About Us

At BRIGHTMINDS™ we follow brain-compatible principles by creating a safe environment, respecting uniqueness, engaging emotions, and promoting active learning while ensuring proper nutrition and hydration, offering immediate feedback, and utilizing learning patterns.

Our Background

I’m Nora Marais, an Educational Learning Coach with a passion for helping students of all ages since 1982. My experience as a teacher and facilitator has shown that many struggle with the basics of learning, often due to difficulties in reading and understanding. That’s where the BRIGHT MINDS Learning, Smart thinking & Reading Program comes in. Our goal is to transform how students learn, boosting their confidence and turning tests and exams into exciting opportunities for growth.

How And Why The Program Was Started

My journey into education began when I saw my daughter grappling with Auditory Processing Disorder. It ignited a passion in me to enhance her learning experience. In 2001, I took on the role of a full-time teacher with the goal of making learning not just effective but enjoyable. As I worked with students, I noticed common challenges in spelling, sentence construction, and reading comprehension. This pushed me to delve deeper into modern learning and reading techniques to better support my students.

How We Work

In 2013, I stumbled upon the concept of Accelerated Learning, and it struck a chord. Leveraging my background as a Life Coach and NLP Coach, I ventured into the world of Educational Learning Coaching and gave birth to the Speed Learning Program. After some rigorous testing in various settings, we've witnessed fantastic results.

However, we realized that integrating reading sessions with learning lessons was necessary because children who struggle with reading also struggle with learning. We have now developed a combined approach and are offering the following:

Reading Session (+-20 minutes): They start with a focused reading session which includes timed passage, memory, grammar, word definition, comprehension, word recognition, eye exercises.
Tutoring Session (+-55 minutes): Here, we guide them through our speed learning blueprint, including:
- Relaxation and Motivation: Helping them get into a relaxed and motivated mindset.
- Sensory Learning: Engaging with the content material by engaging all senses for deeper understanding.
- Personalized Learning: Tailoring the approach to their preferred multi-intelligence style.
- Understanding and Grasping: Ensuring they grasp the material.
- Memory Techniques: Introducing memory techniques to help them effectively retain the material.
- Knowledge Testing: Testing what they’ve learned through retrieval exercises, reinforcing their understanding.
- Reflection and Recap: Reflecting on the session.
By the end of the session, your child will have experienced a practical example of how effective and engaging learning can be. Our goal is to empower them with the skills and techniques they need to study independently and excel in their learning journey.

Our Main Values

Personalized Care: Customized learning for each child.
Commitment to Quality: Our best for your child’s education.
Fair Chances: Every child deserves the best.

Our Mission

To ignite, equip, and boost young minds for the 21st century. To nurture their ability to think critically, be creative, communicate effectively, and work together seamlessly.

Our Vision

We envision a future where every young learner not only excels academically but also thrives in life. We're committed to make learning fun, engaging, and tailored to each child's unique needs. We see a world where all kids have the opportunity to unlock their full learning potential and seize every opportunity that comes their way.