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How
passion teaching unleashes the genius in all kids
By Victoria Carlton, International Centre For Excellence
Raymond, age 10, came to me for an educational
assessment yesterday, but he ended up teaching me something I didnít
know. Raymond reads at Grade 1 level and can barely spell and write.
While doing the reading, spelling and maths tests he looked sad and
defeated, and slouched over his work.
Minutes later, however, he sat upright and his
eyes sparkled! At one point I had asked him ì What is your favourite
thing to do on weekends?î Now, Raymond turned out to know far more
about fishing than I will ever know.
I listened with fascination as he told me about tackle, bait, deep sea
fishing, and described all the names, characteristics, and habits of
the fish he knew.
Furiously scribbling down notes on everything
that now flowed enthusiastically out of him, I aimed to make fishing
the focal part of his recovery programme. All our reading, spelling,
and writing activities shall henceforth be associated with fishing.
This is the way to capture childrenís hearts,
instead of stuffing curriculum down their throats. As their teachers
and parents, we must respect who they are, honour their interests and
passions, and harness their enthusiasm. Then can we help them realise
their full potential.
When it comes to children, one size definitely
does not fit all. No child should have to bear the weight of a hastily
conferred label, be it autistic, dyslexic, attention deficit, or
otherwise learning disabled. This can blind us to their talents and
gifts, and prevent us from helping them draw out the best in
themselves.
Yes, there are core reading, writing, spelling
and maths skills that all children must master. If first we capture
their hearts, however, skill acquisition will more easily follow.
Raymondís story is repeated in kids aged from
five to 18 years at all International Centre for Excellence (ICE)
tuition centres. All our teachers are trained to uncover the passion
of the child. We use a variety of methods to tap on a childís
natural creativity and curiosity, to better increase effective
learning.
Every child who comes to ICE learns that they can
learn and that, above all, learning can be fun! Our kids learn with
passion ñ and their passion will unlock their potential.
If youíd like to learn more about our
approaches or make a booking to learn how to unlock your childís
potential, please call 9271 4200 or visit www.ice-au.com. As we run
small classes to optimise teacher attention, early bookings will be
much appreciated.
Two
plus two equals Kip McGrath
Written by Mark Jones
When children lose their confidence, they soon stop trying.
They expect to fail, and of course they do. This self-fulfilling
prophecy may not only hinder their learning in one subject, it can
affect all their schooling.
When Deirdreís mother brought her to Kip McGrath she was
three years behind with her maths and sinking fast. ìHer maths was
starting to affect her other work; her whole attitude to school.î
said Deirdreís mother, Minette. ìWhen we returned to Perth from
Karratha, Deirdre had given up. Since starting with Kip McGrath she
has gained steadily and is currently top of her class in maths. More
importantly, Deirdre is regaining her old confidence.î
Deirdreís success was not a matter of luck. All effective
tuition starts with a thorough assessment. Many maths problems can be
symptomatic of other learning difficulties. Some children find
difficulty in organizing complex sequential steps. Others may have
difficulties with reading and understanding the questions. Yet more
students may simply have difficulty following the teacherís examples
on the board. All of these learning difficulties can be disguised as a
maths problem.
Kip McGrath centres are run by qualified, professional
teachers with years of experience in finding the real causes. An
individualised program of learning can then be designed to respond to
your childís specific needs.
Like Deirdre, many students find maths hard, but it
doesnít have to be. Kip McGrath Centres have experienced
professional teachers who can make the difference. Added to this are
maths and English programmes written by Australian teachers for
Australian students and some of the most up-to-date computer
programmes to help your child towards being an independent learner.
Re-discovering a childís confidence can be a slow
process, but it is essential if they are to be independent learners.
They have to understand that errors are important to learning and not
something to be ashamed of. At Kip McGrath we celebrate errors as
opportunities for learning. We encourage students to see errors as
their friends. ìYou tried; now youíve learnt a little more and
youíre going to try again. There is nothing wrong
with having a try!î
If you have a feeling your child is not doing well as they
should do not delay taking action. The longer a child struggles, the
easier it is for them to fall into the failure trap. Call your local
Kip McGrath Education Centre for a free assessment now.
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