Our Story
As a Kindergarten teacher, I was always frustrated when the time came to teach students how to space between their letters and words. I had tried popsicle sticks, rulers and all the rest. I knew that many teachers had the children use their own fingers for spacing and I tried that also with some success. Then came the "aha" moment. Using their own finger was awkward, but if I put the picture of a finger on a flat card it should work better. I made my first Finger Spacers for my classroom and had unbelievable success. Thinking it might be sheer luck, I held my breath when I tried the Spacers again the next year - with the same success. After talking to my colleagues for a couple years about how fast my students were learning how to space, it was easy to have them try the Spacer with their classes. Again, success! I knew I was on to something. With the Spacer they had instant recognition and learned the spacing concept in half the time. My left handed students possibly benefit the most - no more awkward reaching. I received a Provisional Patent and obtained a copyright and I was in business. I put as many utilities on the Spacer as I could think of that would be useful to the student and to the teacher. The Finger Spacers not only have been a success in the general classroom, but I'm very happy that Special Ed and therapists have made it one of their favorite writing tools.
Trying to find a solution for a problem led to the creation of the Finger Spacer. I had another problem - Big Books. My school had purchased a lot of big books. My principal noticed that I wasn't using them and asked why. I told her that the easel she gave me was heavy, took up too much space, tore the pages of the books when I turned them and someone had to stand there and hold the pages open. I didn't like it! She made it clear that I was to use the big books. I thought about it and came up with the Big Book Tree. It's simple, fun and inexpensive. The industrial band holds the book and you only need to hold one side open as the tree rests and is supported against your arm. You always have one arm / hand free to turn pages and gesture. Because the Tree is light, you are able to sit, stand or walk around with it. The lower part can be removed making the Tree half its' length, and then it can be used on a desk or sitting on the carpet to read. It works.
These tools were created because, like all teachers, I had a problem and I needed a solution so my students would learn faster and better and I could be a more effective teacher.
As a Kindergarten teacher, I was always frustrated when the time came to teach students how to space between their letters and words. I had tried popsicle sticks, rulers and all the rest. I knew that many teachers had the children use their own fingers for spacing and I tried that also with some success. Then came the "aha" moment. Using their own finger was awkward, but if I put the picture of a finger on a flat card it should work better. I made my first Finger Spacers for my classroom and had unbelievable success. Thinking it might be sheer luck, I held my breath when I tried the Spacers again the next year - with the same success. After talking to my colleagues for a couple years about how fast my students were learning how to space, it was easy to have them try the Spacer with their classes. Again, success! I knew I was on to something. With the Spacer they had instant recognition and learned the spacing concept in half the time. My left handed students possibly benefit the most - no more awkward reaching. I received a Provisional Patent and obtained a copyright and I was in business. I put as many utilities on the Spacer as I could think of that would be useful to the student and to the teacher. The Finger Spacers not only have been a success in the general classroom, but I'm very happy that Special Ed and therapists have made it one of their favorite writing tools.
Trying to find a solution for a problem led to the creation of the Finger Spacer. I had another problem - Big Books. My school had purchased a lot of big books. My principal noticed that I wasn't using them and asked why. I told her that the easel she gave me was heavy, took up too much space, tore the pages of the books when I turned them and someone had to stand there and hold the pages open. I didn't like it! She made it clear that I was to use the big books. I thought about it and came up with the Big Book Tree. It's simple, fun and inexpensive. The industrial band holds the book and you only need to hold one side open as the tree rests and is supported against your arm. You always have one arm / hand free to turn pages and gesture. Because the Tree is light, you are able to sit, stand or walk around with it. The lower part can be removed making the Tree half its' length, and then it can be used on a desk or sitting on the carpet to read. It works.
These tools were created because, like all teachers, I had a problem and I needed a solution so my students would learn faster and better and I could be a more effective teacher.