Preschools Can Help To Improve A Child’s IQ

Preschools Can Help To Improve A Child’s IQ How glad are we as parents when we discover that our kids are the smart type? It is the pride of any parent and that is what we all wish our kids. But for some others, every effort meant to make their kids grow up smart has been anything but a success. And their failed success could be linked to their wrong approaches. They erroneously believe that the best way to improve IQ for kids is only through memory exercises and stuff. Enrolling your child into one of the best preschools in Singapore is an important stage of your child’s education. So how do you choose one that is the best for your child? You should look at curriculum, quality of teachers and most importantly, the general ‘feel’ of the centre which you should get for yourself by going down to the centre. Check out one such preschool, Chiltern House here today.

 Honestly, these exercises are not bad, but what if there are some easy ways to help your child think as smart as you wish? Would you want to leverage such measures? Interestingly, thenewageparents.com has got this to say. Improving Spatial Intelligence with Blocks Some wards are looking in the wrong direction regarding IQ building. But while we seek complex learning processes, there are play-like processes that help kids build their IQs faster, and that is what this author will glad to put us through: Puzzles, blocks, memory games, crafts, toys figurines – these are tools every child should grow up with. Give your children ample time and space to play with these tools when they are in preschool. Block and construction play is particularly important and beneficial as it gives your child multiple learning opportunities. Read more here!

One of the greatest benefits of preschool environments is that it equips kids with comfort and at the same time empowers them with knowledge. Kids are challenged when they have to make structures with play materials. When they get stuck at some point, they try to infuse their creativity to get around the situation. You mustn’t shout at them before they can learn. There are friendly and playful means through which toddlers can build up ideas in their heads. Preschool is where they get such perfect opportunity to fine-tune their IQ for the better and stand out from the pack in the future.

Developing The Child In The Various Areas Preschools are basically guided by their own objectives as per how they plan to impact kids. So different preschools with what they hope to achieve. But if you are looking for one and you don’t know what to look out for, then you need to read what childtrends.org has in mind: High-quality programs regularly collect information about children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. The National Research Councilhas published guidance on choosing and using child assessments that are appropriate for children’s developmental, cultural and linguistic characteristics. The results…Read more here! In view of the content in the above link, there is no need getting confused about the best preschools. When they are competent, they always help kids develop socially, physically, cognitively and emotionally. It’s a competitive world out there, and such settings provide the kid with the best learning resources. It is good for kids to adapt quickly to every environment they find themselves. Such quality can be easily instilled in a child when they attend preschools. Preschools teach them how to share things with others and how they can camouflage into any gathering without getting noticed. These are important qualities for any child.

How To Get Started A lot has been said on how preschools can make kids explore and optimize their learning abilities. But for a child to succeed at such places there are a couple of things the parents may need to do to get the child properly prepared for preschool. Huffpost.com gives us their perspective of the subject: Before starting preschool, playgroups are the closest thing to replicate a preschool environment. Think of it as a soft introduction: there are many other children to play with, toys to share and games to win and lose, secure in the knowledge that parents are still in attendance for the duration. I would recommend you find a playgroup…Read more here!

Perhaps, you had never given this a thought. Plus, you thought it was not all that necessary. Well you have your answer now. Playgroups provide you with the excellent opportunity to get your kid prepared for preschool. Among other things, it exposes them to other kids and adults just in time. Some kids struggle with other kids when they are initially taken to preschools. And let’s face it, if it were you, you would most likely feel the same way. So you can avoid all that by joining a playgroup. That way, your kid would have had a soft introduction before the real thing.

Benefits of Preschool Education on Children

Although most parents take their children to childcare centres and kindergartens for preschool education in Singapore, some choose to homeschool their children. Since some parents have successfully homeschooled their children, it has raised the question of the benefits of enrolling a child in preschool. Why should you take your child to a preschool over homeschooling?

Your Child Receives More Than an Academic Learning Foundation

Children don’t just go to preschool to gain academic knowledge, but they also gain several skills. Young children are observant. The things they see fuels their imagination. Home schooling deprives children of the exposure they need to observe their environment. Social interactions give them a greater perspective to life and opens their minds to opportunities they would otherwise miss if they weren’t in kindergarten.  

Preschools Introduce Structured Settings to Preschoolers

When children are at home, they can sometimes get used to breaking the rules. You may have a routine, but it is not the same as what they face when in school.  The preschool structure involves various tiers of people, including other children, teachers and administrators.

The structured school setting help preschoolers to understand rules and why they need to follow instructions. For example, he will learn to raise his hand or wait his turn if he has a question. He will learn social etiquette. He will also learn how to share the teacher’s attention. Group settings make all these lessons possible.

Preschools Prepare Children for Elementary School

Homeschooling your child will not save him from separation anxiety, especially if this is your greatest fear. When in elementary school, your child will face the same challenges he would have faced in preschool, or even worse. Allowing your child to interact with other children and letting him go through a school program that is like that of elementary school, will help him adapt faster.

Preschool Helps Children to Discover their Capabilities

Preschool gives your child a chance to find out what he is capable of when away from you. This is because a child tends to assume his parent has his back always. This is true, but sometimes a child needs to pick himself up when he falls. Taking your child to preschool gives him the space to discover who he is and what he can do.

Apart from self-discovery, children build confidence when interacting with their peers. You’ll undoubtedly realize that once your child goes to preschool, he will occasionally do stuff he used to expect you to do. It could be a simple task, such as pouring himself a glass of water, or decisions that have to do with what to do with his time.  

Preschool Helps Children to Answer Some of their Questions

Do you sometimes get overwhelmed when your child keeps asking questions? The questions never seem to end, and since it is a learning phase for them, you have no choice but to respond. Preschool will help ease the pressure placed on you to respond to questions since the exposure allows children to find some of the answers to their questions. Before long, instead of you doing the educating, it will be your child telling you what he has discovered.

Your child has a lot to gain by going to preschool. Before opting for alternatives to taking a child to preschool, it is best to look at the pros and cons so that you can make the best choice for your child.

Leading Kindergarten in Singapore

Features of a Good School With the changing era, it is important to change our old ways of schooling and adapt to the new change like mobile learning, smart classes, design thinking etc. In the new digital world, the students have to keep up with the new technological developments and the schools also should change to incorporate these developments in the way of teaching. Kindergarten is the last phase of preschool before your child moves to formal education in primary school. You should look for an excellent kindergarten school in Singapore such as Chiltern House Kindergarten School for your child. Check out their website today.

The following article by Terry Heick of “teach thought” gives a detailed description of the features of a good school. A good school uses every resource, advantage, gift, and opportunity it has to grow students and tends to see more resources, advantages, gifts, and opportunities than lower-performing schools. Read more here.

A good school is essentially a school which helps in the betterment of the society it serves and adapts to social changes quickly. It grows with the global community and the students of a good school are able to support one common goal. A good school understands the complex connection between human change and curiosity and is able to welcome each student as its family. A good school produces wise people rather than only good students who are able to make wise and rational decisions and think of the community as a whole. They grow with the entire community they are embedded in and they are disruptive of any bad cultural practices.

A good school produces positive human beings who have hope and faith for a bright future which they believe and share with others. The following article by Bright Horizons Education Team tells the difference between preschool and pre-Kindergarten which most parents are unaware of. One of the main differences between a preschool and a pre-kindergarten classroom is the age of the children and their developmental abilities. Depending on state licensing regulations and enrollment needs, the preschool age range is typically from 2 ½ to 4 ½ years old; children in a pre-kindergarten class are generally 4 or 5 years old. Read More here.

Most people do not know the difference between preschool and pre-kindergarten and often feel that pre-K is unnecessary. But, for the parents, it is vital to understand that early education of the child is the first step of the child in the practical world and sets the tone of the child towards schools and academics in general. It is seen as per studies that children in pre-kindergarten at a healthy age of 4-5 years have deeper affinity for learning and can develop better-structured skill set. While the children in preschool are below 4 years of age and are generally not attentive and willing to engage into reading activities which does not help in deep learning of the child.

The following article by J. Richard Gentry Ph.D., Raising Readers, Writers, and Spellers tells about the practices and tips for kindergarten and first-grade students. Use Invented Spelling (Ouellette & Sénéchal, 2017). We found invented spelling to be joyful, motivational for our students, and wonderful in terms of providing opportunities for scaffolding and systematically teaching almost all important aspects of the kindergarten literacy curriculum including phonics, phonemic awareness, knowledge of the alphabet, writing conventions, and vocabulary development. Read more here!

It is found as per research conducted that invented spelling helped the children to learn better about phonics and the knowledge of the alphabet. The children were found to be very creative in making their own spelling about different words they heard and learned. The researchers also abandoned the letter of the week study and instead asked the children to focus on all the sounds and letters from A to Z from the very first day. It was found that children learned the sounds better than the letter of the week theory. Thus, a good school helps the children to grow with the global community as a whole and it is important for a child to attend pre-kindergarten in order to have deeper thinking and behavioral developments.

Popular Singapore Preschool Curriculum Types

Parents in Singapore are not just overwhelmed when deciding where to take their child for preschool, but they also must determine the curriculum to use. The Ministry of Education recognizes several curriculums that are used to give preschoolers the necessary foundation for formal education. They include Montessori, play-based, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf Steiner, and The Theory of Multiple Intelligence.

Every childcare centre and kindergarten gets to decide the approach they prefer in ensuring the holistic development of children who seek Singapore preschool education at their facility.

The most recognized preschool curriculums are:

Montessori

The Montessori approach to preschool education covers several areas of a child’s development, including sensory, language, math, art, music, culture and science. Montessori-specific materials are used to help a child to refine the use of his senses. For example, metric system formulas help a child recognize size, colour, sound, form, texture, shape, and dimension.

The sensory materials used also help children to develop other skills, such as doing math, creative art, and playing music. Moveable alphabets help children recognize words and come up with simple sentences.

The Montessori system of education involves spontaneous learning, where the teacher gets children to do new tasks whenever necessary. Since it is a holistic approach, children are always exposed to new learning techniques to reduce monotony.

Although the teacher remains the guide, the Montessori curriculum also encourages children to take the lead whenever necessary. This helps the teacher to assess a child’s development. The teacher sets up a self-driven environment that encourages children to learn from one another. The teacher is also open to learn from the children.

Reggio Emilia

This curriculum is more involving since children learn through hands-on experience. This approach requires preschoolers to use all their senses., Since this system focuses on what children see, hear, touch, smell and taste, every item in the classroom has a purpose. Schools that use this curriculum avoid clutter in the learning environment.

In this system, teachers educate using music, puppetry, drama, shadow play, and print. In this case, children are active participants and don’t just rely on the teacher as the instructor. For example, children say what they see or hear when they are shown drawings, sculpture, written content, and dramatic plays.

Schools that teach using the Reggio Emilia approach puts emphasis on the child’s environment. The classes are homelike to make children comfortable. They can also learn concepts they are familiar with. This way, even when they are at home, they can continue learning by observing the same things they did in school.

While other systems of education place the focus on the teacher as the educator, the Reggio Emilia approach has the teacher as the observer. The children take the lead by telling the teacher stories and asking questions. It is through this exchange that the teacher can tell what the preschoolers are interested in and how to further those interests. In this case, the projects are not static. They keep evolving as the child’s focus changes.

Waldorf Steiner

Although this approach is used in several schools, it is not a very popular curriculum in Singapore. Even the schools that use it don’t rely on it exclusively. Most of these schools combine this approach with another curriculum, for example, Montessori and Waldorf Steiner.

The Waldorf Steiner has little or no academic inclination. This is probably why it is not so popular in Singapore, a country where education is quite competitive. This approach focuses on a child’s imagination, rather than traditional math, reading, writing and science lessons. This system of schooling frowns upon electronic devices, such as televisions, which distort a child’s imagination and creativity.

You are probably wondering why this system of education even exists if it goes against the conventional education system. The Waldorf Steiner approach purports to be age-sensitive. The assumption is preschool children cannot process words or mathematical concepts. They are, however, quite imaginative. The zero-tolerance to media keeps children from undesirable content and helps them to become creative beings independently.

Play-Based Curriculum

This curriculum acknowledges that children are more likely to understand what they learn if it is delivered in play form, rather than in a serious classroom setting. A play-based curriculum doesn’t necessarily involve children running all over the place. It is a structured environment where the teacher supervises the children and converts their experiences and interests into learning opportunities.  

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

This approach looks at a child’s intelligence at more than academic. Various aspects of a child’s performance are checked when assessing knowledge. A child’s ability to learn different languages, logical arguments, musical interests, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, and Body Kinaesthetic are considered when measuring intelligence.

Some of these curriculums have more similarities than differences. However, before choosing a school for your preschooler, it is best to analyze your child’s behaviour to determine which approach is most suitable.

Preparing Your Child for Preschool in Singapore

What is the right age of enrolling for child pre school in Singapore? This is a challenge for many parents since kindergartens and childcare centres are flexible when it comes to the age of admission. Some kindergartens admit children who are three years old and above, while others enroll younger children.

The decision to take a child to pre school ultimately rests with you. However, even as you decide when your child should go for pre school, you need to prepare him or her for this period, especially if this is the first time, he or she will be away from you for a few hours a day. 

Boost Your Child’s Immunity

Pre school will be the first time your child meets many children at the same time. Whether you take your child to a small kindergarten or one of the large childcare centres, he or she will be exposed to communicable diseases, like flu, which is common in early learning institutions.

While it usually takes an adult a day to spread flu, children have a longer window if they have low immunity. This is one of the reasons children in pre school almost always have the flu.  It is important to start boosting your little one’s immunity early.

Start by feeding your child a balanced diet, with emphasis on vegetables and fruits. Boost his vitamin C intake before, and during the period he is in school. If you have a fussy eater and have trouble getting him or her to eat his fruits and vegetables, get multivitamin supplements ideal for his or her age. You can also find out if your child can get a flu shot.

Prepare Your Child for the Separation

Children, like adults, get separation anxiety. Only theirs is worse because they have never been away from their parents for several hours. Some children cope for the few hours they are away, but some don’t. To ensure your child doesn’t spend so many hours crying for you, prepare him for that moment when you have to leave him at the pre school.

Discuss what he should expect on his first day, and even let him know when he should expect you. If he is gone for half the day, let him know you’ll pick him for lunch or after his meal. This way, he’ll know when to expect you. You should also find out his fears and give him the assurance he needs.

Involve Him When Choosing a Preschool

Some children get anxious about going to preschool because the environment is new to them. Dressing children in the morning and leaving them in a place they have never been to is a recipe for disaster. They will cry and probably remain inconsolable for the rest of the day. This is not just tough on the children, but the teachers as well.

To avoid all the distraction and distress, get at least three childcare centres or kindergartens you are comfortable with then visit each one with your child. Let him know why he needs to go to pre school, and that he will go to the school he likes best.  

If you agree with his choice, he will look forward to his first day and will be happy because he chose the pre school. This gesture will give him the confidence to discuss his adventures and tell you more about the school. Your child will not be the only excited one, but you will also have peace of mind knowing your child is in a school he likes. It would help if you also encouraged him to discuss the things he doesn’t like. This way, he’ll know he can tell you anything, even when he chose the school.

Preparing your child for preschool is one of the critical steps to take when he gets to school-going age. Ensure he is up to date will all his vaccinations and has all his school supplies. Please encourage your child to enjoy school since the foundation he gets will influence his attitude towards education. 

A Guide to Choosing the Best Curriculum for Your Preschooler

When looking for a preschool in Singapore, you’ll discover the process is not as straightforward as you thought. You will not just be looking for any preschool, but a kindergarten or childcare centre with the right curriculum for your child.

The reason preschools have many curriculums to choose from is because young children have different ways of absorbing information. Preschool is the education foundation for your child, and it needs to be done right.

You have at least six curriculums to choose from, including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Play-based, The High Scope Method, Waldorf Steiner, and The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. These curriculums use different techniques in educating a preschooler.

It is critical to note that all these curriculums have one goal, to ensure your child is ready for formal education. Whichever curriculum you choose, by the end of it all, he should be prepared for primary school.  

Since education is still new to a preschooler, he is likely to excel in one curriculum over the others. How, then, can you tell which curriculum is most suitable for your child?

Visit Preschools Using Different Curriculums and Gauge Your Child’s Reaction

Sometimes, it isn’t easy to decide which curriculum suits your child best. Often, parents pick a system they like, and not necessarily because it is what is best for the child. For example, if your child is highly opinionated, you may consider the Reggio Emilia method of learning since it has a child-directed learning approach.  

Some schools have integrated the different curriculums into their teaching style. It is, therefore, not surprising if you come across a school that uses aspects of the various curriculums.

Such schools attract parents who are interested in tapping the different styles of learning to help them understand their children better. The preschooler will also undoubtedly find a learning system he enjoys after exposure to the various methodologies.

Which Curriculum Reflects Your Values and Expectations?

Although your child remains central in your decision regarding the best curriculum for him at preschool, you should consider a curriculum that best represents your values and expectations. For example, if you are bringing up your child to be self-motivated and build on his interests and curiosity about life, you should choose a curriculum that encourages him to do the same. For example, the Montessori system has the teacher as a guide, but the curriculum heavily relies on a child’s interests.

Is the Curriculum Structured, or does it Offer Flexibility to Include Alternative Learning Styles?

If your child functions best with a specific routine, you should choose a curriculum that is structured. This way, he will be comfortable in a new environment. Some children function best in a preschool where lessons are predetermined, while others get bored with predictable activities. It is, therefore, important to consider the curriculum set-up when deciding on the best preschool for your child.

Before choosing any of the curriculums, it is best to know what they entail, and the impact they will have on your child. If your child has trouble grasping information in a class, you should consider a play-based curriculum. Some children struggle in kindergarten, not because they are not bright, but because of the lesson structure is not ideal. With the right foundation, your child will have it easy in preschool, and will be ready for primary school when the time comes.

Common challenges Singaporean parents may face when teaching their kids Mandarin

As a loving and caring parent, you are ready to do whatever it takes to give your little bundle of joy a head start in life. One of the best ways you can do this is to teach your kid a second language. If you live in Singapore and your child already knows how to speak English, then you should consider teaching him how to speak Mandarin.

Keep in mind that your child’s journey to fluency in a second language is not going to be all sunshine and rainbows. You kid is inevitably going to face some challenges, regardless of how fast he learns. From frustration to lack of interest in the language, you must be ready to help him when the time comes. And to most, help comes in the form of joining a Mandarin class at a language school.

 

The following article by Etonhouse explains more on some of the challenges Singaporean parents are likely going to face when teaching their kids how to speak Mandarin Chinese.

Coping With Learning Mandarin: 5 Challenges Singapore Parents Face

I thought that my days of learning Mandarin were far behind me, but then I became a mum and I found myself thrust back into a world of Chinese characters and hanyu pinyin,” shared Mdm Tan, mum of a Primary 2 daughter, candidly. Read more here.

Now that you have a clearer understanding on the challenges you may face in teaching a second language, you must remember to maintain a positive attitude and never give up no matter how tough it get. One thing you can do to help overcome these challenges is to sign up your kid for Mandarin classes.

 

This article by Ng Keng Gene unveils some special Mandarin classes in Singapore.

Tailoring Mandarin classes to pupils’ needs

Sometimes, they are required to walk around class and ask each other questions about their families or their hobbies to get to know each other better and practise their speech,” she told The New Paper in Mandarin. Read more here.

You likely now know a thing or two about some special Mandarin classes that can address the needs of your kid. Another step you can take to ensure that your kid becomes fluent in Chinese is to enroll him in an enrichment center focused on the Mandarin language.  There, special tools and fun games will be used to teach your kid how to speak Mandarin.

 

Here Openschoolbag specifies 6 enrichment centers that can teach your child how to speak Mandarin fluently in Singapore.

6 Enrichment Centres for Singapore Kids focused on Chinese Language

We remember that besides enrichment classes for English Language which we previously introduced under 6 Enrichment Centres for Singapore Kids focused on English Language, there are also enrichment classes specially meant for the Chinese Language.  Read more here.

You likely now know some of the best Chinese enrichment classes in Singapore like Chengzhu Mandarin Centre, Kidstartnow, Apple Pie, Berries, Tien Hsia Language School, and Skylace Language School among others. Before enrolling your kid into any of them, it is important that you first learn as much as you can about them.

 

Final note

Teaching your child a complicated language like Mandarin is by no means going to be a walk in the park. You are going to meet with some challenges. To scale through them, you have to be flexible in your approach, patient and positive. Also it is advisable to consider enrolling your child into a Mandarin language class. Most Mandarin enrichment classes are dedicated to making language learning as fun as possible.

So, do your research to find a good one or alternatively, choose among the best or high rated Mandarin language schools for children in Singapore.

 

Super easy ways to help your kids learn Chinese

Super easy ways to help your kids learn Chinese

As a Singaporean parent, don’t you just wish that your child could become a fluent Chinese speaker overnight? Regardless of how skilled you are or how effective your teaching techniques are, you won’t be able to teach your kids how to speak Chinese fluently within a short time span. The reason for this is that learning a new language takes time and consistent effort.

Presently, there are a handful of strategies that can effectively help parents to teach kids Chinese without stressing their self out.

The following article by Dr Chung Tzemin shed light on some fun ways to help your kids learn how to speak Chinese.

The Fun Way to Help Your Child Learn Chinese – and Love It!

Imagine you’ve just come home from a long day at work and as soon as you step into the living room, your son runs up to you with a book in his hand and says: Read more here.

You surely now know some fun and effective ways to teach your kids how to speak Chinese fluently. Regardless of your best efforts as a parent to help your child become a fluent Chinese speaker, your child may still fall behind. Well, if that is the case, you should do some research to learn what is holding them back.

The following article by connectedlearnig shed light on five reasons why your kids may be struggling to learn Chinese.

Five reasons why Singaporean kids struggle to learn Chinese

It’s no secret that Chinese has become more important in today’s economic situation. However, our children’s attitudes have not changed much! Mandarin is still a major hurdle for our mostly English-speaking youth. Read more here.

You now know some five reasons why your child may be struggling to learn Chinese. Regardless of the reason why your child may not be interested in learning Chinese or having a hard time remembering what he has learned, you need to keep in mind that there are ways to salvage the situation and make your kids fall in love with the language.

The following article by youngparents discusses how one parent that was able to teach her kids how to speak Chinese.

Diana Ser’s top tips for teaching kids Chinese

Diana Ser may be effectively bilingual, but like many parents in Singapore, she struggles to get her kids to love Mandarin. Jake is 12, Christy is 10, and Jaymee, seven. Read more here

You likely now know some tips that can spur your child’s interest in learning the Chinese language. You also now know some things you must never do when teaching your child how to speak Chinese. If your child is struggling with the language, then you should change your approach. For example, if you have been using books to teach your kids but aren’t getting any result, then you should try videos, apps and other learning tools for a change.

Final note

As a parent, if you aren’t a fluent Chinese speaker, it is likely going to be easy to conclude that it is going to be difficult or impossible to teach your kids how to speak Chinese.

While this may be true to an extent, you need to keep in mind that there are super easy things you can do to rekindle your child’s interest in the language. For example, you can use fun videos, games, apps and so on instead of boring books and courses.

Despite how effective your approach to teaching the language may be, your child may still struggle. Well, if that is the case, then you should learn from how one successful parent in Singapore was able to do this.

 

 

Dramatic Play and its Benefits

When you were you young, do you remember pretending to be on adventures with your teachers? Have you tried playing roles with your classmates? If yes, then you are lucky you have experienced drama plays in your preschool. In this article, we are going to tell you about the benefits of dramatic plays and the reasons why you should let your children experience the joy of drama. You would learn a lot in this article whether you are a teacher or a parent. For parents who are interested in sending your children to specialized speech and drama classes, or holiday programmes, head over to www.juliagabriel.com to find out more!

To begin, Sarah Punkoney will tell us about the incredible benefits of dramatic play.

THE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF DRAMATIC PLAY

WHAT IS DRAMATIC PLAY?

Dramatic play is s a type of play where children assign and accept roles and act them out. It’s pretending to be someone or something else. Someone different and new like a supervillain, or someone well known and familiar like mom. Sometimes children take on real-world roles, other times they take on fantasy roles. Either way, it is play that involves breaking down the barriers of reality and results in serious and natural learning.

EXAMPLES OF DRAMATIC PLAY

  • a child who pretends to feed and rock a doll to sleep
  • a child who pretends to fix a leaky faucet in the play kitchen
  • a child who pretends to be Spot the dog and plays fetch
  • a child who stirs counting bears in a bowl to make bear soup Read more here.

We should really encourage our students to have dramatic plays as much as we can. For parents, dramatic plays could also be done at home any time. That is why if we have the time, then we should also have dramatic plays with our children. Now, Bright Young Things Drama School will give us more of the benefits of drama.

Benefits of Drama

Increasingly the power of drama is being recognised as one of the most effective ways to develop soft skills and emotional intelligence in children and young people, skills that are often not developed through the traditional education system. Drama promotes communication skills, teamwork, dialogue, negotiation, socialization. It stimulates the imagination and creativity; it develops a better understanding of human behaviour and empathy with situations that might seem distant. It allows the development of a critical thinking and allows us to make better and more conscious decisions; it encourages us to use our bodies and our voices, it encourages and inspires us to say “no”, to stand for, to speak up.

Every day at Bright Young Things we witness first-hand the benefits of drama for children and have had the pleasure to see our byts blossom and unlock their full potential, which has a significant impact on all aspects of their life. Read more here.

One of the benefits given above is that it encourages team work and cooperation. Since they will be working with groups of children, they will be trained to work with different kinds of people. They will be trained to solve problems in groups and that would be helpful for their future. Next up, David Farmer will tell us why we should teach drama to primary school children.

Why Teach Drama to Primary School Children?

Dramatic activity is already a natural part of most children’s lives before they start school in the form of make-believe play, enabling them to make sense of their own identity by exploring meaningful fictional situations that have parallels in the real world. This can be utilised at school through structured play and drama to encourage pupils to learn actively and interactively throughout the primary years and across the curriculum.

Children like to move and to interact with others. In drama we ask them to do exactly this. Rather than sitting still and listening they are encouraged to move, speak and respond to one another. Students who are challenged by reading and writing (including those with English as a second language) often respond more positively to the imaginative and multisensory learning offered by drama. This in turn helps them develop such skills as creativity, enquiry, communication, empathy, self-confidence, cooperation, leadership and negotiation. Most importantly, drama activities are fun – making learning both enjoyable and memorable. Read more here.

According to the article, drama gives children opportunities to explore, discuss and deal with difficult issues and to express their emotions in a supportive environment. So as early as primary or preschool school, they would already be trained in dealing and solving several problems or conflicts. So then it proves that drama plays in early childhood can be a training ground which can help them with their future lives.

A guide to picking a good international school in Singapore

As a parent your definitely want to see your child grow and ultimately reach his full potential. The most effective way for you to give your child the boost he needs is to enrol him in a good school.

Not all schools will be able to meet up with the needs of your child. You are going to have to do some research before enrolling your child in a school of your choice.

Settling for a school that is very close to your home or office or that has a very low fee is not really a good idea because they may not be able to comfortably handle the needs of your child.

Enrolling your child in an international school is an excellent idea because he is going to be exposed to a lot of new things and going to be engaged in upbuilding activities that will make him develop rapidly.

If you are looking for a good IB or international school in Singapore, ISS International School is a good option you should consider. They cater to children from kindergarten through high school age and have holistic programmes with a broad range of learning activities. If you are looking for a global education for your child, do consider ISS Singapore.

Presently, you might not know a lot about the various international schools in Singapore.

The following article by Expat living discusses what international school in Singapore is all about.

Guide to an international school in Singapore

Whether you’ve been in Singapore for some time and your children have just reached school age, or you’ve just arrived here with youngsters in tow, finding the right school for them will be one of your priorities. To help you make an informed decision about which school is best for your child, we asked parents where they chose to send their children and why. Read more here

You likely now know a thing or two about international schools in Singapore.  Before you enroll your child in an international school, it is important that you first take a close look at their curriculum.

The following article by Katie Roberts shed light on the curriculum of some of the best international schools in Singapore.

The best international school curriculum for your child

With so many great international schools in Singapore, we know how difficult it is to choose the right one for your child. Choosing the right school becomes a little easier, however, when you know more about what your child will be learning. Find out more about the international school curriculums on offer at these eight schools in Singapore. Read more here

Since you now know a thing or two about the curriculum of some international schools in Singapore. You likely may be interested in knowing the ten best international schools in Singapore

The following article by Lynette Tan lists the ten best international schools in Singapore.

Top 10 international schools in Singapore

Did you make the move to Singapore recently? Looking for a school for your child? You might have heard of the rigorous school system here in Singapore and are weighing the options between a local or international school. Read more here

You are obviously going to need all the help you can get especially when it comes to choosing a good international school for your child. Analyzing and comparing the curriculums of the international schools you have in mind will steer you towards making a right decision.

Presently, there are a lot of international schools in Singapore, settling for just anyone is not a good idea. What you should do therefore is to analyze the top ten international schools in Singapore and choose the one that best suits your child’s needs.

Top tips For Teaching Chinese Language to Children with Ease

Being an expert in Chinese is a long march, but it doesn’t have to be if you start teaching your kids early on. Chinese is one of the most popular and widely spoken languages in the world, second only after English. In spite of what you might hear about the complexity of learning Chinese, here are five tricks of the trade the can help you teach the language to your child with ease:
Enroll in Chinese Enrichment Classes

Creating a Chinese-speaking environment is extremely important if one wishes to teach the language to their kids. Chinese enrichment classes work wonders for those who cannot create such an environment at home. These classes provide the optimal surrounding for a kid to learn all facets of the language by creating a balance between play and immersive learning. You can opt for an enrichment class for children at Chengzhu Mandarin Centre, which offers classes for both children and adults. Their courses have been well-received by both groups and you should definitely check them out.

These classes are known to organically motivate kids to want to learn Chinese, and can also be a great tool for native Chinese speakers.

 

Rope in Stories

The first step in teaching Chinese is to get children interested in the language. The best way to do that is to teach via interactive storytelling. Stories can be an effective way to get a child’s attention and can help ease of the process of entering the world of a new language. Most people try to teach by forcing introductory words or letters to kids, but don’t you think a child would remember them better if they hear it in the form of stories?

Convert Letters into Characters

Taking a tip from preschools and kindergartens, making learning fun can be a great way to tickle a child’s curiosity and keep him/her engaged in learning Chinese. One can attempt to cartoonize or convert Chinese alphabets/character into fun personas and cartoon characters, which can help kids learn how to identify certain alphabets and also teach them how to write.

Teach via Art

Using coloring and art books is a great way to supplement cultural as well as lingual education. Young kids love to paint and look at colorful pictures, using these tools to teach kids about history as well as everyday objects can be a very useful and easy way to teach Chinese.

Turn to YouTube

The Internet is a warehouse of knowledge and luckily most of this knowledge can be found on YouTube. There are plenty of easy tutorials and teaching plans on YouTube that can help you enrich your child’s language capabilities.

What We Need To Know About Chinese Kindergartens

In Singapore, there are different kinds of kindergarten. Some schools use the English language, while some use the Chinese language or Mandarin. However, there are also schools that have a bilingual curriculum which makes them use both languages. Some parents prefer to enrol their children in an all-English school because they think that it would be better. However, they are not aware of the advantages and benefits of learning Mandarin.

At Chengzhu Mandarin Centre, children will learn Mandarin in a Chinese kindergarten, an immersive environment that includes music, storytelling, art & craft. They will develop the confidence to use Mandarin in their daily lives. If you are keen for your child to master Mandarin you should check out their page.

 

Mind Champs will share to us an anatomy of the best Chinese kindergarten in Singapore for your child.

The Anatomy of The Best Chinese Kindergarten In Singapore For Your Child

Learning the Chinese language from young will open up more opportunities for your child in the future. Not only is it increasingly used as a language for business expansion, trade, travel and cultural understanding, it is also one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

With such enormous and far-reaching benefits to learning Mandarin, no wonder there is a growing demand for Chinese kindergartens in Singapore.

An effective bilingual curriculum at a trusted Chinese kindergarten in Singapore 

At MindChamps Chinese PreSchool, children from 18 months to 6 years old are engaged in a fun and nurturing Chinese speaking and learning environment that is far from the “drill and kill” approach. Read more here.

MindChamps Chinese Preschool communicated well the importance and benefits of learning Chinese. They also make sure that learning is fun for the students. They play games, listen to and re-enact stories and rhymes, sing songs, and even learn traditional art forms such as Chinese dance, painting and calligraphy.

Now, let us try to find out about some of the misconceptions of Chinese preschools in Singapore. Mind Champs will tell us about it.

8 Misconceptions of Chinese PreSchools in Singapore Debunked

“There’s no real advantage in sending my child to a Chinese preschool in Singapore. My child will fall behind in English. What exactly IS the difference between regular preschools and Chinese preschools in Singapore anyway?”

These are just some of the questions and concerns that many parents have when it comes to the benefits of enrolling their children in a Chinese preschool.

Now, more than ever, there are great and far-reaching benefits to learning Mandarin. But will learning the language early on really help your child thrive in his or her later school years?

Let us dive right into the Chinese preschool myth-busters you always wanted to know. Read more here.

Provided above are eight misconceptions that we commonly hear from parents. They think that sending their child to a Chinese school will let their children fall behind. Well in fact that is not the case. Below, Mind Champs will tell us some creative ways to encourage your child to learn Chinese.

Creative Ways to Encourage Your Child to Learn Chinese

How do you encourage your child to learn Chinese? The learning of Chinese has myriad benefits. First of all, in Singapore, it is an academic requirement for children to study and do well in a mother tongue for PSLE. And since Chinese has long been, and is increasingly a language for business expansion, trade, engineering, tourism and cultural understanding, the learning of the language transcends academic achievement to wide usage in many aspects. In fact, it is a known fact that Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world.

Some children may not enjoy learning Chinese, especially when some perceive it to be the more difficult of the two languages (the less difficult being English) and because Mandarin is an entirely different language altogether, with different intonation and writing system.

Let’s find some ways to encourage your child to learn Mandarin, so that he/she becomes inherently interested in the language and culture, not just because you told him/her so. Read more here.

According to what we have read above, we should help our children develop natural literacy skills. In order to that, we could read to them every day, engage in a conversation, arrange play dates with friends, point out written language in your environment, and many more. We should not hesitate and stop our children from learning the Chinese language because they could widely use it in the future. We should also already change our mind-set regarding Chinese preschools because they are good for our children.

Why Hire an Interior Designer?

How to Use an Aluminum Brake to Wrap a Door or WindowIf you have a couple of windows or perhaps an exterior door to wrap in aluminum, it can be described as a fun do it yourself weekend project. Your theme won’t become dated. The choice of design software accustomed to the design output plays a substantial role inside the overall design time, accuracy not to mention output for builders to use. Today, equal importance, otherwise more, emerges to beautifully designed dog houses which add an extra charm and sweetness for the landscape of the owner’s house. We live in a fast moving world where we have been bombarded with that which you should wear, eat and set in our homes yet almost never can we have adequate time and energy to ponder the facts that perhaps the way we formulate our rooms just could provide an effect on our moods, creativity, vitality levels and that knows what else.

o Walls and Materials Used – how a logs in log home interiors are finished is important because of the resulting visual impact d by their color. Family members as well as guests tour the bathroom every now then to fulfill their bladder needs so when well as make use of its aesthetic environment and amenities for their rituals. The most frequent cause is that your DNS settings are incorrect. It’s all section of this trend to take away the formal aspect to living, the almost straitjacket feel where the interior is all lines and spaces and structured. This will end up being the focal point of your space.

Vera Wang Blanc Sur Blanc by Wedgwood. Individual rooms can be given adequate attention to let them have dedicated decors which are able to fit the reason for which these folks were d. Keep your bedding, flooring and furniture choices black and white. o What may be the space going to be used for, what will probably be its purpose? For example, is it for relaxing, working, sleeping, entertaining, playing therefore on.

Exhibition Designs are important for almost any participating company inside a trade show as it’ll help in attracting crowds and will impact the visitors immediately. By taking into consideration the type of material that best meets your preferences and also the purpose, if any, that the structure will serve, you’ll come up using a design that compliments your yard beautifully. You might not have a built-in closet within the room to stash away your possessions, but worry not: you will find plenty of bathroom decorating ideas to aid you solve your storage issues. It can be that easy.

Another popular house building CAD software is Envisioneer Express. There are some tips and tricks to rendering it a bit easier, but many would suggest having it done with a professional in order to save yourself the time and funds that might be needed to fix mistakes. One excellent way to do so is by employing a concrete sealant on the inside, thereby preventing it from making its way through into your home. There are a handful of guidelines to making it a bit easier, but most would suggest having it done with a professional to save yourself the time and money that may be required to fix mistakes. The number may seem small but the overall profit has reached 87 million m A study has predicted annual growth of 2% in volume by 201 The growth within the UK alone it is estimated being around +8%.

Modular office furniture just isn’t very expensive. I have provided three guidelines for designing with ceramic tile however, these aren’t the be-all design. You can use a valance or cornice box over it to soften the harsh edges. You can put in a valance or cornice box over it to soften the harsh edges. by ArticleCity Blog.

&#13. The latest reports reveal that production of the engine is on schedule and will be offered in the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor. She writes frequently on travel and leisure, culture and entertainment, interior planning and green building materials and techniques. The latest reports reveal that output of the engine is on schedule and will be offered inside the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor. If you continue to take care of and appreciate it, its’ fairy-tale-like beauty will definitely shine through.

Publications

Despite its main orientation towards professional training, ASTI has always been interested in promoting publications in its areas of specialisation. Some of the major publications are:

  • Epasa Moto
  • The Survey of the Translation and Interpretation Job Market in Cameroon
  • The Tracer Study of ASTI Graduates
  • Translation Perspectives

Job Market Survey

ASTI was created by presidential order in 1985. Its mission is defined as follows:

  • Training of translators and translators/interpreters,
  • Research in translation, interpretation and terminology,
  • Refresher courses for practising translators and interpreters,
  • Promotion of institutional bilingualism in Cameroon.

Since its inception in January 1986, ASTI has been partially fulfilling this mission by training translators and interpreters and organizing language courses for students from Douala University. Refresher courses for translators and interpreters are yet to be organized. As of the end of the 1997/98 academic year, a total of 209 translators and 31 interpreters had graduated from ASTI. Over 90% of the graduants are employed in the public service; a good number work in international organizations such as OAU, WHO, UN on a full time or part time basis. Others started working as translators in SONARA, SOWEDA, BICEC, AMITY BANK, Insurance Companies (CAN, Satellite, etc.) and now hold managerial positions.

In 1997 the Minister of Higher Education commissionned that a study of the job market for ASTI graduates should be done in order to determine the needs of prospective employers in the public and private sectors. The Study began in December 1998 and ended in April 1999.

Tracer Study

The Objective of this study is to analyze the graduates of the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI) of the University of Buea, Cameroon from 1987 to 2003. To this effect, a field survey was initiated in April 2004 with the overall objective to focus on the following perspectives: employment trends in the public and private sectors with respect to the period of graduation, language combination and gender dynamics, professional mobility, further training trends, etc. The study also strives to fond out which orientations and strategies are likely to enable ASTI sustaiin a leading as a translator and interpreter training institution in today’s world.

The Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI), which is currently part of the University of Buea, Cameroon, was set up by presidential order in August 1985 to the effect of fulfilling national needs in translators and interpreters, with particular attention to the public service. The first batch of translation students effectively commenced training during the 1985/1986 academic year. Since inception, training in translation has sustainably been a two-year postgraduate programme, which admits holders of at least a first degree in any discipline; the School therefore recorded its very first translation graduates in 1987. The one-year programme in interpretation, which has since its inception opened exclusively to holders of a profesionnal diploma in translation , was subsequently introduced in 1988, and the first batch of trainees graduated in 1989.

Epasa Moto, a Bilingual Journal of Arts, Letters & the Humanities

The expression, EPASA MOTO is from the Bakweri language of the South West province of the Republic of Cameroon. It means literally “half man”. According to mythology, EPASA MOTO is the name attributed to a supernatural being who resides in the Buea Mountain (the highest mountain in West Africa) which is allegedly “half man, half stone”. This incomplete state of EPASA MOTO aptly describes the African condition at home and in the diaspora, in the sense that, as a result of our contact with the West, our values, concepts and worldview have been tampered with and are non longer in their original state. This tampered state permeates every facet of our lives as human beings aspiring for ultimate perfection. It is our wish that EPASA MOTO will adress this problem from a variety of perspectives.

Articles on Cameroon, Africa and the African diaspora from scholars working on language, letters and culture will be considered for publication. Similarly, current book reviews, poetry, philosophical essays, creative writing, research work in progress etc. will also be published. Consequently, it is my fervent wish that scholars working in this area will submit original, scholarly articles for consideration and possible publication in the journal. We are hopeful that like its mythologic counterpart from which it derives its name, EPASA MOTO will grow and inculcate positive and dynamic ideas in language, letters and culture. (From the foreword of the first issue: Volume 1 No 1, June 1989, p. iv)

STYLESHEET

Articles should be between 15 and 20 typed pages, size A4, double line spacing with the bibliography at the end of the article. Direct references of words cited or referred to should be incorporated in the text, but notes should appear at the bottom of the author’s biographical sketch indicating publications and research in progress should be forwarded with the article. Articles may be written in English or French.

Research

Research has always featured prominently among the three main missions of ASTI, as provided in the instrument creating the School.

Notwithstanding the highly-professional orientation of ASTI, research activities have not been left out. Two major orientations are distinguishable here: student research and staff research.

In fact, all Translation students receive some basic training in research, leading to the writing of a dissertation of no less than 100 A4 pages. With 6 credits, the dissertation alone carries the highest value compared to other components of the course, each of which is either 2 or 3 credits.

Today, there are around 400 M.A. dissertations, covering such interesting issues as: translation theory, corpus translation studies, translation sociology, bilingual terminological glossaries, phraseology, translation into and from African languages, etc.

Staff research has been sustained, notably through the publication of Epasa Moto and through articles in peer-reviewed journals in Translation studies. It is hoped that the introduction of a PhD in Translation and Interpretation Studies will boost research even further at the same time as it will contribute to the sustainability of training at ASTI by graduating potential trainers.

To date, the following interest areas stand out prominently:

    • Terminology
    • Commented Translation
    • Translation Theory
    • Corpus Translation Studies
    • Translation Sociology
    • History of Translation and Interpretation
    • Translation from and into African Languages