http://www.reachingpotential.com.au en-gb reachingpotential.com.au 2009-12-7T00:00:00Z reachingpotential.com.au http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#54056 2009-12-7T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#54055 Ok so lets start with my new year resolution I promise a constant stream of blogging. Well maybe not constant...but regular. And a big big thankyou to those who take the time to email or leave blog messages it really helps to keep me on my soapbox So onto my latest inspiration Dr Greenes book The Explosive Child. This book is very easy to read but informative and practical. The basic message is that if you have a child who tends to be explosive then this is a clue that your child may have a learning difficulty in the area of frustration tolerance and flexibility of thought. He uses the phrase learning difficulty to illustrate that children who tend to explode often want to do well but lack specific skills. A comparison is to say a child with a reading problem would you not try an increase their skill base rather than send them to timeout for unacceptable behaviour This comparison is then extended to those kids that really find it hard to cope with changes in routine parent and ... 2009-12-7T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#49842 Proloquo2go SOMETHING HAS CHANGED IN OUR LIFE. That little something is a picture based communication app called Proloquo2go. I bought and downloaded it from the Apple App store for 189.99 Austhe catch is I also had to buy a Touch iPod I will call it an iTouch from now on. We are a very iPod orientated family so upgrading to the iTouch version was met with some excitement. All up a 8GB Touch iPod the Ploloquo2go app 800 rounding off very generously There a bundle deals out there for around the 1000 check out Spectronics for an Aussie company. But check the GB because the bundle is for a 3 GB iTouchif youre not familiar or confident with technology this may be less stressful option for you. Keep in mind though that you will have to tailor the P2go to your childs needs just like any picturebased communication system so you will eventually become quite familiar with how the app works. I found that it took and continues to take considerable time to tailor and learn all the tric... 2009-10-2T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#44418 SIR KEN ROBINSON AND HIS PLEA FOR EDUCATIONAL CHANGE. . . Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Style Definitions table.MsoNormalTable msostylenameTable Normal msotstylerowbandsize0 msotstylecolbandsize0 msostylenoshowyes msostyleparent msopaddingalt0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt msoparamargin0cm msoparamarginbottom.0001pt msopaginationwidoworphan fontsize10.0pt fontfamilyTimes New Roman msoansilanguage0400 msofareastlanguage0400 msobidilanguage0400 I recently discovered and have been inspired by Sir Ken Robinson. Has anyone heard him speak He basically is asking Western education systems to change to be more INCLUSIVE more RECEPTIVE to the range of individual talents amongst students. He is urging teachers and schools to help students to find their talent and passion and then honor and foster these essential ingredients. He is pleading sch... 2009-7-6T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#42858 THE SWINE FLU PANDEMIC Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1behaviorurlieooui Style Definitions table.MsoNormalTable msostylenameTable Normal msotstylerowbandsize0 msotstylecolbandsize0 msostylenoshowyes msostyleparent msopaddingalt0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt msoparamargin0cm msoparamarginbottom.0001pt msopaginationwidoworphan fontsize10.0pt fontfamilyTimes New Roman msoansilanguage0400 msofareastlanguage0400 msobidilanguage0400 It is the era of Swine Flu here in Victoria Australia with most numbers being in the city of Melbourne. Jed stayed away from childcare this week as numbers for the virus increased each day. Last week the oinkyoink tally was the headline in every major newspaper but this week as confirmed cases skyrocketed it became old news. Perhaps it lost its bite because there is yet to be a fatality and hopefully wont be but Victo... 2009-6-6T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#42005 SLEEP TIPS FOR SENSORY KIDS Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Style Definitions table.MsoNormalTable msostylenameTable Normal msotstylerowbandsize0 msotstylecolbandsize0 msostylenoshowyes msostyleparent msopaddingalt0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt msoparamargin0cm msoparamarginbottom.0001pt msopaginationwidoworphan fontsize10.0pt fontfamilyTimes New Roman msoansilanguage0400 msofareastlanguage0400 msobidilanguage0400 I WILL START WITH A CONFESSIONI have been contemplating getting a wig. Jed is preoccupied with twisting my hair as he drifts off to sleep which might sound cute but the twists are actually jerky hard pulling. So instead of wincing in pain as he ravels and unravels his fingers through my hair I thought maybe a wig would be a good idea. No one would have to know right I somehow feel better knowing I actually draw the line at fol... 2009-5-21T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#39339 HAPPY BIRTHDAY Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Style Definitions table.MsoNormalTable msostylenameTable Normal msotstylerowbandsize0 msotstylecolbandsize0 msostylenoshowyes msostyleparent msopaddingalt0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt msoparamargin0cm msoparamarginbottom.0001pt msopaginationwidoworphan fontsize10.0pt fontfamilyTimes New Roman msoansilanguage0400 msofareastlanguage0400 msobidilanguage0400 Im still in shock. My notsobaby boy turned 4 last week It was the first time that he appeared to enjoy his birthday celebrationwith smiles during the Happy Birthday song sang quietly and a very proud look around at everyone when time for collective applause. Previous years just having a group of friends and family around was almost too much for him to cope with. So it was a special day. We practised the week beforeit was Humptys birthday Banana... 2009-4-7T00:00:00Z http://www.reachingpotential.com.au/page3.htm#38737 HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Style Definitions table.MsoNormalTable msostylenameTable Normal msotstylerowbandsize0 msotstylecolbandsize0 msostylenoshowyes msostyleparent msopaddingalt0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt msoparamargin0cm msoparamarginbottom.0001pt msopaginationwidoworphan fontsize10.0pt fontfamilyTimes New Roman msoansilanguage0400 msofareastlanguage0400 msobidilanguage0400 Recently I read a book called The Brain that Changes Itself. My favourite bitchapter 3 had me taking notes It covered the basis of what happens in the brain if learning is happening. The key message is that MOTIVATION is the key to consolidate learning. Ok I can hear the collective who doesnt know that and I can tell you that there are many teachers and therapists out there in the real world who might just benefit from a bit of reminding.... 2009-3-26T00:00:00Z