EDUCATION

Young achiever excels at Kumon
by Nicola Donald

Katherine Chen was enrolled in Kumon at just four years old. Her parents wanted her to learn the foundations of maths and English so she was ready for beginning school. Katherine has enjoyed her experience at the Kumon South Perth Education Centre and thinks her supervisor, Brad Woodbrook, is really great.

Katherine is now in Year 2 and is tackling long division and comprehension of advanced literature at Kumon. She is happy that she is ahead in her basic skills in maths and English because it allows her to concentrate on other subjects at school. Already she has won a young writers award and has a highly recommended entry in the City of South Perth poetry competition.

Katherine loves gymnastics and plays two musical instruments, the violin and the piano. Her little sister has just joined her at Kumon and gymnastics. Who wouldnít want to be like their big sister when the big sister has achieved so much?

Katherine's parents enrolled their daughters in the Kumon programme because it aims to give young children confidence and increase their concentration and enthusiasm for learning. They wanted a programme that would not put any pressure on the children but still offered them the practice and repetition they would need for success.

Children can start Kumon at any age but the younger the better. Research shows that the brain continues to grow right up to the age of seven. Most students begin Kumon in primary school and continue well into high school. Increasingly, parents are enrolling their second or third child in the first half of primary school for the simple fact that it is far easier to develop good learning habits and skill at a younger age.

Lightning literacy

Are you fed up with paying expensive tutors for little improvement in your child's literacy skills? Does your child show some short-term improvement then slip back? What your child needs is a specialist programme that fixes the underlying cause of the learning problem producing long-term gains in lightning time!

The Reading and Learning Centre is a specialist literacy clinic, which runs a unique multi-sensory programme developed by international literacy expert, Dr Peter Sloan. Lightning results are expected in 8-10 weeks with just one hour per week of tuition during one school term.

The programme targets the way the brain processes information in the working memory, unlike a repetitive worksheet-based programme. Children with literacy difficulties process information in a muddled, disorganised way, which requires lots of energy - a bit like a messy desk with scattered pieces of paper.

These children try to retrieve information from their working memory but can't find the information efficiently enough in the mess and confusion. Hence basic literacy skills like reading become cumbersome and tiring. The clinical programme improves processing in the brain in a structured, organised and efficient way, so symptoms like poor reading, spelling, writing and distractibility disappear.

Call the Reading and Learning Centre on 9343 0333 to enquire about tuition for your child.

Biological test developed for ADHD

  Researchers in Greece claim to have achieved a major breakthrough by developing the first biological test for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The diagnosis is based on examination of eye movements and has an accuracy rate of more than 93 per cent according to New Scientist. It is expected to lead to identification and treatment for children with the condition.

Sixty-five children between the ages of four and six were examined by researchers in the Greek city of Thessalonika. Around half had previously been diagnosed with ADHD through standard psychological assessment.

Researchers placed the children in front of a computer screen wearing special goggles to monitor their eye movements and asked them to follow spots of light that traversed the screen during a 10-minute test. According to the study leader, Giorgos Pavlidis at University of Brunel, UK, children without ADHD followed the lights for between 30 seconds and five minutes, while those with the condition could manage only three to five seconds.

Prof Pavlidis predicted children as young as three would benefit from the test and effective intervention could be provided to reduce the loss of confidence and other behavioural and psychological problems that accompany the condition.

ADHD has been a controversial topic in recent years, with accusations that children are being unnecessarily treated with powerful drugs. Opponents of the use of drugs such as Ritalin believe they are being over prescribed. However Prof Pavlidis believes between three and seven per cent of the population has ADHD, with 80 per cent of cases undiagnosed.

Be successful in Maths

  'Success in maths comes from a positive attitude, confidence and constant practice," according to Janice McGuire, manager of the new Subiaco NumberWorks Centre. Since NumberWorks opened in Australia in 1989, it has gained an enviable reputation and become one of the largest maths tuition specialists in Australia. Its unique computer-based programmes have been developed by experienced maths teachers.

Students from Preschool to Year 10 usually attend for one hour a week and work on their own individual programmes. "We first evaluate each student's strengths and weaknesses and then guide them through their particular areas of need,"says Janice. "As each student has a dedicated computer, we can individualise and assist everyone from those struggling in maths to those who need extension."

"But what makes NumberWorks different is that students really enjoy working on computers, and the positive reinforcement from the tutors. With this confidence boost they quickly overcome any attitude problems and are achieving good marks again."

To arrange a free introductory lesson, with full evaluation, phone Janice at NumberWorks Subiaco on 9388 3727.

Fast track to success for this year
Victoria Carlton International Centre for Excellence

Make sure your children get the help they need to get off to a great start. All children at the International Centre for Excellence set goals and monitor their progress. The children are taught to improve concentration and emotional intelligence, as well as academic outcomes. All high-school students are helped to improve study and organisation skills.

ICE believes parents are their child's foremost educators so you are given full information about our tuition and we really listen to your concerns and observations about your children. We are always happy to be contacted by classroom teachers and regularly hold professional development seminars for schools.

ICE is holding a parent evening at their Guildford centre (Thursday, 3 March 7-9:30pm) to share some successful strategies to help ALL children reach their potential. Parents at this seminar will have the chance to:

ï Learn successful multi-sensory spelling strategies

ï Find out how to reinforce maths concepts in the home

ï Discover fun ways to get children writing

ï Improve overall confidence and promote positive attitudes towards learning.

If you would like information about ICE programmes or if you would like to attend this seminar, please call International Centre for Excellence on 9478 3323 or 0409 911135.

Reading, writing, spelling & maths help
Julia Gilmore (MEd, BEd, DipTch)

  Most primary and high school students look forward to returning to school and are full of hope for 2005. If only they could hold on to that feeling for the rest of the year!

Up to 30 percent of students in our schools are struggling to cope academically in one or more subject areas. Some have specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, while others have fallen behind and need a boost. Some are not being challenged and need extension.

Extra support in the form of home tutoring or specialised teaching at a learning centre can make a huge difference within a relatively short time.

Each student is an individual and should be given a specialised assessment, report and programmes that set goals for boosting self-esteem, as well as raising academic levels. The assessment checks the child's visual and auditory skills, short-term sequence and memory skills, perceptual and motor skills and bilateral integration. Comprehensive, written reports are provided.

For the past 16 years, children from years one to 10 have attended A1 Learning centres for extra help with reading, writing, spelling and maths. Parents and students notice a huge improvement within weeks and all students can be successful given the time and the right programmes.

Programmes are interesting; with the promotion of positive self-esteem a vital part of each programme. Students are encouraged to strive for excellence and are rewarded for their efforts. Lately A1 Learning has found many children to be 'cruising' at a satisfactory level at school when they should be ahead.

For further enquiries call Julia Gilmore on 9402 5080. www.a1learning.q-net.net.au

Dads and kids together
Bruce Russell

Recent research has highlighted that involved fathers are not only invaluable mentors for their sons but are also pivotal in assisting their daughters develop into secure and confident adults. In 300 words, how can I adequately cover the most important job we men can ever do in our lives?

We say we want to be more involved, yet how many of us will reach old age wishing we had done more with our kids? Most of us will look back and evaluate our lives not on the car we owned 20 years ago but the lasting legacy we have left our children. That legacy is passed not only to them but also, through them, to those beyond. And all of those that come after us combined are certain to achieve more than we can ever do in a single lifetime. Fatherhood truly is the most important job we men will ever do.

This, of course, is easy to say, but modern society has left us with so many pressures and uncertainties to overcome. So often we feel powerless, like pawns, helpless in determining how we spend our time. And what of those fathers who have experienced a family breakdown and are even more limited in the contact they have with their children? They, above all, need to use the time they have available effectively.

As I write this, my children have just called out to inform me that they have gone to bed and it is time for me to go and kiss them goodnight. So 300 words will have to be enough. I have more important work to do.