EDUCATION

Learning to read is fun with Kumon
-Nicola Donald

Helena Nguyen loves learning at the Maylands Kumon Education Centre. She says that her Supervisor Sarah Stampfli is really fun and she loves everything she does at the centre. Helena is a five year old who is learning to read and write using the Kumon Programme. She can also count up to 200 and is learning addition and sequencing skills! Her supervisor says that it is a joy to see Helena in the centre as she never stops smiling and meets every new challenge with enthusiasm.

Helena's parents first learned of Kumon when they were living next door to the Maylands Kumon Centre. Helenaís mother was pregnant and they knew they wanted to give their daughter the enthusiasm for learning that they could see so many children gaining through Kumon. When Helena was born, they asked the supervisor when their daughter would be ready to start and he told them that as soon as a child can hold a pencil they are prepared for Kumon!

The Supervisor at the Maylands Kumon Centre received a call four years later - Helena can hold a pencil! So she was enrolled in the Kumon programme with the goal of developing her literacy and numeracy skills. Along with learning these skills Helena's concentration span and confidence has improved dramatically. Her parents are so happy with the results that they are telling all their friends!

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

Make Reading Fun
Specialising in Self-Motivational Techniques

The Make Reading Fun programme offers a unique, innovative reading and writing programme where you can expect reluctant, not so capable and good readers to reach their potential at a faster rate. The programme is able to achieve this because the opportunities for success and motivation are built into the programme.

The course is especially suited to accelerate learning from years 1-3 (junior class) and years 4-7 (senior class)

Help your child to:

ï Read, write and spell quickly

ï Revise basic reading skills

ï Skim read for the main idea

ï Compose narratives

ï Summarise oral and written material

ï Expand and delete information

ï Use correct punctuation and grammar

ï Self correct and edit written work

ï Develop daily dictionary usage

ï Comprehend information quickly

ï Recount information from memory

ï Develop self-esteem and confidence

Reading results are available to parents.

Prepare your child to reach their potential and future success.

Classes available Wednesday in Morley and Thursday in Wembley.

For more information phone 9375 7764 or 0438 946 621.

Talking Smart

Phonemic awareness and the link to literacy

In the past reading has been viewed as a purely visual skill. However oral language skills (as well as visual skills) are pre-requisites for the acquisition of literacy.

As adults, and as competent readers, we forget the process involved in decoding the squiggles on paper and how they relate to the constant stream of speech. Making a link between spoken and written words is the beginning of this process.

Phonemic awareness is described as the ability to separate spoken words into sounds. These can include;

ï Identifying rhyming words

ï Identifying sounds at the beginning or end of a word

ï Segmenting a spoken word into itís component sounds

ï Blending sounds into words

ï Identifying the words that make up a sentence.

Poor phonemic awareness is causally related to reading. Children with poor phonemic awareness will also have poor decoding and word recognition skills. Children with good phonemic awareness skills go on to become good readers.

Pre-school children need to have developed their phonemic awareness skills before year one, if they are to achieve success.

For more information call Catherine at Smart Talk on 0412 047 845.

I'm sure Iím more than an over-anxious parent
- Rochelle Castine, Clinical Psychologist

Does this sound familiar?  "So my child bites their nails and doesn't listen sometimes...why am I so worried?"  You know, the times when you look around, and see so many kids with bigger problems than yours, but it still niggles and doesn't feel right. Or have you 'known' there's something wrong, but when seeking help, felt fobbed off, shunted from pillar-to-post, and generally told you're just an over-anxious parent?

Guess what? You are usually right! You may not have the "what" of the problem, but the fact you're still worrying means there' a problem (even if it's just that you're still worrying!). Maybe a little passing thing has become enormous, through not being heard and having concerns properly discussed! Parents are often the first to notice little niggles that are hard to identify but easy to address, if caught early.

If this sounds familiar or you seem just 'over-anxious', call Rochelle on 9244 5212.

Bright students not achieving potential
-Julia Gilmore (M.Ed., B.Ed., Dip. Tch)

Underachievement in reading, writing, spelling and maths is a very real problem for many primary and high school students. Parents are aware that their child's performance is below their potential but feel unsure about how they can help.

Some underachievers remain within the 'satisfactory' range of each subject area and cruise through school, when they could be working two or more years ahead of their chronological age level. Others are up to two years behind the required levels and struggling to keep up.

There are many reasons why a child is underachieving, including specific learning difficulties (sometimes known as dyslexia), developmental delays, concentration and attention deficits, immaturity, moving schools, boredom and gaps in teaching and learning experiences.

Students may face difficulties at different times in their education. Students from pre primary to year 12 may need extra assistance with reading, writing, spelling, essay writing, handwriting and maths. 

Whatever the grade, if students are struggling, they need extra support. At A1 Learning parents and students are given on-going support and feedback as to their progress and improvements are noted within weeks.

Strong, positive self-esteem is vital for achieving full potential at school, yet children often experience failure on a regular basis, which can erode delicate self-esteem.

Alternatively, if students are 'cruising' and could be working at a higher academic level, they also need support and encouragement to value and build onto their strengths.

Homework can have a major effect on overall performance. Some children bring home too much homework, while others have nothing at all. A well-balanced homework programme is a great asset to any child. 

If a child is not achieving full potential at school, it is vital that he/she is properly assessed, the reasons uncovered and practical solutions put in place as soon as possible.  Assessments for readiness for the next grade for Kindy to Year 7 students are now available.

For assistance and advice please call Julia Gilmore (M.Ed. B.Ed. Dip.Tch) on 9402 5080 or 0411 420 218. Website: a1learning.q-net.net.au

Is your child a bright, gifted underachiever?

Many children in Western Australian schools are bright or gifted underachievers. These are intelligent, creative children who, for various reasons, are not performing well at school. A significant number of children with learning difficulties fall into this category.

Gifted underachievers typically display the following symptoms:

ï Good oral language

ï Obvious signs of intelligence

ï Creative thinking

ï Interest in science, music or art

ï Disregard for rules and restrictions

ï High level of humour (though somewhat adult or perverse)

ï High work output in areas of interest but low output when interest wanes

ï Tendency to attribute lack of success to poor luck, teachers etc.

ï High performance in some areas of academic learning but generally lower performance than expected.

Parents of children with learning difficulties seek extra assistance from two main group of specialists:  physiological (eg, paediatricians, occupational therapists) or educational (eg teachers, psychologists, speech therapists). In most cases existing specialists are treating the symptoms which relate to their area of expertise, rather than the underlying cause of the problem. For example, hyperactivity and lack of concentration are often treated through the use of drugs; poor co-ordination and left and right confusion through occupational therapy, and so on.

Currently, the main emphasis on the treatment of these children has been direct remediation of the areas of deficit - reading, writing and spelling. This is understandable since schools, parents, and those with the difficulty have a need for greater skills in these areas. Unfortunately, much of the teaching/remediation has been of little long-term value.

The Reading and Learning Centre specialises in fixing the underlying cause of this problem through in depth treatment using specialist multisensory programme developed by Dr Peter Sloan, an international expert in the field of learning difficulties. Long-term gains are achieved by addressing the underlying deficit from which all the symptoms (eg dyslexia, poor memory, lack of concentration etc) are generated. Unless the underlying cause is addressed, remedial teaching in the areas of reading, writing and spelling are of little value and are readily lost.

The clinic was set up 10 years ago at the request of parents frustrated with the school system. Since that times, some 5,000 children have attended, many from regional areas like Tom Price, Leonora, Busselton and Mandurah. The primary aim of the center has always been to help those children in need and rates are very reasonable. The clinic rarely advertises and is known only through parent-to-parent word of mouth. If we can be of any help to your child please phone the Reading and Learning Centre on 9343 0333.

Dear Prime Minister
- by Victoria Carlton, International Centre For Excellence

Congratulations! Can we have a few considerations for children this time?

ï Can we have a national curriculum so that children are not disadvantaged by moving state?

ï Can you please ensure we have a properly laid down curriculum rather than fuzzy frameworks that make better doorstops than directions for teaching? As a teaching colleague pointed out this week - teachers should be able to spend their energy and considerable skills on the 'how' of teaching - not spending all their time trying to determine exactly what to teach!

ï Please ensure our schools are resourced as well as all government departments and that you provide for the special learning needs children experience.

In other ICE news:

We have a few copies left of our guide for teachers and parents: What do I teach? Please ring the ICE office for details.

Our October school holiday programme has an exciting new program - a 'Magic Factory' workshop run by a teacher experienced with a magical arts background. Book your children in early for this one. We also have a full day workshop for ART/ Craft run by our Principal, Judith Hardwick. Judith is a mosaic artist as well as a very talented teacher so this workshop will be very exciting.

EQ4KIDZ, 'Academic Stimulation', 'Study Skills' and 'Year 11 and TEE revision' are also offered in the October holidays.

We are offering free 45-minute workshops to all schools to share successful intervention methods. If your child has problems at school make sure your teachers know about this workshop.

On 21 November we have an open day with displays of our new centre at Guildford and free mini-appraisals for children. Please visit us between 10am and 3pm. We will also have our oils and puppets for sale. These make excellent Christmas presents.

We will be holding our parenting course EQ4FAMILIES from 7-9pm on Thursday 18 November and 2 December.

For more information on any of the ICE courses, seminars or publications please contact 9478 3323 or 0409 911 135.

Do you have a question?

Parents are welcome to write to this column with problems concerning their children. All letters will be answered. Please include your address, phone numbers and full names. (These will not be printed). Send your entries to 36 Beverlety Tce, South Guildford 6055 or email victoriacarlton@ice-au.com

Developing creative skills with arts & craft 

Are you looking for ideas to keep the children occupied? Do you go blank when they want to do something creative?

The next workshop, 'Developing Creative Skills with Arts & Craft', is a parent-only workshop that will empower you with craft skills and many ideas to keep your children occupied happily for hours.

Did you know that creative arts help children communicate and learn about themselves and their environment? They also help them to interpret the world around them, develops problem solving skills and concentration, refine gross and fine motor skills, and also produce instant satisfaction.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday 27 October at 7.15pm (registration 6.50 pm) and will last approximately two hours. Refreshments will be provided. Space is limited so be sure to book early.

The cost of the workshop is $7.00 per person (or per couple). For more information or for any Playways products please phone 9381 3368, or email Playways on info@playwayswa.com.au or visit us at our new website: www.playwayswa.com.au.

Childlogic 

Help point your child in the right direction 

Parents, the best gift you have been given is your child. Along with your love, the best gift you can give to your child is to help them reach their full potential.

The experience of difficulty at school can be devastating for child and parents, potential becomes crippled. How can a parent know their child's potential in a situation such as this?

Childlogic was formed to take away this guesswork and provide you with tools and guidance to map out and keep track of your childís academic and personal success whilst at school

Using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, from the Psychological Corporation of Australia, Childlogic will assess your child with in depth accuracy. Childlogic will provide you with a detailed, formal report and an Individual Education Plan for your child. This report will contain specific recommendations to deal with any learning block so that potential can be reached.

Under the Western Australian Education Act of 1999, schools are obliged to develop Individual Education Programmes for students where a need exists, and to liase with other professionals in supporting these students.

Knowing and distinguishing what services your child needs can be a mind boggling pressure for parents. Childlogic assists with this. They work closely with educators to assist your child. Their knowledge and familiarity with services ñ such as tuition, psychological assistance, vision and hearing services and schools ñ enables Childlogic to point you in the right direction, ensuring your child receives exactly the support and development they need.