Tthe URL is now www.giftededucation.org.nz, and we have Small Poppies in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
I am the coordinator for Christchurch so contact me for Christchurch classes, download an information pack from the website, or contact head office for Auckland/Wellington.
The 'Articles and Publications' section in The Gifted Education Centre website has an article written by Sue Breen titled 'Tips for Working with Gifted Preschoolers', which I found useful in terms of describing Small Poppies in more detail than the Small Poppies website.
http://giftededucation.org.nz/artandpub.html
I don't know where you are located, but I recently contact Sarah Wooller via the Small Poppies website as I am also looking into possibly enrolling my son. I received the following information within an email reply about two Poppy Peek sessions, coming up in March:
"In March 2011, The Gifted Education Centre will be running the following Poppy Peek sessions.
Tuesday 8 March 2011, at Owairaka School , 113 Richardson Road , Mt Albert. A mixed age group. 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Tuesday 22 March 2011, at Owairaka School , 113 Richardson Road , Mt Albert. A mixed age group. 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Unfortunately we will not be holding Poppy Peeks at any of our other venues, so we recommend that you attend this Poppy Peek even if you would like to regularly attend another venue."
Thanks heaps.
I'm in Auckland and contacted the same person and received the same info. We're thinking of goin' there on the 8 March.
Will read that article.
We're booked in for the session on 22 March. If that goes well, I'm looking at booking DS into the afternoon session at Riverina School in Pakuranga. Am looking forward to the 'Poppy Peek' session. I expect it will give me loads of tips for at home.
I have exactly the same expectations as you. At least me and my husband will have a bit of rest thinking what will be the next activity for our 2y/o daughter. But more than anything else, I can't wait for the Poppy peek session, and how it feels to be surrounded not just by one but a group of clever young people...
Hi,
went to the poppy peak a couple of weeks ago for the under 4 year olds.
It was really good and I learnt heaps. I was a bit nervous, because my
daughter knows when she is expected to be 'on', as to say and spent
most of her time on my lap sucking her thumb. The teacher
then started working with my daughter and got her interested in some
activities. I would highly recommend it. It was not at all judgmental
and if the child was not interested in an activity, it was okay.
My son (3 yrs old) and I love Small Poppies at Riverina School, Pakuranga. Great group of kids and excellent activities, nice to talk to parents with similar issues and interests. I have also learnt alot myself. I wish I had known about Small Poppies when my 7 year was in Preschool, it would have help a great deal then.
It's usually pretty clear to all (parent, teacher, child) by the end of the session whether it worked, the child has benefited, and you want to come back. If nothing was said, I would assume that you will be accepted.
But there will be a more formal invitation by email. If you want to know for sure now, just ring the office and ask.
Well, I took DS4 to a Poppy Peek session today at Owairaka School. He enjoyed the session very much and is starting Small Poppies at Riverina next Monday. The thing that stood out like a sore thumb within minutes of arriving, was the level of questioning by Sue with the children. A teacher myself, I am used to having to scaffold information down to meet the learning needs of the students we teach. In this instance, the information was scaffolded up which I think will be highly beneficial for our son, and I imagine the other children he will be learning alongside.
