EDUCATION

Thirty minutes a day to travel the world
-log, link and learn -

Does it worry you when your kids spend hours each day on the computer? Are you concerned whether your children know enough about their world, the world they will grow up in? Would you like them to know more but have a safe and interesting time doing it and maybe satisfy their need to use the computer?

You can now log them onto a website that will take them, and indeed you, on a journey of discovery and exploration. You can leave your child without worries in front of the website, exploring new places and having a lot of fun and learning at the same time.

The One World Project is a journey of two people who will, over a period of time, visit different countries of the world and share their experience in daily updates from their travels. The website is friendly and easy to use. There is even a special daily section for very young children and the material is interesting, funny and motivational at the same time.

The journey will soon begin with a six-month trip around Australia. Those of us in the Perth and Fremantle area may see even more of the travellers because this is where they are making their base, to which they will return twice a year.

The site also allows followers to become a part of the venture in a variety of ways and you can start now. It doesn't cost anything and is not only a great learning experience but also enjoyable.

"The main idea behind the project is to create an infectious desire to learn and to give more knowledge about other lifestyles, which will in turn lead to more tolerance and understanding,î said Richard Rowland, long time educationalist from the UK. ìWe are also inviting young people to share their experiences with us and with others around the globe.

"We believe that this will convince children that their knowledge is important and they can use it in practice,î added Ev, Richard's partner in the project. ìThey may make friends from different countries but they can also try to understand more about that other persons culture and show them their own way of life. This will make everyone more aware of the world around them."

More can be found on the Website www.theoneworld.org. Have a look around, read about adventures in Thailand and Poland and their first impressions from Australia. 

Holiday courses to boost learning
-Victoria Carlton 9478 3323 

The International Centre for Excellence is offering a wide range of workshops to boost learning and help all children prepare for success in 2005. We find that students learn easily and naturally when relaxed so our "January Booster" programs are hugely successful. Research has also demonstrate that IQ falls in long holiday breaks unless brain stimulation takes place so we always provide a range of enjoyable activities. These include:

ï Academic booster programs for all ages
ï Study-skills, Mind-mapping and Journaling
ï Sparky-brain workshops (concentration disorders)
ï EQ4KIDZ (motivation and self-confidence)
ï Art/Craft and The Magic Factory
ï Boy Stuff
ï Transition from PP to Grade 1 and from Grade 7 to Year 8
ï Multiple Intelligences and Budding Scientists

We are offering two special workshops for children on the 21 and 23 December to make presents and creatively gift-wrap them. We feel the strong need to bring the heart back into Christmas and will be offering a Christmas atmosphere, carols and Christmas snacks at these fun workshops. Please ring us for details.

Thank you to all our clients, and Kids In Perth readers for your support this year. We wish you and your families all the blessings of Christmas and wonderful, safe holiday seasons!

Victoria Carlton, International Centre For Excellence: 9478 3323, 0409 911135

Concern over literacy levels led mother to Kumon
- by Nicola Donald

Andrew Harrison's mum was extremely concerned about her son, as his literacy level did not seem to be high enough for a year 4 student. She believed there were gaps in his learning, possibly from an earlier hearing problem. She went to many specialists and doctors before finding her way to Kumon.

Andrew has now been enrolled for over three months at the Bayswater Kumon Education Centre and his Mum is ecstatic. Andrew has found a method of education that works for him.

Andrew has moved forward in leaps and bounds in his reading and is full of confidence and happiness. School is no longer "boring" for him. Kumon is unique because the programme is individualised and the main focus is on the student learning for themselves, at their own pace.

Andrew's little brother Jordan has now joined him at Kumon. Jordan, who is only six years of age is experiencing the joy of learning and is extremely proud to be doing his work exactly like his older brother does, a little bit every day.

Andrew and Jordan's supervisor, Simone Rees, is really pleased with their progress. She says that the change in Andrew has been remarkable.

"He is more outgoing and confident and this is related to the feeling that he can do things he never could before", Ms Rees said.

"The boys' parents have supported them both immensely and that is a key factor in their progress".

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.

The name says it all 

Total Learning is totally about learning, and about top quality Books and CD-Roms that support families' learning by bringing the bookshop to your home or school.

 But they're also about families, and home based businesses that support families. So it's a great combination of factors. Lots of women love the flexibility of party plan, but the products don't inspire - kitchenware, cleaning products, shoes, linen, etc; useful, but not something that will benefit children's learning. 

 Total Learning is a family-based company, who understands the need for flexibility. Work when and as often as you want; no targets, no minimums, no pressure. Total Learning gives you the opportunity to build a great home library for your own kids, build new skills, make new friends, the chance to make a difference, and of course a great income too.

 Total Learning offers a Quick Start reward programme that gives hundreds of dollars worth of Free extra product within a few short weeks. For more information call us on 1300368019 or visit our website www.totallearning.ws

Give your child a Head Start 

Head Start Tutoring has proudly provided one-on-one tuition in literacy and numeracy to children from Pre-Primary to grade 8 for the last three years.

During this time, Head Start has strived to guarantee friendly and experienced primary and early childhood teachers, all with police clearances.

A team of such teachers are ready to help your child prepare for a new grade through the school holidays.

All that Head Start needs to create an enjoyable, individualised programme to suit your child's needs are details of your child's subject requirements, character and interests.

Teachers award stickers for encouragement and a 'Certificate of Achievement' when tuition ends.

So, if you are looking for a professional tutoring agency with a Customer Reward Scheme offering discounts for referrals, then look no further than Head Start Tutoring!

To book tuition or for further information, please contact Rebecca on 9450 2653, email rebecca@headstarttutoring.com.au or visit www.headstarttutoring.com.au.

Parents demand answers and action
- Julia Gilmore (M.Ed., B.Ed., Dip.Tch.)

There are several key questions often asked at this time of the year by concerned parents of pre-primary to year 10 students:

How is my child doing at school?
Is he/she performing at the appropriate levels in reading, writing, spelling and maths?
I think my child is very bright, why isn't he/she being extended?
My child has struggled this year, what is being done to help?
How can I prevent my child from regressing over the long summer holiday break?

At A1 Learning Centres parents often say they have been told by class teachers, year after year, that their children are performing within the satisfactory range, when they have suspected otherwise for some time. Within weeks of starting on their individual programmes parents and teachers are reporting huge differences in each child's academic progress and self-esteem.

It is an emotional but relieving experience for parents to find out, after a full academic assessment, that their suspicions are correct and their children are performing months, even years behind or ahead of their chronological age levels. These are all intelligent children, whose needs are not being met by current educational standards and policies.

It is vital that these children's needs are recognised and individual programmes designed for them. 

Children fall behind for several reasons; learning difficulties such as dyslexia, developmental delays, chronic ear infections from birth to two years, poor learning and teaching habits, and transferring from overseas, interstate or local country areas. Very few children are 'lazy' but their responses to the learning difficulties can make them appear so.

We also see many very capable students who are bored with regular classroom programmes. They blandly complete the set work in class but are capable of working at a much higher level. Several gifted and talented students at our centres are currently being challenged academically and required to think 'outside the square'.

For inquiries, bookings or just friendly advice, contact Julia Gilmore on 9402 5080 or visit the website: a1learning.q-net.net.au  Bookings are currently being taken for the January Holiday Booster Programme.

 Help for childhood speech and language difficulties 

Are you concerned about your children's ability to follow instructions and participate in conversation? Do your children put together age-appropriate sentences in order to express themselves or are they having difficulty learning at school? If your child has difficulties in these areas he or she may benefit from speech and language intervention.

Most of us develop language skills without being aware of the sophisticated processes involved. For some children, learning to talk and understand what is said to them can be as complicated (and as memorable) as learning to drive.

The classroom can be a very busy highway with many language obstacles.  To learn effectively in the classroom, children need strong language skills in order to be able to maximise their true academic potential and develop strong literacy skills. Some children require additional guidance in order to learn foundation language skills, just like some of us needed a few extra driving lessons.

At Ballajura Speech Pathology Clinic, we are a team of specialised Speech Pathologists with over forty years combined experience in the private, public and disabilities sector.

We provide thorough speech and language assessment, followed by fun-focused therapy for children of all ages in the areas of: Speech delay and dyspraxia; language delay; Reading and writing difficulties; stuttering; autistic spectrum disorders; and learning difficulties.

Our aim is to strengthen your children's communication and language skills so they are able to express themselves clearly, enjoy conversation, follow instructions in the classroom and develop adequate literacy skills.

Call Ballajura Speech Pathology Clinic on (08) 9248 1353 and a qualified speech pathologist will be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you may have.

Literacy testing 

If you have school-aged children you will be aware of the West Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment. This tests students' knowledge and skills in numeracy, reading, spelling and writing. It assesses whether children are developing literacy skills to equip them for the future and identifies areas of strength and areas to develop.

Literacy is more than deciphering words; it is using reading, writing and speech to:

• Communicate ideas, feelings and attitudes,

• Interact with others,

• Explore and develop ideas and values,

• Access knowledge and ways of thinking.

Students who struggle with literacy use all their energy just deciphering the words, often gaining the surface meaning and missing the richness of the intended meaning.

Catherine de Beaux is a speech pathologist with a special interest in literacy. If you have any concerns about your child's comprehension, reading, spelling, vocabulary, grammar or writing skills call Smart Talk on 0412 047 845.

Turning the tables 

Are you worried that your child does not know the multiplication tables? Difficulties in multiplication may be related to weaknesses in sequencing skills, short-term or long-term memory, concept of number or word skills. They may reflect the child's cognitive style, anxiety or self-image. Perhaps there has been insufficient direct instruction on multiplication in the classroom.

 'Turning the Tables' will boost multiplication skills in seven one-hour, fun-filled sessions. Instruction is research-based and conducted by an expert in the early identification and remediation of specific learning difficulties.

The program emphasises the importance of learning strategies based on the patterns and interrelationships of numbers. Each child will complete a pre-test and post-test that reflects understanding of multiplication plus accuracy and speed of calculation. Instructional groups of no more than ten children are guaranteed.

For more information phone Shirley Houston on 0417 900 435 or email seaeagle@cygnus.uwa.edu.au.

Unlocking the Child with the Arts in Steiner Schools

The Steiner School seeks to receive a child in the beauty of who they are.  With every learning opportunity we seek to develop a reverence for the artistic qualities in their environment and in their work.  An artistic element is being weaved through the whole curriculum. 

Teachers need an artistic flair and board work is displayed with a full range of colour bringing life to the lessons.  It enable the teacher not only to communicate through the word but also through the creativity of the vibrancy of their drawings

Students in a Steiner School also participate in the production of a play, music performance, and singing are also incorporated into the curriculum.  The curriculum encourages the use of poetry and story telling by the teacher.

Through this approach a child is encouraged to develop their artistic sensitivity, it stimulates their imagination along with their learning and thinking capabilities.

Academic excellence should not be pursued at the expense of locking out the arts.  'The infusion of the arts has a profound effect on student understanding and standards.  As a whole, students not only do well on standardized testing measures, but importantly do well in real life measures of learning.  They are generally capable and confident readers, writers, users of maths, strong thinkers and workers and also tend to treat others well.'

Teaching the arts to all children assists to awaken the full abilities of a child and gives them confidence to be who they are, and to contribute to society what they truly have to offer.  It enables them to discover themselves and to be less inclined to be shaped by the latest fad and gives them strength to cope with a fast changing world.