Penny Power!
Penny Power™ is a two-part system where struggling readers learn how to do a daily eye exercise along with a reading method that helps them bring the words into focus. The system is designed with "stealth" involved so that the other students don't know that something special is occuring. Read more below...
What is Penny Power? Watch the Video
What began as an eye relaxation technique for Dr. George Manilla has become a life altering experience for some students in Northern Nevada. Over the past few decades, Dr. Manilla has worked with students who demonstrate reading problems such as Dyslexia, and has refined a two step process for helping these students “see” the words more clearly. He uses a daily eye exercise called “Penny Power™" along with a reading method that shows students how to focus on words to make them clear while reading.
Dr. Manilla has provided services in the past through word-of-mouth, but has now decided to expand his services to schools everywhere. He enlisted the services of Joe de Braga, former Director of Secondary Programs for the Elko County School District in Elko Nevada, and together they have created the company, “Reading Vision LLC”.
In September of the 2012-13 school-year, teachers in Winnemucca, Nevada were trained in Penny Power™ and the reading method. During the first semester the teachers trained 15 students in the system, and continued with their normal instructional practice. Most of these students were already on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Three 2nd grade, five 3rd grade, and seven 4th grade students participated in the program.
The students were tested during the last two weeks of September using the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). Their combined average DRA level was a 13.2, and when tested again during the 2nd week of December their DRA level was 18.4. That is almost an entire years’ growth in 3 months! Their reading words per minute (WPM) accelerated from 52.33 WPM at 95% accuracy in September to 80.07 WPM at 98% accuracy in December. Their reading grade level equivalent through Accelerated Reader (AR) increased from a 1.5 grade level to a 2.4 grade level.
This type of growth gained in only three months would be considered significant even for a student of average ability. Keep in mind that these students have shown little or no growth in the past. Many of them had become frustrated and demonstrated emotional and discipline problems. The teachers and principal reported that these students’ self-esteem has greatly improved, and there have been almost no discipline problems with these students so far this school year.
We estimate that each school district has between five and ten percent of their students that may benefit from the Penny Power™ system. This is the group of students who cause schools to not make adequate yearly progress and to be labeled as “Failing”. Thousands of dollars per year are spent providing reading specialists and instructional aides for these students. Our professionals would like to help.
We would be happy to meet with you to discuss the implementation of this program in your district. For more information or to schedule a meeting contact:
George Manilla
775-753-2910