“A student can commit something to memory with no knowledge whatsoever.”
— Ronald Davis (founder of the Davis Approach®)
The Davis Approach
At NorthLight Learning, we use the Davis Method® to help those who think and learn differently reach their full potential.
This method is based on mastery, providing clients with the tools to master core concepts and symbols. It is much like you never forget how to ride a bike once you've mastered the skill. We know that many students don’t retain information unless it fits into the “big picture”, and connects with their interests and understanding. So, instead of relying on frustrating repetition and drills, which don't work for many learners, we focus on re-building a new learning foundation where they gain a solid understanding of the basic concepts that underly the traditional drills and repetition method. This allows them to transfer their knowledge to new situations in learning and life.
Harnessing potential
Many individuals with learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD and math problems (dyscalculia), as well as other neurodivergences, think in pictures. This kind of thinking is a gift - a super power - fostering vivid imagination, creativity, deep empathy and an ability to grasp complex problems multi-dimensionally rather than through linear steps.
Many highly imaginative people—including Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Henry Winkler (aka “The Fonz”), Agatha Christie and Magic Johnson—have achieved great things. They succeeded, not in spite of their ability to think in pictures, but because of it. This gift for visual imagination, rather than traditional word-based thinking, was the key to their success. The programs we facilitate draw on this gift.
The struggle behind the thought
Thinking in pictures—processing the world through images, feelings, and sensations—is a unique and powerful way of understanding. While this can initially present hurdles in reading, writing, math, and verbal expression, these challenges are often a sign of an incredible ability waiting to be unlocked. These challenges are simply symptoms of a learning style that needs to be properly supported. We work with individuals to address the foundational aspects of this learning style, empowering them to overcome these obstacles, leverage their strengths, and build unshakable confidence in their own abilities.
For individuals with dyslexia, creativity is key to unlocking effective learning and mastery. The Davis Method®'s unique approach uses clay to bridge the gap between a written word and a visual thinker's picture-based thoughts.
Think of it this way: when we simply memorize something, we gain only memorization. When we grasp a concept, we achieve understanding. But when we create something to the point of mastery, it becomes a fundamental part of our thinking, permanently embedded in how we process information.
Why we use clay to help learning
True mastery is where we know something so well we don’t have to think about it.
Consider learning to ride a bicycle. You can learn the steps of riding a bike by reading about it in a book, but not be able to actually do it. Understanding alone won't keep you from falling. To master bike riding, you must actually do it. You acquire the skill by practicing it in the physical world. So, how do we "master" a word, since we can't physically ride it?
The answer lies in sculpting a word's meaning in clay to bring that abstract concept into reality. By physically modeling the word's concept and then associating its appearance and sound with this tangible creation, the word becomes truly mastered. This hands-on, multi-sensory approach transforms an abstract idea into a deeply understood, integrated part of learning.
“When we make the concept of the word in clay, what we are doing is creating that concept in the real world. When we create the concept of the word in clay and then add what the word looks like and what the word sounds like, we have created the word in the real world. That word is mastered.”
— Ronald Davis
Understanding neurodivergent perception
Neurodivergent individuals often experience shifts in perception, not due to issues with their eyes or ears, but from mental disorientation in how their brain interprets sensory input. This disorientation is frequently the source of many neurodivergent strengths, such as creativity, innovative thinking, empathy, and unique problem-solving abilities.
Learning difficulties like dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD arise from how individuals process information and their tendency to disorient when confused, overwhelmed, or over/under-stimulated. When disoriented, they may replace accurate sensory perceptions with mentally generated ones, distorting their sense of sight, hearing, balance, movement, and time.
The Davis Method® teaches students to recognize disorientation and use simple techniques to reorient. This helps them maintain mental focus, accurately process information, and interact effectively with their physical environment independently. Once oriented, we establish and review understanding of concepts perhaps previously missed to facilitate life-impacting changes.
For more information on the Davis Method, please view this video.
Dr. Angela Gonzales, Dyslexia and ADD specialist, shares advice for parents on children with learning disabilities and the way the Davis Method can help.