Brainastics-Literacy specialists in Cheltenham, Victoria | Education

Brainastics-Literacy specialists

Locality: Cheltenham, Victoria

Address: Castlefield Community Centre Cheltenham, VIC, Australia

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24.01.2022 Due to a sudden increase in enquiries, we have decided to open a new beginners class in term two! Classes will be on a Friday morning in Hampton from 10:40-11:40am. Please contact Shae at [email protected] for further details.

23.01.2022 Just a reminder to our parents that the Monday class will still be running on Cup Eve in its new timeslot of 10:30am.

22.01.2022 Thursday Beginners sessions potentially starting in the next week or two due to interest. Please contact Shae via [email protected] to register your interest. Free trial session is available if you want to try us out before making a decision!

22.01.2022 The report released yesterday, reviewing the National Curriculum came up with a number of recommendations for change including a "Back-to-Basics phonics approach" be implemented in all schools, and that teachers receive proper training in the teaching of grammar punctuation and reading. Too many schools are still doing what they have always done but saying they are following the National Curriculum, because they include a basic 'analytical' phonics program in their "whole la...nguage" program. Teaching students, "This is the the letter "s" and it makes the sound /ssss/ and its at the start of the word snake", is not what is expected from the National Curriculum. What IS expected is an 'explicit' or 'systematic' phonics approach. There is a difference! It's a subtle change but makes the world of difference - start with the SOUND not the LETTER NAME. Because "s" doesn't always make /ssss/. Sometimes it makes /shhh/ as in shout or fish. Time and time again we talk to teachers who either don't understand this difference or don't want to know because to rewrite the way they teach reading & writing in Prep/Foundation year, means reviewing how you are also doing it in year 1, year 2, etc. The whole follow-on effect can be a little overwhelming. Jolly Phonics is just one of these "explicit" phonics program, but there are many others - Spalding, Get Reading Write, SSP, THRASS to name a few. Schools just need to find the one that suits them best, and we've enjoyed working with a few schools this year in their own review. Here's hoping more schools will take the plunge in light of yesterday's report. See more

22.01.2022 IT'S OUR 10TH BIRTHDAY! It's been 10 years of introducing little ones to reading and writing in a fun, interactive and effective way! To celebrate we are holding a special competition to win 3 gorgeous, plush puppets of our favourite Jolly Phonics characters - Bee, Inky Mouse & Snake (valued at $130). To enter just tell us below what your favourite book was from your childhood. Plus a bonus entry if you share this post! Winner will be randomly selected at the end of the month! Also, as a bonus, all our new students enrolling in term 3, will receive a free copy of the Jolly Phonics Workbook (valued at $12). Beginners classes will be held Mondays and Fridays, 10:45 - 11:45am at Castlefield Community Centre, Hampton. Free trial session is available. Contact us via messenger or email [email protected] for further information.

22.01.2022 Excited to have had a great group of kids attend our first session on Friday. The students had a great time exploring the sound /s/ in words like 'Stick', 'neSt' and 'eggS'. It's not too late to join us! Contact Shae at [email protected] to register for your free trial this coming Friday, 9:30am - 10:30am.

22.01.2022 Reading & spelling tip- 'q' is followed by a 'u' so when spelling always write 'qu' and when reading say /kw/ e.g. Queen, quit, quick A story for little ones: 'q'was a sooky la la & didn't want to be in a word by himself so 'u' came to him & said "don't worry, I'll stand next to you!' And so they lived happily together side by side- qu You could act it out with some dress ups or cards or draw a picture to reinforce!

21.01.2022 Only 2 more days to enter and go in the chance to win these gorgeous plush puppets. Will draw winner tomorrow evening.

20.01.2022 We can't believe many of our Brainastics babies are off to school soon. I will need my tissues over the next few weeks...that's for sure! Mums and Dads...cherish the last kinder moments! Enjoy the extra play time and the slower pace! Jen xx

19.01.2022 This week I "confiscated" this take home reader from my child's school. Given to beginning readers, books like this only set kids up for feelings of failure and destroy their self-confidence. If we're not going to teach children all the phonemes (sounds) and spelling 'rules' then how are they supposed to independently read words like "firefighter" and "station"? Not to mention the 'tricky words' that have been thrown in here too, like "people" "mechanic" and "clerk". These are kids that are NEW to reading who are receiving books like this! Our antiquated literacy resources, that are in most schools, really need a desperate overhaul. As parents, if you find books like this at your school, please speak to your teacher and encourage them to either re-level them or remove them.

19.01.2022 Our classes are filling quickly. We are running sessions on Mondays and Fridays 9:30 - 10:30am from Castlefield Community Centre in Hampton. Email [email protected] for more information or to enrol your preschool child. First trial session free!

18.01.2022 For 10 years we have been helping kindergarten kids to develop the skills they need for reading and writing, using the synthetic phonics method. Come along for a free trial to see what we are all about, or contact us for a chat. Term two enrolments are now open for our Hampton venue. Mondays 9:30am - 10:30am Fridays 9:30am - 10:30am Email [email protected] for more information.

18.01.2022 Brainastics is not one of those 'tiger-mum' programs that tries to push children beyond what they are ready for. Our classes are fun, interactive and age-appropriate, with story-telling, singing, craft activities and games. Bring your kindergarten-aged child along for a free, no-obligation, trial session on either Monday 4th February or Friday 8th February to see what we are all about! Email [email protected] to book your spot.

18.01.2022 And the winner is ... Shell Parkes. Congratulations! Three new friends are on their way to your house. Thanks to everyone who entered the competition. We loved hearing about your favourite childhood stories.

17.01.2022 We are loving our new venue at LePage Primary School! Classes started today but it's not too late to join us. Free trials available.

16.01.2022 WE'RE BACK! Brainastics is returning in 2018! We are currently taking expressions of interest for enrolments, as we still sort out our days and venues. Please comment below if you are interested in your Kinder-aged child joining our literacy classes in term one and let us know what day suits you best. Well be in touch!

16.01.2022 Today's adventure: a radio interview about teaching little ones to read. Thanks for the invitation Southern FM.

15.01.2022 Have you seen our fabulous new classroom at Le Page Primary School, Cheltenham? Perfect distance to Southland for parents to do their shopping or grab a cuppa, whilst their kids spend an hour learning their sounds with us! Term 2 enrolments open now!

14.01.2022 After helping write Santa lists for many 3-6 year olds this week, there is a clear 1st & 2nd in the 'what I want for Christmas' race. Can you guess what it is?

13.01.2022 Due to popular demand a new class is opening... Friday 10.30 beginners Facebook, email or call us to book in, but be quick to avoid disappointment!

12.01.2022 We are seeking a primary-trained teacher to join our team at Brainastics, teaching 1 or 2 mornings a week. We will provide training. Please contact us at [email protected] with your CV if you are interested in applying.

12.01.2022 We have been helping little ones to learn how to read and write through phonics for 10 years now. It's so weird to have parents of teenagers still approach me to say "thank you" for the head start we provided their child. Help us spread the word and reach a new group of parents and kids by tagging your friends who have kindergarten aged children.

11.01.2022 Now we have all begun to settle into the swing of 2018, we have received a number of queries about starting our Brainastics sessions mid-term. We welcome mid-term enrolements and still have a number of places in our Monday morning and Friday morning sessions (Hampton). Contact Shae at [email protected] for more information!

11.01.2022 2016 has been a busy and eventful year for all of us at Brainastics as we have been investigating the best ways of improving literacy skills for as many children as we can. In order to continue exploring this, we have decided to take a short break from running classes in 2017. After nearly 10 years of teaching little ones to read and write, our passion and enthusiasm in this area remains, but please forgive us as we take this brief break. Wishing you all a happy and safe New Year.

10.01.2022 Inky, Bee and Snake are very excited to meet all the kids next week too!

09.01.2022 Term 3 timetable released and places are filling up! Send us a message or check out our website (www.brainastics.com.au) to find out more or book in! Beginners classes in Mentone: Tuesday 10.30 Thursday 9.20... Friday 11.45 Continuing classes in Mentone: Monday 9.20 Tuesday 9.20 Wednesday 9.30 Friday 10.30 2nd year class Friday 9.20

07.01.2022 Another article highlighting the value of synthetic phonics in our schools, and questioning why it's taking so long for our schools to implement the changes recommended in an Australian Parliamentary Enquiry in 2005.

07.01.2022 Term 1 timetable released... Monday 9.20 - beginners in Mentone Tuesday 9.20 - beginners in Cheltenham Wednesday 9.30 - beginners in Mentone... Friday 9.20 - continuing class in Mentone Send us a message to book in! Happy holidays and stay cool! xx

06.01.2022 Did you want to join the fun in 2016? We are currently getting together our timetable so if you are interested please send through the answers to these questions so we can try to accommodate you! 1) What days is your little one free?... 2) What time of day are they free? 3) Where do you live? Regards, Jen & Shae

06.01.2022 We are now taking enrolments for our term one Brainastics classes. If you have a kindergarten-aged child who is ready to start learning to read and write, come along for a free trial in one of our literacy classes! Hampton venue with classes on Monday or Friday mornings. For more details email [email protected] New website launching soon!

05.01.2022 This article addresses the concern we've had for years - teachers are not being properly taught how to teach reading at university! Too many teachers & schools are still relying solely on 'Whole Language' methods to teach their students. They think by saying "This is the letter "s" and it makes the sound /ssss/" they are incorporating phonics, but this kind of analytical phonics is ineffective too. What needs to be introduced to ALL schools is an explicit, systematic phonics method like we use at Brainastics. As the article says: "Teaching phonics isn't about ideology or philosophy, it's about evidence. Doctors don't have a belief in penicillin, penicillin works. Phonics works, full stop."

04.01.2022 Classes start back next week! We are really excited to meet all the new kids and reconnect with ones we already know! See you next week! x

03.01.2022 We took all our teachers to a seminar last week where experts in addressing learning difficulties, discussed the sad state of literacy rates in Australia today. Did you know ... ... a study of the literacy rates in 45 countries around the world rated Australia 27th - the lowest in the English speaking world? ... and data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 52% of 15-19 year olds do not possess enough literacy skills to operate in a modern workplace? Th...ankfully all the experts agreed that the way to change these stats is to do exactly what we are doing at Brainastics. An explicit phonics program needs to be implemented at every school and money needs to be spent training these teachers how to teach it properly! We'd love to hear from you whether you know of any schools that teach all 42 letter sounds in Prep/Foundation, as opposed to just the alphabet. See more

02.01.2022 First day back for term 3! We are looking forward to seeing all our little friends this week! Beginners classes start next week so there is still time to enrol (contact Shae via [email protected] ). Also, if you havent entered our competition below make sure you do so before the end of July. Have a great day!

02.01.2022 Cant believe we are nearly half way through the year! New beginners classes will be starting next term, so contact Shae at [email protected] for more info. Weve been teaching little ones to read for 10 years and proudly still going strong.Cant believe we are nearly half way through the year! New beginners classes will be starting next term, so contact Shae at [email protected] for more info. Weve been teaching little ones to read for 10 years and proudly still going strong.

01.01.2022 Back in 2008, we started introducing pre-schoolers to phonics. In that time I've lost count of how many little ones we have had the pleasure to teach / play with. It's easily a couple of hundred and we've loved every moment! After a year of rest, 'Brainastics' is back in 2018 and to celebrate we are offering a FREE TERM OF CLASSES for term one. To enter you just have to share this post and add your favourite emoji to the comments section. If you're not sure how to add emojis then a :) or ;P is perfectly acceptable too! Our classes are currently on a Monday morning 9:30am - 10:30am or Friday 9:30am - 10:30am at Castlefield Community Centre in Hampton. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced at noon on Sunday 4th February. (Currently enrolled families can also enter!) Good luck!