids per class: 6 max
- Classroom setting: floor
- Frequency/duration of class: 60 minutes
- Languages used during lessons (including songs): Each week – Japanese, English, Chinese. Occasionally – a variety of other languages that vary from week to week.
- Website: heguru.com
TweedleWink
- Country of origin: US
- Founder: Pamela Hickein and Wennie Sun
- Age suitability: 0-6 (TweedleWink); 4+ (Wink)
- Number of kids per class: 5 max
- Classroom setting: floor
- Frequency/duration of class: 60 minutes
- Languages used during lessons (including songs): One new language every week (depending on Country studied). If the country is English speaking, then no new languages.
- Website: rightbrainkids.com
From the Horse’s Mouth
Shichida
Some other methods use mainly flashcards or worksheets for their training whereas The Shichida Method™ focus on drawing out the innate imagery system in learning through fun techniques. Parents will be taught how to use stimulating materials during the public seminar. We provide parents the foundation to help their children and not to over-emphasise academic performance, much seen in other types of programmes.
Today, the 21st Century is called the Century of the Brain. It is the right time now to have babies because The Shichida Method™ is revealing to us how we can bring up a child with less stress, more joy and in a successful manner. Our nation can then have many capable and useful citizens with a strong commitment to serve society and to serve with a great heart and positive mindset.
Jocelyn Khoo, Director of Shichida Method
Heguru
Heguru is the result of 27 years of research. It is a wholesome and balanced education which places importance in character building to inculcate a positive attitude towards life.
‘Developing Potential Abilities’ is the main theme of HEGL education. It means activating the genes that are asleep within the individual. HEGL education is an epoch-making method that shows how to activate the gene. When children are trained to fully utilise their right brain, this ability will greatly enhance their learning ability and they become high achievers.
Tam Yu Li, Representative of Heguru Malaysia
TweedleWink
TweedleWink is a balanced program that teaches both sides of the brain based on the child’s development with the Montessori philosophy (where the child takes the lead) as our foundation.
We do not teach ESP, although we encourage children to use heart-based intuition and creativity. We teach speed reading based on a solid foundation of early reading skills. We teach to the rhythm of the heart because we believe a more rapid rate of delivery can over-stimulate the nervous system. We empower our teachers to use their own right-brain creativity and we encourage children to move because movement is good for the brain. We also believe that a strong relationship between the child and the parent is vital.
Wennie Sun, Co-founder of TweedleWink Malaysia
Hello Dr! This article is over 6 years old, would you be doing another update soon? A lot of us hope for one!
Hi Kumaresa,
I’m afraid not at this point. I’m committed to other activities currently.
Hi Dr.
In your opinion, which would be good for a 6 year old active boy?
Hi Laila,
If your boy is active, I think Tweedlewink would be best because there is more room for kids to move. Heguru and Shichida are more sitting still.
Hi Dr.
My son going to be 2 years old end of this month, but still unable to talk and communicate.
In your opinion, which would be a better one for him?
Thank you.
It has been a while since we were attending any of the right brain schools and a lot may have changed. Also bear in mind that we never attended Shichida, although I have seen the premises and I have spoken to parents who took their children there.
I started taking my younger boy when he was preverbal so I don’t think it matters which class you choose. It is also which environment suits him best – his personality and how he relates to the teachers. If you have the time, I would encourage you to visit each place and observe your child in a trial class if they still offer these.
Personally, I thought my older child was better suited to Heguru and the younger one to TweedleWink. But it was hard to have two kids in two different places so I moved the younger to Heguru because he was the more adaptable child.
That said, I don’t think you would go too far wrong in any of the three schools.
Sorry if this answer seems to be sitting on the fence but there is no clear cut best school and what works for one child may not be as good for another.
Hi Dr… I m also a dentist from India… Very interesting blog….with whole some information.. My child is 7 month old nw… Here v r lack of right brain schools.. I m following Glenn word flashcard method in home… Bt she is Nt showing interest… Hw shall i start … This training… Which method shall i follow ..kindly guide me to prepare age appropriate lesson plan..
Hi Rahila,
Our lesson plans can be found here under our premium members section:
https://rightbrainchild.com/rbe-home-practice-lesson-plans/
We have a sample lesson plan available here that you can take a look at:
https://rightbrainchild.com/2020/08/17/rbe-home-practice-week-1/
For the purpose of viewing digital flashcards, the computer screen is large enough. If you are more comfortable using a projector, you may do so as well.
My experience with right brain education library was quite limited and many years ago. A lot of things may have changed so I don’t think I am in a position to comment on it now.
Thank you very much for your kind response… i m planning to avail a paid membership soon… Is it possible to get discount coupon code..
Hi Rahila,
We don’t have discount coupons. The yearly membership offers two months free. The lifetime membership is a one-off payment for lifetime access. Currently, those are the only discounts we offer.
Hi Dr.. Shall i show cards through computers or projector.. What is ur opinion about Right Brain Education Library.Com…kindly reply me
Thank you dr…
Hi Dr.. My 8 month old is showing interest on keypad while showing digital flashcards… Whether shall i go for projector or physical cards…which one is best… Give me some suggestions to overcome this…
Shall i use dot cards or picture (blue cars) for teaching maths..
Hi Rahila,
Projector or physical cards are both acceptable. Alternatively, if you wish for your child not to play with the keypad, you can allow your child to have a fidget toy in hand (e.g. a teether or something that can be manipulated without too much attention required).
Regarding dot cards and picture cards, you may use either or both. The Shichida program instructs the use of both, while Doman believes the dot cards are sufficient. Since the dot card program can begin with children as young as 3 months, the red dots are recommended because infants’ eyes are not fully developed yet and their vision is poor. The red dots helps them to focus on the cards. At 8 months, this is no longer the issue so you are not restricted to red dot cards. Sometimes using cards is an image of your child’s interest can also be more effective.
Thank you very much Dr…
Hello dr
I want to take yearly membership of your prog. Could u throw some light on what rbe school of thought is ur lesson based???
If we follow ur lesson plan, is it enough?
Lesson plans generally follow the Shichida home practice outline with some elements of TweedleWink incorporated. We follow the philosophies of all three RBE schools, including other practices that have been proven to be beneficial for children’s development.
The lesson plan should not be taken as a complete program in isolation as a child’s all-rounded development should include a variety of activities that we cannot cover, such as trips to the science center, outdoor/nature play, and other similar experiences. We do provide suggestions, which will definitely contribute to your child’s overall development. Our goal is to provide you with all the information you need to assist you along with your early learning journey.
Hello Dr
I have 5 year old son . Can you please advise me from should I start ? He knows Addition and subtraction . RBE is completely new to us and I came to know recently.
Thank you
So
Hi there – I suggest starting on the following page to help you get a little more familiar with what RBE is all about and where to locate specific resources on this site:
https://rightbrainchild.com/beginning-your-rbe-journey/
Please join us on this Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/rightbrainchild) for general discussions and questions. You can also reach out to me directly for specific questions related to your child – https://rightbrainchild.com/contact/.
Hai ma’am, I found your blog very useful all the informations you provided are very informative. I’m 9 months pregnant now. I like to start RBE to my baby right after the birth. So I would like to know how to start, from which month to start, from what to start, doman or heguru or brill kids or tweedlewink or shichida method which one to start, daily what RBE activities I have to follow to my baby. Is there any daily schedule or plan for newborn baby RBE programs. Please I need your help ma’am
RBE schools (Shichida, Heugur, and Tweedlewink) usually begin at about 5-6 months but you can start later if you wish. Usually at this early age, much of the lesson is input only. Parents accompany children and will answer the questions in place of the child. This allows the child to see how the lesson should run and as they grow older, they will answer the questions themselves. The lessons are not much different to how they would run for an older child. Much of the learning is through observation and this is in preparation to when they are old enough to start doing the activities themselves.
Doman’s program begins much earlier, from about 3months onwards for the reading and math program; and 8 months onwards for the encyclopedic program. Doman also has a physical program that encourages physical development of your baby and this begins from birth. Usually, special equipment is required for this and it is best to be done at home.
There is no daily schedule or plan for a newborn per se, but you can begin with the Doman program if you want to start early. You can incorporate RBE lessons when your child is older. I hope this helps.