Communication is the way children interact with the world around them. Both written and verbal communication is extremely essential for success in life. Efficient readers are those who can fluently read the sentences by pronouncing the word correctly. Similarly, good writers know how to pen their thoughts on paper and use the correct spelling for words.

Foundation for sound literacy is dependent on the child’s ability to grasp spellings. Correctly identifying and arranging the letters in a word, is an important component for mastering proper spellings.

Learning to spell can be quite a task for children sometimes. As we know some words are tricky and the phonetic rules do not apply to them. So, how does the child figure out the correct spellings of these words? Also, sometimes words have letters that are silent, for example ‘h’ in ‘honor’ and the ‘b’ in ‘doubt’ are secret sounds that are not pronounced while saying the word aloud.

We would say the key of learning to spell lies in practice and repetition. However, the rote learning technique is quite dated and children don’t enjoy learning spells by simple rote method. Spelling appropriately gives the child confidence and he becomes attuned to communicate freely, so here are some interesting spelling ‘games’ or ‘exercises’ which you can introduce the preschoolers and elementary school graders to. These activities are really easy and require minimum resources to create the game from scratch by parents themselves at home.

Let’s Go Fishing

Children love adventure. So why not encourage them to go fishing for words along with you? Just take a rod or a stick that is readily available at home and attach a string or woolen thread to the edge of it. At the end of the string or thread attach a magnet by fastening the knot tightly. Collect old magnets and stick ‘fish shaped’ letters on each magnet. You are now ready to go fishing. Dictate a word out aloud to your child and ask him to form the spelling by picking up the correct letters from the ‘fish pond’. Now isn’t that exciting! KutuBee is one such app that exposes the child to new words by offering him over 1,500 age-appropriate books in line with the PYP curriculum.

Walk The Stairs Channelize your child’s activeness by introducing this game. All you have to do is, write letters on blank paper and ask children to arrange them in a step by step manner, by adding each letter to the consequent step. For example, to spell the word ‘mango’ children do the following:

m

ma

man

mang

mango

Now let your tiny tons walk as if they are climbing stairs, placing one foot after the other in succession.

Word Treasure Hunt

Do your little ones get bored during summer vacations? Simply introduce them to this game and see the twinkle in their eyes. Adults need to hide the letters in different corners of the house and allow the child to find them by giving clues. On finding every letter, the child gets the hint for the next clue. Once children have managed to collect all the letters of the word, they need to arrange it in correct order to figure out the ‘word’. We are sure the child will love this activity and will want to play it over & over again.

Choose the Correct Flower

This is a bit of an advanced version for mastering spellings. The parent spells the word in three different ways and presents it to the child. The spellings are written on the flowers with any ‘one flower’ having the correct spelling. Children dress up like ‘buzzing bees’ and flap their wings buzzing around the flowers. Then they come and stand next to the flower that they think has the correct spelling. And bravo! Your tiny bees have found their share of ‘sweet nectar’. The word ‘castle’ is to be presented in two other ways on the flowers ‘castel’ or ‘catsle’. This confuses the child at first, but reinforce the correct spelling & ensures that the child gets it right even though all three spells seem pretty similar.

The Rapid-Fire Spell Quiz

To encourage group activities and set the grounds for healthy competition, the rapid-fire quiz is a great start. The ‘quiz master’ announces the word aloud and children need to clap their hands to indicate they know the spelling and would like to answer. The participant who claps first gets to spell the word. To spice things up, each child gets 10 points for spelling the word correctly. The child with the most points wins the game and is declared ‘Spell Genius’. Kutubee presents numerous exercises to enhance the child’s language skills.

Find the Missing Letter

Fun with the blank exercises are exciting, as the leaner almost figures out the word, but has to select the right letter to get full marks with spelling it. To increase the level of difficulty, leave the space blank where the kid is bound to faulter. For example: for the spelling of ‘sentence’ present it as ‘sent__nce’. Often children get confused to fill with blank with an ‘a’ or an ‘e’. You can also have multiple blanks in a word. Example: ‘Hipp__pot__mus’ to be able to test the child’s awareness of the spelling ‘Hippopotamus’.

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3D printing. A few decades ago, it would be science fiction if people said that objects could be printed just at the click of a button. And yet we have come further and beyond our own imaginations with the development of 3D and the growing accessibility of the technology. From being a tool only for science, 3D printing and the very modern 3D printers have now become more accessible and usable than ever. Mayku works on this very mission. By making the FormBox, Mayku has made 3D printing tech compact and simple enough for anybody to use. Mayku believes that everyone should have the freedom to create, and the FormBox is a splendid tool for it.

Teaching with 3D printing comes with its own advantages and some of them are:

Inspiring creation:

3D printing is a tool for creativity and inspires students to use the technology to critically think and provide a solution for real world problems and requirements. Building something from scratch can really be inspiring to students, while also building their understanding in concepts from their root. Using 3D printing enables students to take interest in designing objects too, which then in turn is a great learning curve for all concepts. 3D printers being a versatile tool help the creative students transition into inventors and innovators. Given the right tools and guidance, all students have the capacity to build and create new things, that they not only enjoy, but also learn a great deal from.

Increases engagement:

Various media have been used so far to make the learning experience better and it only improves with time. And this much emphasis is placed on the engagement of the student because that determines the quality of information retained by the student. 3D printers with their literal added dimension in information, enable students to understand things, while keeping the process highly engaging. Since the process is also creative, the student builds a multi-level understanding of the concepts. And at the end of the day, isn’t it really fun to see something being created from nothing?!

Problem solving:

3D printing has been used by scientists and engineers for decades now. And they use this tech to solve real world problems, with elegant solutions. Putting the same technology in the hands of the young students, enables them to participate in this grand effort. It also is a highly required push towards scientific temperaments in young students, helping not just the student, but the society at large. A brain occupied with solving the problems of the planet, is a brain being used well right? And the problems really help students unfold their minds and explore their depths of information to critically think, work towards a solution and execute it.

Everything is hands-on (Literally):

Teaching your students about the human heart? They can now see an anatomically accurate structure of it. Want to show how an engine works, show it on a 3D working model. The possibilities for hands-on learning are endless with 3D printed models. All things are easier to explain when you can show them directly to your students. No concepts are then alien to their minds, as all can be seen through a real representation of the world, rather than a 2D function of it. Concepts and ideas are then tangible and learning is made simpler than it ever was.

3D printers are not a new technology by any means and they have been around for multiple decades but this time it is accessible and usable by even young students from schools. This in-turn brings the wide applications and understanding of the technology to teachers and students alike, further improving the quality of information shared in schools, and how the students adapt to it. Several urban schools in the Middle East from cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, GCC, UAE and so on have welcomed the technology in school, and the trend is only going to follow.

Using 3D models is simply the next step in teaching the students with media, but this time the medium is also tactile, and very usable by the students. And the added benefit that a 3D printer in your school would make it the coolest school in town!

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Logical thinking is an important trait of programming. Individuals who possess logical thinking can analyze problems and derive the right solution for the problems. Logical thinking is not only important for programming but it is also useful in our lives where you need to get a solution for an occurring problem.

Individuals should have the following characteristics of logical thinking in programming.

1. Observe the situation.
2. Analyze the information provided for a task.
3. Study the information to figure out if it is related to a task.
4. Outline ideas and break them into plans.
5. Focus on facts.
6. Develop solutions to problems considering the facts.
7. Pay keen attention to details.
8. Test the effectiveness of the solution, take feedback and revise it.

Now that we all know how important logical thinking is for programming and life in general. It doesn’t mean that all of us are given this quality by birth, we have to learn and work on the skill to make the best use of it. Here is how you can build and improve your logical thinking.

Think To Solve

The purpose of programming is to provide solutions for the problems. To get the solutions you need to understand the problem and think of the solution as only you can come up with an accurate solution for the problems you want to solve. Once you know the solution you need to divide it into smaller parts and work on them to get the desired output on it.

Practice

As we all know practice can bring the best results. Practice is the only trait that can make us master any skill. So, try to practice already written algorithms to get an idea of how a solution for a problem is formulated as algorithms by including a step by step procedure to solve a problem. Once you start studying algorithms you will build logical thinking and will be able to write your algorithms too. To make your practice fun and meaningful check the TechnoKids subscription available all over GCC, Middle East, UAE and Dubai for easy and fast learning

Learn About Data Structures

Data structures and algorithms are the key elements of programming. Now that you know how to write algorithms, study the data structures as these are the fundamentals of programming. Once you learn all the data structures available you will have a better understanding of which data structure to be used and you will be one step ahead in programming

Play Games

What if I say playing games improve your logical thinking, sounds cool right? Yes, many games force us to think logically like chess, sudoku and puzzles. So, the easy way to enhance your logical thinking is to play such games daily. TechnoKids presents fun games like TechnoWiz and TechnoLogo to teach youngsters the basics of coding.

Learn Programming Paradigms

Learning the programming paradigms will boost your logical thinking. There are several paradigms available but the most common and useful is object-oriented programming. Once you have your hands-on experience in this you will be able to create solutions for any problem using your logical thinking. TechnoKids subscription includes basic to advanced programming lessons for kids to learn every step of programming available all over GCC, Middle East, UAE and Dubai.

Look and study other’s code

We all agree that there is only one solution for a problem but there are possibly hundreds of ways to write a program for that one solution. Every programmer will think in their own ways depending on their logical ability so try and study other programmer’s code to better your skills. The best way to do so is to subscribe to TechnoKids subscription which has several codes to study and brush up on your programming skills.

Code challenges

As challenges bring out the best in us. Do participate in different challenges and competitions to test yourself on creating solutions, apply your logical thinking and come up with an optimal way of programming for it. The Technohub features of TechnoKids subscription will provide you with a platform to participate in code challenges more often to polish your skills with every challenge available all over GCC, MIddle East, UAE and Duba.

Read Books And Solve Examples

Reading programming books can make your basics strong and serve you with a variety of solutions, code and algorithms for a particular solution. Understanding the solutions and optimally solving them will increase your confidence and refine your logical thinking. You can check the accurate examples in Technokids subscription to make this easy for your children and any beginner.

Clean Code

Clean code embodies a better understanding of algorithms and logic behind the code. How clean the code is that simple, accurate the programming will be required for the solution. It will not only be easy for you to write programs but for other users to be able to understand and learn. However, to write a clean code you need to brush up your skills daily, this may sound a bit difficult for you but here is a tip for you. Try the TechnoKids subscription sessions and step by step procedure explained and keep practising with them.

Design Patterns

Design patterns suggest all the possible solutions for a problem and give you a clear understanding of the solution. Having prior knowledge of programming paradigms and design patterns will help you to solve logical thinking while programming for a solution.

I hope you know how to level up your logical thinking in programming now. To make this journey for your kids or you as a beginner I suggest “Techno kids subscription (5-15 years old) available all over GCC, Middle East, UAE and Dubai. The subscription will make you understand basics and advance your programming by providing step by step coaching at your speed of understanding and encourage you to be better by providing challenges and tasks on a daily basis.

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We are all familiar with the famous LEGO® play kits. Children find it intriguing to open a box full of colourful blocks & bricks and get to job right away. Young pre-schoolers have vivid imagination and are always seeking an outlet to express themselves. LEGO® kits provide an excellent opportunity for children to present their creativity and have fun while doing so.

Did you know the word ‘LEGO’ was derived from two Danish words ‘leg’ & godt’ which means ‘play well’. Now that is quite an apt name for an asset like LEGO®.

Time and again parents have witnessed numerous benefits by gifting their children the wonderful world of LEGO®. From refinement of senses to upgradation of skills, and even developing important values like co-operation, LEGO® does it all. Through this Blog let us highlight a few reasons why you must allow your kids to have some LEGO® time every day.

Development of Motor Skills

The first skill that children need to master is the Fine Motor development. It gives the child the ability to grasp and hold things with their hand & finger muscles. Holding a crayon correctly between fingers needs the child to master the ‘tripod’ grip. This comes with practice and adults need to continuously provide the child with different opportunities to enhance the skill-set. Using LEGO® bricks is an excellent opportunity for building the child’s fine motor skills. While building towers, roadways, vehicles, and characters children pick up pieces and join them to the other. This act in itself is great exercise for them. Without even realizing, the hand muscles are getting stronger and movement of the wrist gets more refined.

Greater Focus and Concentration

Children lack a sense of focus and their attention spans do not last for more than 15 minutes. It is tough to even get the child to attend online classes, especially during the current pandemic scenario. However, when it comes to playing, they proactively show interest and want to spend hours attending to their toys. LEGO® blocks provide an immersive experience for children. Focusing on mix, match and construction children lose count of time and don’t mind spend hours constructing models from scratch. You wouldn’t want to disturb your child especially when he is engaged in meaningful play activity.

Nurturing Creativity

Hands-on learning is essential as it captivates children in many ways. Powering machines and building a fantasy world from scratch requires a creative thought process. The same set of LEGO® kit presented to two children does not lead to the same outcome. Each learner has a unique style and way of expression and this is reflected in the final model they build. Thanks to LEGO® the experience is in sync with the school curriculum and follows a systematic STEAM approach for elementary graders and above.

Fosters Collaboration and Communication

Learning to work together and co-operate with team members at school level sets a strong foundation giving the learners a preview of professional life. No matter what career prospect children opt for, the need for effective teamwork is of essence. When children are assigned with a task to brainstorm, perform, and manifest their LEGO® projects, they get the opportunity to form strong bonds with classmates, they learn to assign roles and accomplish tasks taking into account each team-members prospective. Students communicate with peers more openly and learn to express themselves before a team

Problem Solving Approach

Structure play with LEGO® requires children to follow certain instructions to assemble the build in a certain way. When children get stuck on a particular step, they approach an adult or they try to figure out the solution by themselves. Either ways it’s a win-win situation. Children are learning to ask the right questions when they face with a challenge that is not solvable by oneself. They are also using trial & error method and learning to be persistent at a given task. Not to mention the important lessons of symmetry, balance, colors, and shapes that they learn along.

Basics of Science and Engineering

When a tall tower of LEGO® blocks are stacked up one over the other withstands a windy blow from the bedroom window, your child has already achieved success. Constructing a tall building and testing its capacity to withstand needs cleaver thinking. Children understand why the base of the construction needs to be strong. An attempt of failure is a lesson to them, to build stronger bases. This is the basic concept of Science and Engineering and children have already understood the principals of how it works. Amazing isn’t it?

We have seen how LEGO® is truly a game-changer for many. Many parents from Middle East, UAE, GCC, and Dubai have already found it beneficial to dedicate an hour of free play LEGO® every single say after-school to steer their children in the right direction, on their way to learning.

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