“After our staff had received training from Kevin Spencer, we scheduled one on one sessions with the pediatric rehabilitation patients, their therapist, the patient’s parents, and the magician.  This is where it all came together and the therapists with the guidance of Kevin Spencer could use their newly learned tools to enhance their therapeutic sessions.  The parents were able to participate, observe, and learn these tricks as well and were encouraged to use them at home.  These magical tools were used to elicit motivation, coordination, range of motion, prehension, and fine motor coordination, and perceptual training in their patients.  The sessions were scheduled from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the child and their disability over a two day period.  Kevin also spent a day at the school system with some special needs students and their teachers and therapists. This unique opportunity was a huge success on many levels.

I highly recommend Kevin Spencer.  He is passionate about his work and is an amazing educator and performer.  He is organized in his work and communicates clearly.  His specialized work in rehabilitation and education is very exciting and has given many of our traditionally trained therapists an opportunity to be more creative and think outside the box.  My department has made a commitment to continue our relationship with Kevin Spencer and we plan on incorporating his magical, creative treatment options into our setting.”
-Rebecca Phillips, OTR, CHT, CLCP
Administrative Director of Rehabilitation

“The magic workshop that Kevin put on for my students was phenomenal. The kids (and adults) were amazed at all of the tricks they could do. Watching my students try new things and not feel defeated was an awesome experience. I can see so many benefits for using these simple tricks with my students!  They will be willing to ‘work’ on the tricks over and over again while building fine motor skills as well as sequencing, problem solving, and processing.  My students don’t always get involved in assemblies, but this assembly was all about them – and the results I have already seen are nothing short of magical!”
-Kelly Olson, Life Skills Teacher, Riverside Elementary, KS

“Hocus Focus was a fabulous program for students that need to build their self-esteem. It was nice to see kids that stand back in the crowd taking center stage and performing the Hocus Focus tricks and doing it with confidence and smiles.”
-Karla Cunningham, SFA Reading Facilitator, Jane Phillips Elementary, OK

“Our students with behavior disorders have a very hard time with frustration tolerance and task follow-through. I can see this being an enjoyable time where they are perfecting these skills without knowing it. We need to constantly find ways to reach our students and I appreciate the work you have done that gives us another tool in our belt. I have some students who definitely enjoy excessive attention. This gives them a way to get that attention appropriately, and, hopefully, become self sufficient so that they can feel good about themselves without the excessive external affirmation from others.”
-Kathy L. McClung, Teacher of Behavior Disorders, AEA 267-Bremwood, I

“Kevin was masterful with our area special ed teachers AND students.  Through this educational outreach, teachers saw their students rise to the challenge of critical thinking and problem solving, maintain their focus to give attention to detail, and stay with a task long enough to see the solution.  All teachers involved in this special workshop took valuable skills back to their classrooms. Kevin took the time to provide hands-on educational training — a unique resource not available with all touring shows.  Every organization partnering with the Spencer’s show should take advantage of this valuable educational opportunity – not as a magic show for students, but as a rich and meaningful learning tool to be embedded in daily routine of the classroom.”
-Charlotte Smelser, TRAHC Education Director, Texarkana, TX

“Over the past couple of years, Kevin and I have discussed his new Hocus Focus intervention and discussed the value of magic as a therapeutic intervention. I have been very impressed with his insights and efforts. He is a true ambassador of magic. As a psychologist who first got interested in magic primarily as a clinician, I am very well aware of the inherent value of magic. The use of magic can be extremely engaging and act as a social catalyst for rapport and relationship building. Most people are fascinated with magic and are eagerly engaged.

The teaching of magic has many therapeutic benefits. Not only does it work on confidence and stage presence (communication), but it also can be used to teach cognitive and motor skills. It is amazing that people will work hard to learn materials that are intrinsically motivating to them. So often people don’t realize that they are enhancing these skills because their primary goal is self-satisfaction and developing the skills to perform the magic. I have been amazed to watch children with ADHD or learning disabilities work slowly and carefully, following the necessary steps, because they want to get the trick or illusion correct.

I am a true believer in the therapeutic value of magic. Learning the skills, allows people to realize that they are capable and they have ‘the magic within themselves.’ They just have to find it.”
-Aubrey H. Fine, Licensed Psychologist, Professor -CAL Poly State University

“My students gained so much from your Hocus Focus Project, even though my kids are considered the ‘gifted’ in our school. For some of my kids, the fine motor skills involved in use of the rubber band tricks improved their levels of concentration and for some, dexterity. Without exception, every one of my students gained in their self-perception and self-confidence. Even my quietest, shyest students were able to perform for their peers and enjoyed and basked in the “limelight”. For my students, issues of improving self esteem are often tantamount to them achieving in every other aspect of their lives. The improved attention skills obviously were a great tool for them to increase their levels of academic achievement.

Thank you so much for coming to our school and I do so hope that you will be able to visit with us again the next time you are in the Jacksonville area.”
-Meredith Reno, Alden Road Exceptional Student Center

When Asked About the Effectiveness of the Hocus Focus™ Project in Their Classrooms, Educators Responded:

Comment:  From what I observed, Hocus Focus can be very effective in a classroom of diverse learners.  Good for visual, tactile, and kinesthetic learners also.  I would recommend the program because it is motivating, different (which peaks student interest), appeals to all learners, and can be adapted to most social, behavioral, and/or academic goals and standards.  It is inexpensive and easy to use.  I just love it!

Comment:  While learning the tricks, I could see how the focus was on learning even if the students did not see it.  They were very engaged!

Comment:  Hocus Focus boosted my students’ self-esteem and confidence.  They participated 100%, had a great time, and haven’t stopped talking about it.  It showed them that they can do things that seem impossible and prompted their thought process and changed their way of thinking.

Comment:  Hocus Focus demonstrated that when students are engaged and interested, they can learn amazing things.

Comment:  Hocus Focus sparked my students’ creativity.  I noticed increased focus and attention and no one was afraid to participate – they couldn’t wait to demonstrate what they had learned to others.

Comment:  I watched my students trying whatever was asked of them without hesitation – something they don’t usually do.  The Hocus Focus approach was very unique and engaging.  My students lost their shyness and feelings of insecurity with an increase in their confidence immediately.

Comment:  Hocus Focus was well received by the students.  They were concentrating and using verbal skills – and they handled it all very well!

Comment:  Hocus Focus held the interest of my students and they felt successful when they learned the trick.  Their on-task focus improved as they tried and tried without giving up.  So many, many triumphant smiles!

Comment:  My students are kinesthetic learners and magic gets them up and moving and using hands-on learning.  When they presented their tricks to the class, they demonstrated confidence and developed public speaking skills and critical thinking skills. My Aspergers student was very humorous and did better than expected.  I did not realize he would have such good comedic timing.  Hocus Focus has many practical uses in the classroom and gets the kids excited about learning.  They felt empowered to deliver presentations and learned some new tricks to teach their friends and family (improved social skills).