ARTICLES

EDUCATION

The International Centre for Excellence believes that many boys are not getting the opportunity to develop their creative or physical sides and are "blocked" from understanding their feelings and thoughts. This often leads to under-achievement and frustration with school, behavioural difficulties and problems with concentration.

ICE is running regular BOYSTUFF workshops to help boys express their emotions, find their "voices" and to celebrate their unique "boy-natures". These workshops help boys to raise self-esteem, learn to cooperate and collaborate, connect with their emotions and achieve their goals.

The boys are led through enjoyable "hands-on" strategies such as rhythm, dancing, drama, mask making and modelling to discover their "boy-natures" and to trust and honour their feelings and intuition. They are shown how to motivate themselves and set achievable goals to start to realise their own unique life-paths.

ICE has a full calendar of workshops planned for the coming 12 months and boys can attend as many workshops as they like, as each one has a unique theme and content. To register interest, contact the ICE office on 9478 3323.

New education centre in Guildford

The International Centre For Excellence has opened a much larger centre in Guildford, and can now extend their services. As well as their assessment and tuition services, they are now able to offer Home-Schoolers' classes, meditation and yoga for children, EQ4KIDZ, art/craft classes, BOYSTUFF, Homework Club, music and drama, mosaics for children and adults and parent and teacher professional development. Call 9478 3323 for more information.

Kumon - helping children reach their potential
- by Nicola Donald

Kumon is a unique after-school education programme that enables children to achieve their true potential.

Christina Ly has been enrolled in Kumon since primary school. She was first enrolled in the Maths Programme and has recently completed the English Programme. Christina is a bubbly, self-confident 15-year-old who will be successful at anything she pursues in life.

Christina started the English Programme after a teacher suggested she could write in a more "grown-up way". Handed the challenge, Christina set out to prove to her teachers that she could do it. With the help of her supervisor at the Wembley Downs Kumon Education Centre, Christina completed the English Programme in under a year. This is an amazing achievement because at the end of the programme Christina was doing work equivalent to Year 12 English Literature!

The individualised Maths and English Kumon Programmes promote daily success in learning, which improves students' confidence and therefore increases their motivation to learn. The Kumon Programme enables students to work at their own individual pace, leading to long-term success.

Kumon Education Centres are located across the Perth metropolitan area. For more information about Kumon please call 1800 458 666 or visit www.kumon.com.au.

Specialist educational intervention: pre primary to year 10
- Julia Gilmore (M.Ed.,B.Ed.,Dip.Tch)

What do you do when your child is struggling at school? Reports and portfolios have recently been handed out and the second half of the year has begun.

Parents are often aware that their child is not succeeding or reaching his/her full potential at school but are not sure what to do. Whether a child is struggling in reading, writing, spelling, maths, organisational and study skills or is cruising and not achieving his/her true levels, there is help available.

More parents of Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary students are seeking specialised intervention to help their child. Most parents find it very hard to help an unwilling, frustrated and often negative child at home and need guidance and support from an Educational Specialist.

At A1 Learning, each child is given an individual programme so that he/she can achieve full potential and develop a strong sense of self-esteem as a learner. Parents are given weekly feedback, with additional support always available.

Parents and teachers report major improvements within weeks of children commencing their programmes at A1 Learning.

Parents often need counseling as to the best choices for their child's academic, social, emotional and behavioural well-being. At A1 Learning, practical assistance and follow-up help is provided.

Check out the website: a1learning.q-net.net.au or call Julia on 9402 5080.

Where are you shopping this Christmas?

Christmas is fast approaching and every child is eagerly waiting to see what will appear under the Christmas Tree.

Playways WA has an enormous variety of toys in stock - from the classic toys that you may remember from your childhood to the latest innovative toys and books. Our experienced staff would love to help you create a little magic for your childís Christmas by finding something just that bit different.

Margaret and Bev, both experienced booksellers of many years will find that perfect book from the varied range in stock, and Bev can help solve any of your Child's art and craft problems.

Leanne and Claire, with their background in Early Childhood Education are on hand to help with toys for aiding child development, as can Andrea, a trained child psychologist, who has been helping parents in Playways since 1988.

Lucy is Playway's 'Mobile Showroom' representative. She helps local schools, child care centers and playgroups with their requirements, and is always happy to come and visit new centers.

Learning whilst having fun is what Playways is all about. We always have new and imaginative toys and books in stock, and love to help busy parents, carers and family members find that very special something.

Layby now for Christmas, and have as much fun choosing as your child will have playing.

For more information contact Playways on 9381 3368.

A mother describes her child

This is how one mother described her child recently:
ï Trouble with left and right
ï Difficulty learning the alphabet, days of the week, months of the year
ï Misuses capital letters
ï Messy handwriting, messy desk and messy bedroom
ï Slow progress with reading
ï Trouble learning times tables
ï Confuses was for saw
ï Tires easily, yawns, daydreams and appears to be lazy
ï Problems telling the time
ï Always running late to class and lingers after class
ï Obviously bright but canít seem to master basic literacy skills
ï Good at making and fixing things
ï Loves colouring and drawing
ï Loses homework or hands it in late and sloppily done
ï Overactive, easily distracted and mischievous - but not in a mean way
ï Inconsistent. He can have good days and surprise you sometimes. This is a problem at school because his teachers get frustrated with him
ï When he talks he often has a pause in the middle of his sentence. You get to the stage of thinking 'spit it out'

Sounds familiar? If this motherís description largely matches your child then this is the programme for him or her.

The Reading and Learning Centre is a specialist tuition clinic for these children only. The centre is recognised by the Education Department of WA, Family and Childrenís Services, and the Department of Defence as an alternative avenue of support for children at educational risk.

Approximately 5000 children have attended in the past decade, many from rural WA. Children attend for one hour per week during school term or school holidays and significant gains are expected within one term. Contact 9343 0333 or 9294 1838 for more information or to enrol your child.

Talking Smart

Unlock & develop your child's creative potential.

Most people mistakenly believe you are either creative or not; this is not true.

It is possible to develop your creative potential. A unique partnership between Sharon, an experienced Educational Kinesiologist, and Catherine, a Speech Pathologist, aims to unlock and develop childrenís ability to think, speak and write more creatively.

Catherine's area of interest is developing children's literacy, grammar, spelling, story planning, creative thinking and writing. She finds many children dislike writing because they believe it is boring, tedious and they're not "good" at it. Being vibrant, creative and enthusiastic, Catherine aims to show children how to become "good" at writing by providing simple and fun strategies to develop their writing. These include, brainstorming ideas, linking ideas, developing story "language", planning skills and creating interesting stories by considering the reader's point of view.

For information about unlocking your child's creative potential call Sharon (0422 789 850). For information about developing your child's creative abilities call Catherine (0412 047 845). Centrally located, in West Perth, in a fun, vibrant, kid-friendly atmosphere.