The Academic Gym Literacy Skills

So, if we want our children to succeed, we must teach them to read intentionally, intensively, and proactively, because the brain begins building the foundations for reading from birth. Literacy begins in the cradle, not kindergarten.

At T.A.G. The Academic Gym, we used movement-based learning to help kids with ADHD. Notice how this student is always moving. Now his constant need for movement might be considered a distraction in a standard classroom, but at T.A.G. we use his need to move to his advantage.

Have you wondered why some kids have a difficult time remembering the phonics lessons you just taught them? Phonics (or teaching kids how to match letter-symbols to sounds) does not work effectively unless children already have a mental dictionary of sounds and spellings in their heads. When children have mental phonological (sound) and orthographic (spelling) files embedded in their brains, it's much easier for them to map letters to sounds.

Parents, if you struggled with reading and spelling during your school years, chances are your children are at an elevated risk of experiencing the same frustrations and difficulties. What can you do proactively to equip your kids to overcome reading difficulties before they start formal schooling?

Sylla‑Bear is designed to build a strong foundation in phonological, syllabic, and phonemic awareness through playful, engaging songs and activities.

Meet Sylla-Bear, the world’s first 16-inch, eco-friendly, Wi-Fi-enabled literacy companion designed to nurture your baby’s brain through sound, rhythm, and bonding. This cuddly bear is more than a toy—it’s a complete early literacy curriculum wrapped in a soft, safe, and lovable package. Parents can stream syllables, spelling skills, and speech sounds directly to Sylla-Bear’s internal speaker system, creating a cozy, immersive soundscape that supports early language developme

Phonemic Awareness Sylla-Bear helps kids develop Phonemic awareness. This means that Sylla-Bear helps kids learn how to recognize and say all the speech sounds that we use to create words. Check it out here.

Whether at home or in a pre‑kindergarten setting, Sylla‑Bear transforms early learning into a joyful journey that lays the groundwork for confident, lifelong literacy.

Imagine a learning companion that does more than just entertain—it builds the very foundation of reading success. Sylla‑Bear™ isn’t just a toy; it’s an all-in-one early literacy curriculum designed to nurture your child’s language skills. Through delightful songs that sing the alphabet, break down syllables, and even spell your child’s name, Sylla‑Bear teaches the sounds and structures of language in a fun, natural way.

ScholarSkills Sylla-Bear® sets the stage at the earliest age for kids to learn the skills they need to start to read. Sylla-Bear can help to prep and protect your baby's reading brain by syncing it with a sea of rhythmic syllables and songs. Check it out here.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I hope you have a great holiday season. Sincerely Mr. Vieira

And here's what I'm getting at: Your baby's brain makes 1 million connections between neurons every second of every day for the first three years. Babies' brains create neural connections to build the networks they need to wire the brain for all the functions that make us feel, move, and learn. For example, babies start building the networks for lifelong literacy success in those first three years. The best time to lay the foundations for reading is duri

This study illustrates that parents should proactively and intentionally create early linguistic environments that train their baby's reading brain. Parents and caregivers should sing, speak, and read to infants as often as possible. And instead of screen time, parents can use a vital tool such as ScholarSkills Sylla-Bear. 

If your child is a neurodiverse learner struggling with reading, join us for a transformative weekend retreat designed to activate the reading brain through joyful, movement-based literacy. T.A.G. (The Academic Gym®)  trains cognition through rhythmic exercise, multisensory routines, and whole-child care. Our retreats help kids build the confidence and skills they need to read and succeed—by engaging both body and mind in dynamic, science-backed learning. 🧠 What to Expect Ou

Did you know that reading difficulties are often inherited? If you had trouble learning to read due to traits of ADHD or dyslexia, chances are that your children will also struggle with reading.

Here's how movement creates mastery. In the academic gym we use VITAAL-K reading coaching (Visual, Interactive, Auditory, Adaptive, Linguistic-Kinesthetic) integrated with analytical spelling for reading. Students use a variety of exciting cognitive athletic activities to  embed the spellings and sounds into their heads.

AG VITAAL-K Coaching™ delivers the science of reading through rhythmic, full-body routines that activate cognitive, emotional, and linguistic systems simultaneously.

According to research published in the Biomedical Journal, systematic exercise routines during and after school are the best non-pharmaceutical intervention for students with ADHD. While “walking around the classroom” and other “movement breaks” are well-intentioned, their effects are nominal and transient for students facing complex cognitive and executive functioning challenges. Scientists recommend that schools and families implement consistent cognitive exercise programs.

If Miracle-Gro helps plants thrive, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) helps brains bloom. BDNF is a powerful brain protein that supports learning, emotional regulation, and social development. It’s not something we teach—it’s something we activate. And for teachers, that activation starts with movement. Research shows that just a few minutes of aerobic activity—running, dancing, even playful jumping—can flood the brain with BDNF, priming students to absorb new informat

If your child has ADHD, they don’t need to “try harder”—they need a system that works with their brain, not against it. The Academic Gym®’s VITAL-K™ Reading Coaching Program does just that. It transforms reading from a struggle into a strength—one jump, clap, and syllable at a time.