KIDS INPERTH
The
,
Born & Bred in WA
MAY 2014
Parents Paper
www.kidsinperth.com
PRICELESS
For parents with children aged from birth to 14 • Free ever y month
What makes Kip McGrath different?
No time for play anymore
By Julie Courtis (Kip McGrath Willetton)
little girl returned after holidays to ICE a few years ago, crying and hugging her journal.
A
housands of parents around Australia have discovered the Kip McGrath difference. So what makes your local Kip McGrath Education Centre different to other tuition centres?
Kip McGrath Centres in Perth are leaders in the Australian tuition industry, using state of the art technology to deliver supplementary learning programmes in English and Maths to children from Kindy to Year 10.
“What’s the matter Madeline?” her teacher gently asked.
It is very simple. Kip McGrath caters for the individual needs of the student. Children are assessed to determine areas of strength and weakness in literacy and numeracy and then a programme is designed to suit the individual needs of that child.
Most centres also offer Study Skills, Scholarship and NAPLAN preparation. Some centres also offer specific programmes for Year 11 and 12 in English, Maths and selected other subjects to WACE level.
The teacher stared at the words on the page. They were significant.
T
The programme is “student-centred”, rather than “curriculum-centred”. Kip McGrath has a vast resource of world-class computer and workbook based material which can be accessed for all students, whatever their level or capability. Many tuition centres, and schools for that matter, are curriculum based. The child is made to fit with the set curriculum, rather than the curriculum to fit the child. It is also important to know the learning style of the child. Many children will improve far more quickly if it is recognised how they learn, not just what they need to learn.
“Read this!” replied Madeline through her sobs and thrust the book into the bewildered teacher’s arms.
“All my imagination has to be locked up. I feel sad about this because school has started again. I have no time to imagine anymore.”
Special programmes run for Kindy and Pre-Primary children, incorporating a unique computer programme to help develop early literacy and numeracy skills.
Since that day Victoria Carlton, Director of ICE has been sharing that child’s concerns with teachers around the country and in SE Asia. What are we doing to childhood? Are we trying to once again stuff knowledge into their heads like the scenario in Charles Dickens’ Hard Times? We are creating our own hard times!
Your local Kip McGrath centre can help your child to improve school results and develop ongoing techniques for future learning. Check out your local Kip centre or call now to book a free assessment. Balcatta (9240 2335), Gosnells (9490 7822), Ellenbrook (9297 3654), Jandakot (9414 8088), Joondalup (9301 2334), Mundaring (9295 6255), Victoria Park (9472 7480), Willetton (9259 4833).
Learning does not have to be without play and sandpits. Indeed through play, children learn about the world and their place in it. They learn about responsibility and friendship. They learn to wonder and
dream. Do we really think that by stressing children to the max with tests, marks, homework and worksheets we will create a happier, more educated and civilised society? Nonsense! Children need time to wonder and dream. We are returning to the industrial factory model with our schooling and it won’t work. If we want higher standards of literacy and numeracy we need children to want to learn. We need to capture their hearts as well as their brains. The educators at ICE always make provision for creativity in every learning session. They realise that happy, engaged children learn more, learn faster and retain the learning. If we really want results we need to heed the research, stop burying our heads in the sand and instead put our children back in the sand - the sandpits, playgrounds, parks and backyards where childhood is enjoyed and true learning occurs. This is why, on entering the ICE centre you will be confronted with noise... Continued page 09
to protect my loved ones
WILDLIFE PARK Open every day excep t Christmas Day!
LAS0544/JUN11
Ig go got o ot the th f lu lu shot ssh hot CAVERSHAM
Phone 9248 1984 Whiteman Park, Whiteman www.cavershamwildlife.com.au
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @PARENTSPAPER
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/KIDSINPERTH