MARIETTA, Ga., March 7, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- It's finally happened! Author/Illustrator Johnnie W. Lewis publicly releases her method of "getting through" to students who need help writing paragraphs and essays!
Teachers and administrators constantly ask, "Why can't we duplicate the results on these tests each time?" and "Why are students having so much trouble writing essays?" "The Five Finger Paragraph" method can alleviate those problems.
As a former certified teacher, Mrs. Lewis created the brain-based method that makes writing an orderly paragraph as painless as possible by using vibrant colors and illustrations to gain and retain the student's attention. Students respond to the Visual, Kinesthetic and Logical domains of the Multiple Intelligences while using the method. And when a student understands "The Five Finger Paragraph" the first time, he/she won't forget it when testing time comes again . . ., or again.
The difference is in the approach used to present the method to students. Children remember concrete objects longer than they do verbal abstract concepts. The tactile use of the hand allows for subliminal absorption of the method because it is very concrete, as it is visual and kinesthetic. Students respond almost instantly to "The Five Finger Paragraph(c)," especially mentally challenged students, and appreciate the fact that they are allowed to take their "manipulative" with them into a testing situation.
Johnnie has presented "The Five finger Paragraph(c)" at numerous teacher workdays, home-school fairs, and has even been invited on several television shows to explain her methods. Teacher and Student editions of "The Five Finger Paragraph(c)," and the accompanying ancillary materials and classroom kits, are divided into overlapping grade groupings for public/private school students (grades K-4, 2-6, 4-8, and 7-12+). The HomeSchool/HomeStudy kits include Parent and Student editions, all ancillary materials, and covers all grade levels (K-12+). The materials are excellent for college English remediation.
Dr. Kathy Nesbitt, Director of The Flint Area Learning Center in Cordele, Georgia says:
"Johnnie Lewis has created some excellent instructional
materials for teaching writing skills with 'The Five Finger
Paragraph and The Five Finger Essay.' The overall information
provided by this program is excellent for use with students
who need instruction to be presented in a variety of ways.
It would certainly be appropriate to use with general
education students as well. The lesson plans and their
accompanying materials really help students to be able to
determine a useful plan for organizing their writing. I
believe these materials would be an excellent supplement to
an effective language arts program and would help strengthen
the writing skills of almost any student."
Teachers and administrators across the country have expressed similar views of the method taught in "The Five Finger Paragraph" since its introduction to public school systems in 1998 and home-school families in 2002.