Reading is a life skill that you can help your child inculcate from a young age. It is the biggest gift you can give them. The advantages are tremendous. It sharpens their language, grammar, & vocabulary, widens their knowledge, and overall grooms them to be the finest communicators by making them very confident. Whether it is reading books, another form of text, or a newspaper, any form of reading must be encouraged. Being in the UAE, your kids will learn the local languages of the Middle East, but you must also motivate them to master English which is globally used, and they could even attempt picking up a different foreign language out of the GCC region. It would all broaden their horizon as they grow up to achieve amazing things in life. The foundation to learning so much is reading or making kids acquainted with various alphabets or texts and learning one or more languages. Apart from books, a physical or an e-newspaper would be effective to do so. A simple activity of reading a newspaper together would be extremely beneficial. These are the crucial yet joyful moments you can spend with your little one and the gains received will go a long way.

Never try to impose on the children to mandatorily sit with you and read a newspaper. Set aside some time every day or on certain weekdays or weekends for this activity. It could be for 15 to 30 minutes or could even go up to an hour depending on the interest the child gradually takes. This reading time should be when your child is feeling very fresh and not when they are already tired of studying school subjects. Again, you can choose a local language paper or a foreign newspaper in physical or e-paper form. You may either do this before school or later after they are back home. Try and choose an easy genre to read. Perhaps you can avoid any political, religious, or crime news-related pages and skip to the general or light-hearted coverage. Sports, entertainment, and youth-related news pages should be easy to start with. As they grow older, they will absorb the difficult content and process it accordingly. Patience is key.

Let them choose which article they want to read on a particular page if they find the headline catchy. The idea is to also select articles that have pictures supporting the story which will attract the child’s attention. Once the information has been read from a single piece, ask them in simple ways if they understood the matter and tell them to give you three things that they can remember from what they just read. You can highlight the difficult words and do a spelling quiz with them too. Let them ask you questions about the news story. Give them some bonus fun time and jump to pages that have Sudoku or Crossword puzzles in the newspaper. These games will strengthen their concentration levels. All in all, picking up and reading a newspaper will never be a boring activity for them and in fact they will look up to it.

From few to far-ranging topics, a newspaper will open up the minds of your children. They will themselves begin to understand what kind of genres they gravitate towards and others that don’t suit their interest. In later years of school and college, it will help them to choose the ideal career path. This knowledge gained will aid them in any competitive exams they may take later. Needless to say, reading a newspaper almost every day is going to definitely sharpen your kids’ general knowledge. From a very young age, they will learn to be abreast with the latest happenings around them in Dubai and the world at large.

If there is any news related to the current global warming issue, they will start understanding the power of saving water and electricity, growing more plants and trees, and cutting down plastic usage. Once they will know the problems faced by citizens across the world due to several issues, they will learn the virtue of humanity and kindness and will automatically be empathetic towards other individuals. Your child will organically pick up these attributes and that is the power of the simplest activity of reading a newspaper. Of course, the bond they will develop with you while reading will be priceless and they will truly be grateful for the same.

“Reading Eggs” makes learning to read interesting and engaging for kids, with great online reading games and activities. It is fun, interactive, and highly rewarding for ages 2-13 and it’s based on solid scientific research. “Reading Eggs” provides your child with an educationally sound and highly enjoyable learn-to-read program that is not only fun and effective but also easy to integrate into your daily routine. Children love the games, songs, golden eggs, and other rewards which, along with feeling proud of their reading, really motivate children to keep exploring and learning.

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Many of us are visual thinkers and so we can grasp information more easily when it is presented graphically. When data is illustrated visually on the graph its interpretation becomes easier and there is a greater chance of recollecting the figures & facts mentioned therewith. Graphs were invented by William Playfair in around 1786, who was a Scottish Engineer and Political Economist. It came into existence to solve some real-world problems that involved relationship and correspondence between entities. Ever since then, graphs have proved to be a mighty tool to represent data and analyze it for various findings.

Different Types of Graphs

Different types of Graphs are used for various purposes depending on the number of criteria you want to represent and the level of experience of your audiences. Let us highlight some of the most common graphs taught in K-12 schools across Dubai and other Middle East regions.

Bar Graph

This is the most commonly used Graph type to compare data across parameters. The rectangular shaped bars are usually arranged vertically and each bar is equidistant from the other. The width of every bar on the graph is the same in measurement, however, the heights vary depending on the quantitative aspect of information. The general thumb rule for most Bar Graphs is that the categories that are to be compared are represented on the horizontal axis, while the numeric values are represented on the vertical axis.

As we can see from the above example of the Bar Graph chart, in the first quarter, students who attended Dance class are as follows.

January – 40 students

February – 50 students

March – 60 students

Line Graph

The line graph or line chart computes data recorded over a period of time. It is represented by a series of dots joining each other to show the ups and downs in the trend. The independent variables such as (months, days, and, years) are represented on the horizontal axis, while the dependent variables or number values such as (score, percentage, and currency) are represented on the vertical axis. Each position of a point on the graph denotes the change in the independent variable with respect to the dependent variable. If this may sound confusing, let us illustrate with the help of an example.

As we can see from the above reading that in June month, Dubai, receives 12 hours of sunshine vs. 8 hours in December, January, and February months. From the trend, we found out that during winter months the sun shines for lesser hours, than in summer months. Line charts are commonly used by economists, data scientists, analysts, and financial advisors, to effectively decode trends in a precise and accurate manner.

Pie Chart

We are well aware that the pie chart is circular in shape and each slice of the pie shows the respective data size, from the whole unit. Pie charts can be used to depict percentages of variables, from the whole (100%). When you have the chance to glance at a pie chart, you can quickly tell which criteria occupies the largest proportion of the share and which one has minuscule significance. This breakdown helps to consume information visually, rather than reading through lengthy paragraphs from a document or a report. Pie charts can be found in school textbooks, in newspapers, and even on social media (especially LinkedIn) to draw attention towards important subject matters.

A balance in carbohydrates, fats and protein, leads to a healthy diet plan. The above example suggests to the reader, that to live an active lifestyle with ample energy, one needs to consume 45% of carbohydrates, 30% of fats 25% of proteins throughout the day, across various meals. See how simple it is!

Area Chart

Similar to the line graph, the area chart also shows the series of movements across points. The area under the line is colored and reveals to us the volume of data. A stacked chart has the area value stacked on top of each other, across the X-axis and Y-axis.

Try to analyze this chart mentally and write down the pointers on a notepad. If it matched the below findings, then you are on the right track.

• Product 2 has the highest sales in Q1 across the UAE.
• Q2 sales for products dip lower and lower
• Q4 shows gradual increase in sales.

Mathseeds is a platform developed to fulfill the thrust of knowledge amongst eager Math learners. The lessons are structured in a one-on-one fashion, such that special attention is paid to each child which improves their preparedness. Learning graphs can now be discovered under one of their modules which is designed in a way that is easy to understand and practice. Parents and teachers in the GCC regions, highly promote Mathseeds amongst kids of 3 to 9 years of age.

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Students love to dive into the magical world of stories and fantasies. Imagination is all-powerful, it is more important than knowledge because it sparks creativity and curiosity amongst our little ones. Technology and computer science are about factual understanding, how then can it be made interesting for kids? Parents find it hard to convince young learners about the benefits of coding and therefore many of them do away with not opting for coding classes. As we know, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum is picking up pace and is mandatory in schools across Dubai and other Middle East regions. So, rather than feeling that computer science is one more burdened subject to learn, children need to be introduced to the fun aspect of it first. Through this Blog, we present some books of literature that can be narrated to children at bedtime to get them excited about the various aspects of coding, right from the age of 4 years.

How to Code a Sandcastle | by Josh Funk (Author), Sara Palacios (Illustrator) (Age 4+ years)

Summer vacation is not yet over and Pearl is set on a mission to build a sandcastle before resuming school. Pearl and her robot friend Pascal seem to love relaxing on the beach and building sandcastles. But every time they plan to construct one, either a dog walk all over it, or a Frisbee disc slams into the sandcastle, ruining the chances of getting the beautiful castle in place. But as we know it, where there seems to be a problem, there has to be a solution. So, Pearl and Pascal try a different method instead! They resort to coding and use concepts like sequencing and looping to break down the sandcastle construction problem into easy steps. Will this plan work? Read the book to find out, and onboard the humorous journey of Pearl & Pascal.

Who Says Women Can’t Be Computer Programmers? The Story of Ada Lovelace | by Tanya Lee Stone (Author), Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator) (Age 6+ years)

Why should men do all the programming, when women are equally competent? Whoever said coding is a man’s job, will get a reality check after reading this book. To all the young women who aspire to make it big in tech fields, must definitely grab a copy of this book. It is a biography of Ada Byron who was a young and talented girl, the daughter of the nineteenth-century poet Lord Byron. Ada loved to study math and science and later worked with Charles Baggage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada’s contribution includes writing the world’s first machine algorithms for Babbage’s Analytical Engine, 100s of years even before computers existed. Her life is an illustrious example of how women can outshine in the computer science field and prove all stereotypes wrong. You can also check out its Kindle edition access for e-reading across the UAE.

A Coding Mission (Adventures in Makerspace) | by Blake Hoena (Author), Shannon McClintock Miller (Author), Alan Brown (Illustrator) (Age 8+ years)

Rated 4.1 on Amazon reads, this book is fancied by students who appreciate visual graphics. A whole lot of adventure awaits you, as you flip through the pages of this book. Codie and her friends join Ms. Gillian, on a thrilling adventure in Makerspace. They are walking around in circles, stuck in a maze, and can’t seem to find a way out. In all this hush-hush a terrible-looking monster approaches them. Will the monster attack before they find a way to quickly code their way out? Join Codie on her mission and learn more. Students can log-in to the Capstone 4D app and listen to the foot-tapping theme song and watch the author’s interview. How cool it is to fuse Augmented Reality to enhance your reading experience.

Steve Jobs: A Kid’s Book About Changing the World (Mini Movers and Shakers) | by Mary Nhin (Author), Grow Grit Press (Author), Yuliia Zolotova (Illustrator) (Age 4+ years)

Who doesn’t know Steve Jobs and his famous Apple legacy that he left behind? Mini Movers and Shakers is a series of stories that capture snippets of people who have succeeded in life, but also failed many times to reach there. In this book about Steve Jobs, it is said that before he could change the world, he had to face many difficulties and challenges, but never thought of giving up! Little did we know that Steve was an adopted child, but his endeavor to modernize technology was a dream that he rightfully fulfilled. Alongside fun illustrations and interesting characters, this book has a message for all ‘Hard work always pays’. It is indeed a motivational read and a must-have on your bookshelf.

The above are only a few stories that evoke a sense of inquisitiveness among children to explore coding and sign up for it seriously. There are other good books available in the market such as; Women Who Launched the Computer Age by Laurie Calkhoven, Hedy Lamar’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend & Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark, If I Were a Wizard by Paul Hamilton, and so on.

To prepare NextGen learners to embrace Robotics and programming, Robotify is an affordable and fully accessible virtual Robotics platform, where children learn to code in a fun and engaging manner. All you need is internet access and a laptop, to get started with coding, and no additional software or hardware is required. So, children in GCC can simply log in to Robotify and try their hands at coding by undertaking over 800 gamified challenges in a 3-D virtual environment. We urge you to be a part of Robotify’s growing community of 15,000+ active users.

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‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. Undoubtedly, the travel industry is evolving at a rapid pace, especially with the growing number of travel bloggers and the work-from-anywhere policy, post Covid-19 phase. Tourism is an interesting segment to work in, if you are inclined towards fulfilling the dreams of enthusiasts who wish to explore the world and gain new perspectives.

What does a Travel Agent actually do for a living?

A travel agent is an expert who arranges travel packages for individuals or families who wish to get some assistance in figuring out the pre-vacation to-dos.

Professional agents are trained to make booking arrangements, create customized itinerates, coordinate with tour guides, assist in travel insurance, and even provide guidance on the currency exchange process. They have to have the right networking contacts and sources to get the best of your package deal.

Basically, as we can see, a travel agent has to be responsible enough to make plans work and be approachable to smoothen out any hiccups that might take place during or before the journey.

TechnoTravel Module by TechnoKids

Who says studies need to be boring? Integrating computer science lessons with Geography, English, and Math is such a worthy concept that intrigues learners to actually look forward to attending classes and doing homework.

With the STEM curriculum in full flair within the UAE and other regions, the emphasis on teaching kids technology is growing stronger. The sooner kids find computer studies meaningful & fun, the more likely it is for them to advance to concepts like coding & robotics, which are in demand today.

Via TechnoTravel project work, students will be asked to promote a weekend gateway and construct a compelling campaign that needs to be presented before the class.

Middle School students adorn the role of a travel agent and can even be asked to dress casually for the role-play activity. A series of tasks are assigned to them which include;

Researching on a destination:

First things first, you cannot plan a travel booking without having thoroughly researched the vacation location. Students are encouraged to Google and find facts or pick up a relevant book about that region or country of the visit to get all up-to-date details which can be shared with the client. Your research should usually include the following.

• Tourist attractions and places of visit
• Latest hotels and their ratings
• The best mode of transport available as per the budget
• Extra charges that one would have to pay to buy an on-spot entry ticket.
• Any special permissions required and the visiting hour restrictions.
• The climatic conditions at the time of the visit and the appropriate clothes to carry

All the findings can be presented in a tabular format on MS Word or MS Excel and sent to the client by email, such that there is no chance of miscommunication. This ‘step one’ is crucial to culminate research skills and of course, organizing it on the appropriate document.

Making an Advertisement:

Now that the gist is clear, students go a step further by advertising the weekend destination. Some key features to display in the advertisement to promote and sell the package include the following.

• Superb panoramic shots that speak about the place and its culture (for example; Burj Khalifa – if you are assigned Dubai as the travel destination) • Attractive taglines that command a second glance
• Pointers about the unique experiences that tourists can expect
• An average cost for the tour (individual or group)
• Early bird discounts that customers can avail..etc.

Step two, brings out the creativity of our ‘to-be’ young travel agents, as they think out of the box and compile brochures, pamphlets, and videos, using some designing tools or even PowerPoint & Paint applications.

Present the Itinerary:

This is the most fun exercise where the role-play starts, and our mini agents have to convince their fellow classmates who act as clients – to sell the holiday package. Writing a convincing Sales Pitch is what will help to pass through this phase. The PowerPoint presentation should have all the details about the day-to-day things to do, the different starred hotels offered in the package, what adventure activities are covered, the airlines that tourists will board, etc. If there are any questions, the agent should be ready with answers and display confidence at all times. So, as we just saw, the TechnoTravel module brings a welcoming change to the classroom environment and children have a lot of fun while learning. TechnoKids is therefore famously recommended by parents and educators from UAE and other GCC regions. Are you gearing up to be a Travel Agent already?

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Math is such a tricky subject that even experts sometimes falter at arriving at the correct answer. As students progress in grades, the subject keeps getting more and more complex. It is now expected of learners to have an excellent understanding of Math concepts studied previously and also be good with the new concepts currently being taught by the teacher. However, over the years, teachers have recognized some common types of errors committed in exams by students, and here’s the comprehensive list;

Not understanding place value:

Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. are termed as place value, and knowing it thoroughly is an indication that students are able to identify and understand how big in value the number is. The mistake children make is that they don’t count the digits properly and therefore arrive at a wrong answer. For example; 1000000 = one million but instead children may miss one zero and give the answer as; one hundred thousand. This blunder especially happens when decoding large numbers. The commas may also seem confusing, as the number may be written like this 5,50,000 and if the concept is not clear, it may be a reason for writing the incorrect number name.

BODMAS Rule

The full form of BODMAS is Bracket, Order, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction and it teaches us how to proceed with a particular mathematical operation. The Math equation for understanding BODMAS may have many different types of brackets such as; the curly bracket, the oval bracket or parentheses, and the square bracket. As per the rule, when there are multiple brackets, first start solving from the numbers that are a part of the innermost circle, then solve around the bracket, and then proceed to the curly and square bracket digits. Seems confusing? Well, imagine how difficult it might be for kids then?

However, let us show you an example.

[ (15 – 3) ÷ 2] + [86-12 ÷ 2 of 3]

= [ (15 – 3) ÷ 2] + [86-12 ÷ (2 ox 3)]

= [12÷ 2] + [86-12 ÷ 6]

= 6 + [86 – 2]

= 6 + 84

= 90

Did you see how sequential steps have to be followed in order to arrive at the answer? And the equation is to be solved from left to right, leaving no exceptions. Indeed, practice is required to crack the BODMAS rule, and mistakes are bound to happen initially.

Populating Graphs

Teachers across numerous K12 schools in Dubai and other Middle East regions face great challenges when assigning homework to students related to the topic of populating a graph. Firstly, understanding X axis and Y axis and counting blocks on the graph paper correctly is a task in itself. There are different categories to represent data in the form of a graph such as; bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, etc. If students confuse one with the other, it poses a challenge to move forward with the exercise. Also, graph analysis is an ongoing practice and doesn’t happen overnight. If the graph is not properly interpreted, the populous may give an inaccurate answer, thereby deriving wrong research inferences.

Misunderstanding Word Problems

Students usually dread word problems! They are so smartly worded and tricky to understand. To make the word problem lengthy, unwanted information is given and this diverges your focus from the real problem that needs to be solved. There may be multiple formulas to be applied in a single-word problem and hence there is no simple straightforward method to follow. If the student isn’t used to critical thinking, he may get frustrated trying to execute the word problem in a step-by-step manner.

Schools rely on the Mathletics platform to teach word problems in a fun and non-stressful manner. Signing up for Mathletics in the GCC region or anywhere in the UAE is absolutely easy and makes the job of teachers simple by offering pre-designed homework worksheets and a robust tracking mechanism to check the student’s progress in Math subject. Around 3 million students around the world love Mathletics, so it should be such a pleasure to opt for Mathletics and do away with all Math difficulties, one blunder at a time.

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