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The
Power of Slow
by Victoria Carlton, Director, International Centre for
Excellence
We are choosing to live frantic lives and pushing our
children to do the same! Children are showing signs of extreme stress
and instead of listening with our hearts we are medicating, labelling
and desperately trying to control them.
Children who are suffering from the fast spiral we subject
them to are showing the following indicators:
* Poor behaviour
* Anger management problems
* Attention difficulties
* Poor academic performance
* Loss of creative, reflection ability and impoverished imaginations
* Inability to understand their emotions
* Poor social skills
* Low self-esteem
* Low-level frustration
* Negative attitudes and low motivation
* Sense of hopelessness
Where will this society eventually end up without
reflective dreaming? It is during this time of
ìreflective dreamingî (day-dreaming) that great thinkers
like Einstein developed their insights and theories.
Do we allow our children and ourselves to passively
daydream and reflect? Instead of thinking deeply about our children
and ourselves, we turn to therapists and millions of ìself-helpî
books to find answers. We wonít find the answers outside ourselves -
we need to reach inside and teach our children to do the same. This
cannot happen without time!
Most children are engaging in so many activities after
school, frenetic weekend activity and hardly have time to gather their
perceptions together before they are plunged into yet another whirl of
activity. No wonder they have problems learning. Schools are under
pressure to achieve high standards and crowd the school day with more
and more items. Therefore schools are becoming stressed places ñ not
conducive for deep learning.
We all need a relaxed, calm environment in which to learn.
We have deliberately created this in our International School for
Excellence (ICE) centre. With soothing music, calming creative
activity the children can be soothed and delighted and we ensure all
children are ready to learn-deeply and slowly. We want deep, slow
learning ñ the type that sticks.
Children are led through a learning cycle that contains-
* Physical activities to help them concentrate;|
* Meditation and visualisations to calm and engage and switch on
imaginations;
* Relevant learning strategies that emphasis a multi-sensory approach.
This form of teaching and learning takes longer to plan and
administer and is certainly messier and more difficult to organise.
However, it is real learning and the results are deep and
long-lasting.
We improve childrenís intra-personal intelligence by
allowing reflection time. They learn to reflect on their learning and
they are given time to revise as often as necessary. We always focus
on the main thing. Children love to succeed and really feel empowered
with this approach and both literacy and numeracy levels rise.
Try slowing your approach to parenting. We have classes
each day (including Saturdays) for children and regular EQ4KIDZ and
CALM groups that deal with self-esteem, anger management and so forth.
We are happy to offer assistance for any child who needs academic help
or assistance to overcome concentration difficulties and emotional
imbalances and issues.
Please look out for the tips we are posting up for parents
at www.ice-au.com under ëVisualisationsí and ëThe Power of
Slowí. Call the International Centre for Excellence on 9271 4200 or
email: victoriacarlton@iinet.net.au
Innovative
tuition at Kip McGrath
By Julie Courtis,
Director KMEC Willetton
Kip
McGrath Education Centres are leading the tuition industry with
innovative and exciting programs that develop childrenís confidence
and academic skills. Hundreds of students across Western Australia
have found success the Kip McGrath way.
What
way? The structured teaching approach, focusing on skills in both
English and maths, which are crucial for the development of a student
through his/her school year. KMEC centres provide a free assessment
for students to determine current levels of achievement and then write
an individualised program based on the studentís particular needs.
ìIt
is now time to get on top of any issues that have arisen after the
first term,î says Julie Courtis, Director of Kip McGrath Willetton.
ìChildren who have lost confidence or are struggling need support as
early as possible to regain that confidence and improve results before
the end of the year. Year 11 and 12 students face exams in a few short
weeks and KMEC Centres can assist them to develop a better
understanding of their courses and achieve better grades.î
In
addition to the traditional programs in English and Maths for years 1
-12, the new Higher Education programs are also proving very popular
and successful with students in centres in Balcatta, Jandakot,
Joondalup, Morley, Mundaring, Midland, Myaree and Willetton.
The
"Getting
Ready for School"
program caters for
3 and 4 year olds and incorporates a delightful computer segment
alongside fine and gross motor skills, basic cognitive skills, early
literacy and numeracy skills and general early readiness. The ìLittle
Learners ì program is designed as a preparation for year one or
for younger students struggling with initial literacy and numeracy
skills.
For
secondary students there are new
Essay Writing and Study
Skills courses. The Study Skills program is run for small groups
and can be adapted for students from Year Seven to university level. Study
skills are an aspect of education that is lacking in the education of
many secondary and tertiary students. This excellent program will fill
those gaps and prepare students for the various levels of their
education.
A
new Intelligence and Memory Development Program is now available
either separately, or incorporated into the regular Kip McGrath
program with Visual and Auditory Memory Development available for all
students and the Intellectual Development for upper primary to
secondary students.
Further
to these programs, English as a Second Language is now available,
catering for language development for both children and adults. This
program incorporates a computer as well as written component and
emphasises oral skills.
Kip
McGrath has also developed a new Maths program catering for students
in Year 1 to Year 12 and beyond, which is designed to help children
maximise their results. It is not a remedial program, but in fact is
designed to make good kids become very good and very good kids become
excellent. It has been modified for each state and can be tailored for
every childís individual needs. Online software for home use will be
available for purchase in the near future at a very minimal cost.
For
the first time, Kip McGrath Centres can now provide access to
university diplomas and degree studies in Business and Information
Technology with a new affiliation with the Institute of Technology of
Australia (IOTA). Students can enroll in, and complete, degrees at a
much lower cost than in other universities and are eligible for HECS/HELP
government fee assistance. Kip McGrath centres are the access point
for students to enroll in these courses and complete exams. Students
can also enroll in the Essay Writing and Study Skills programs to
assist their learning.
For
further information on any of these courses, call your local Kip
McGrath Education Centre in Balcatta, Jandakot, Joondalup, Morley,
Mundaring, Midland, Myaree and Willetton, visit www.kipmcgrath.com.au.
Or phone 1300 789 457
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