Academic Support
Learn-to-Read ... Read-to-Learn
English ... PleaseMrs Firth runs a programme called 'English... Please' at Fish Hoek Primary School. These lessons are for children who live in Masiphumelele, but go to school at Fish Hoek Primary. This organisation supports the people of Masiphumelele through education, empowerment and enterprise. The lessons focus on developing the language skills of the children, through reading.
Recently Mrs Firth, who is a Director on the Board of Masicorp, was part of the team that escorted HRH Camilla - The Duchess of Cornwall on her visit to the Masicorp Programmes. The programme is funded by funding from Masicorp donations. The Harrow Association (Harrow School in UK), has been a loyal supporter of this programme. For more info see www.masicorp.org | 
Help 2 ReadHelp2Read is a resource for children that struggle with reading. The programme “empowers children with vital literacy skills.” Volunteer helpers are trained and come in to work with the children for up to an hour a week. The children become more confident readers by reading with a volunteer, playing educational games, and having discussions.
Teachers refer children whom they believe will benefit from this extra support. The programme is currently available for Grade 3’s; however, may be expanded to other grades if more volunteer reading helpers are recruited. If you are interested in learning more about the programme or becoming a reading helper, please contact: Help2Read at +27 21 685 8085 or visit http://www.help2read.org/ |
The Learning Centre
Mrs Firth is also a private remedial teacher at Fish Hoek Primary School. These lessons are fee paying.
Lessons focus mainly in the area of reading, spelling and phonics and are therefore best suited to children with these difficulties. Children are referred by their teacher and or parents. These children are assessed to identify their reading and spelling ages and other difficulties are identified.
Children are then placed into small groups of 2/3 pupils or individual lessons are recommended. Lessons are usually 45 minutes long.
Costs:
Contact: Milli Firth
mfirth@fishhoekprimary.co.za
Tel: +27 73 2645482 / +27 21 7854036
Lessons focus mainly in the area of reading, spelling and phonics and are therefore best suited to children with these difficulties. Children are referred by their teacher and or parents. These children are assessed to identify their reading and spelling ages and other difficulties are identified.
Children are then placed into small groups of 2/3 pupils or individual lessons are recommended. Lessons are usually 45 minutes long.
Costs:
- Assessment - R400
- Lessons - R75 per lesson. Reduced rates are offered to those who qualify.
Contact: Milli Firth
mfirth@fishhoekprimary.co.za
Tel: +27 73 2645482 / +27 21 7854036
Some advice...
Your child might be one of the many who is struggling to cope with the demands of school. As a parent you feel helpless, overwhelmed and frustrated. Helping a child with a learning difficulty is a team effort involving teachers, parents and therapists etc.
The purpose is to close the gaps in your child’s learning through regular lessons concentrating in the problem areas identified in the assessments. Children with a Learning Difficulty will require private, one-on-one remediation and 20-30 min frequent lessons i.e. more than twice a week. This is the ideal situation!
However this is not always possible. I recommend individual lessons or small group lessons (usually2-3 children) and these can be once/ twice a week and include a home program. The decision whether to have individual or group tuition should be based on the severity of the problem. Learning support groups for extra reading is not the same as Remedial Lessons. However they do compliment the process.
Beware of quick fixes, guaranteed successes and gimmicky resources. There is no magic cure for LD and remediation is usually a long-term process! It is a good idea to contact the school as to whom they would recommend as a remedial teacher.
The following information will help you decide how best to help your child.
ASSESSMENTS:
Have your child assessed by a professional to determine exactly what their difficulties are, how severe they are and what is the best route to follow. Your child’s class teacher will be able to guide you.
Psychological Assessment by an Educational Psychologist:
This will determine your child’s learning potential i.e. Intelligence Quotient (IQ). This should be used as a guide only. Generally it will fall in one of the ranges: below average, average or above average. Mostly this will lie in the average or above average range. Children with below average IQ usually have other factors causing their inability to learn and remedial support will only help up to a point. The psychologist will also be able to determine whether your child has a learning disability and in what areas these lie.
Scholastic Assessment:
This can be done by a psychologist or a remedial therapist. It will determine the actual age your child is performing at i.e. his current reading, spelling and math ages. Please refer back to my feedback report (Assessment) to see what your child’s discrepancy was. Information about the nature of the problem i.e. visual or auditory etc. will be highlighted.
Occupational Therapy Assessment:
This is for children who are showing signs of a non-verbal learning difficulty i.e. problems with gross and fine motor coordination, visual spatial organization, motor difficulties or visual perception difficulties.
Speech and Language Therapy Assessment:
This is for children experiencing language difficulties (often these children had delayed language development) and auditory perception difficulties.
THERAPY:
Each therapy is its own specialized field and not interchangeable. However they do complement each other. Once the assessments are completed, recommendations will be made to support the learning and development of the child. Lessons with the necessary therapist will be arranged.
The purpose is to close the gaps in your child’s learning through regular lessons concentrating in the problem areas identified in the assessments. Children with a Learning Difficulty will require private, one-on-one remediation and 20-30 min frequent lessons i.e. more than twice a week. This is the ideal situation!
However this is not always possible. I recommend individual lessons or small group lessons (usually2-3 children) and these can be once/ twice a week and include a home program. The decision whether to have individual or group tuition should be based on the severity of the problem. Learning support groups for extra reading is not the same as Remedial Lessons. However they do compliment the process.
Beware of quick fixes, guaranteed successes and gimmicky resources. There is no magic cure for LD and remediation is usually a long-term process! It is a good idea to contact the school as to whom they would recommend as a remedial teacher.
The following information will help you decide how best to help your child.
ASSESSMENTS:
Have your child assessed by a professional to determine exactly what their difficulties are, how severe they are and what is the best route to follow. Your child’s class teacher will be able to guide you.
Psychological Assessment by an Educational Psychologist:
This will determine your child’s learning potential i.e. Intelligence Quotient (IQ). This should be used as a guide only. Generally it will fall in one of the ranges: below average, average or above average. Mostly this will lie in the average or above average range. Children with below average IQ usually have other factors causing their inability to learn and remedial support will only help up to a point. The psychologist will also be able to determine whether your child has a learning disability and in what areas these lie.
Scholastic Assessment:
This can be done by a psychologist or a remedial therapist. It will determine the actual age your child is performing at i.e. his current reading, spelling and math ages. Please refer back to my feedback report (Assessment) to see what your child’s discrepancy was. Information about the nature of the problem i.e. visual or auditory etc. will be highlighted.
Occupational Therapy Assessment:
This is for children who are showing signs of a non-verbal learning difficulty i.e. problems with gross and fine motor coordination, visual spatial organization, motor difficulties or visual perception difficulties.
Speech and Language Therapy Assessment:
This is for children experiencing language difficulties (often these children had delayed language development) and auditory perception difficulties.
THERAPY:
Each therapy is its own specialized field and not interchangeable. However they do complement each other. Once the assessments are completed, recommendations will be made to support the learning and development of the child. Lessons with the necessary therapist will be arranged.
