Month: May 2015

Posted on by Edsys

Why do children love games? Obviously, the fun factors of games attract them towards it. They might forget the lessons taught to them but not the games and it rules.

Why not merge both games and lessons?

There are a lot of advantages that comes with playful learning. It improves memory and stimulates growth of cerebral cortex with play.

Check Out the Awesome Benefits of Playful Learning

  1. Improve imagination: Playful learning builds better imagination in children. While playing, children tend to remember different aspects of the game which helps them to accelerate memory growth. Students must be encouraged to work in teams, where only their knowledge can take them to the goal.
  1. Emotional benefits: Children often find it tiring to learn passively. With playful learning they can have fun and enjoyment. The burden of tough syllabus reduces. Mastering new concepts helps to gain abstract thinking as well.
  1. Better attention from students: Compared to passive learning, playful learning engages children to a positive atmosphere.  Learning is no more a burden. With better knowledge comes improved self-confidence.
  1. Strategic thinking and effective problem-solving: Time and tide waits for no man.  Quick problem solving should be installed in children from a very early stage. Playful learning makes it possible for children to think outside the box.
  1. Better coordination: Playing games with classmates is indeed fun. Children get to know each other. It’s stress-relieving and assures better friendship. Not only do you get a better tuning with your friends but also playing develops hand-eye coordination as well.
  1. Beneficial for children with attention deficit disorders: Not all children are same. Not only the behavioural pattern but the mind-set varies from child to child. Some children require less attention to grasp lessons while some other gets easily distracted. Playful learning is most benefited to these children. They will love to learn.
  1. Skills building:  Playful learning helps in building children’s skills in different areas.  They are prepared for better management of time and other resources. Learning to cope with different types of situations is another benefit of playing games. With games, it’s easy to discover the hidden skills of children. They become more active and self-confident. Playful learning encourage children to experiment and take risks

Playing Is Not Wasting Time:

Marion Diamond and her colleagues in the year 1964 published an exciting paper on the growth of brain in rats. The neuroscientists conducted a landmark experiment, placing some rats in boring, solitary confinement and others in enthusiastic toy filled colonies. The results were exciting.

After examining both sets of rats from different environment, researchers found out that “enriched” rats had thicker cerebral cortices, bigger brains and they were smarter while the “impoverished” rats just had the opposite.

Due to ethical considerations we don’t perform similar experiments on kids. But evidence from the experiment on rats shows increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in their brains, which is essential for the growth and maintenance of brain cells.

Let’s explore some of the misconceptions about playful learning

  • Physical education and playful learning: It cannot be denied that physical education is effective for children. Researchers believe that physical education is planned and structured by adults. There is lack of freedom during physical education period.  You cannot compensate physical education to playful learning
  • Giving breaks between classes: According to a small study conducted short breaks for 10 or 20minutes enhances classroom attention but more than 30 minutes had the opposite effects.

As you can see there are whole host of reasons to adopt playful learning. Let our children grow better. We must create the best environment where they can learn and grow stress-free.

Posted on by Edsys

Are you are a teacher outside the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, who wants to gift an EYFS-like learning environment to students? If you are, it is a great way to help children practice effective ideas, ensuring better learning experience.

But, at times it can be a struggle to come up with fresh ideas in the classroom. This is where internet comes to the rescue. There are numerous blogs that can help you with this.

Check out some of the fascinating EYFS blogs every teacher should read:

  1. ABC Does

ABC Does is a website managed by Alister Bryce-Clegg. Despite many social prejudices, it is fascinating to realise that a man is managing a website about working in the Early Years. There are practical ideas in the website that easily works. The blog consists of effective tips and techniques you can work with children

Teachers can depend on the creative ideas that will make the children fall in love with classroom and learning. This blog is regularly updated.

  1. Coombe Mills

Coombe Mills offers farm experience for younger children. They are allowed to explore farm animals and farmyard way of life. This blog explains the experience youngsters had around their farm. There are activities in the blog, adaptable for teachers.

  1. Creative Star Learning

Creative Star Learning is a blog that concentrates on outdoor activities. The blog belongs to Juliet Robinson. You get everything you need to know about outdoor activities with effective tips and techniques.

  1. Forest Factor

Forest Factor allows young children to learn through forest schools. The website shares experience of young children. Let them enjoy their experience within the safe, forest environment. Along with forest learning, the blog is also packed with outdoor learning activities.

  1. Imagination Tree

Imagination Tree maintained by Anna Ranson is a simple blog that explains ideas that are handy. It focuses on learning through play and is a treasure of great ideas. Teachers can make use of this blog as it is regularly updated with tips and techniques

  1.  Inside the Secret Garden

A well designed blog with good resources, Inside the Secret Garden explores many policy decision affecting early years practitioners. It is managed by Juilan Grenier who is a head teacher, author and researcher.

  1. Interaction Imagination

Interaction Imagination is created by Suzzane Axelsson in Sweden. The blog highlights the early year’s practices happening in Swedish setting. It also consists of ideas and inspiration which are adaptable across the globe.

  1. Laura Henry

The blog of Laura Henry is every inch informative for parents and teachers. It is regularly updated and has plenty of ideas for teachers. Laura Henry is an Early Years consultant. She is an active participant in social media.

  1. Learning and Exploring Through Play

Learning and Exploring Through Play is a creative blog packed with practical activities, stories and ideas, including an ultimate guide to making playdough. The blog is a treasure for teachers wanting stunning ideas for encouragement and inspiration.

  1. Nursery Nook

Nursery Nook is a blog managed by James, a primary male school teacher. It is stuffed with ideas, tips and inspiration. Nursery Nook offers guidance for teachers on a daily basis. Teaching children becomes fascinating with Nursery Nook.

  1. Nurture Store

Nurture Store is a delightful and reliable site for teachers. The blog is maintained by Cathy James. Nurture Store offers effective practical ideas as well as activities. The site offers something for everyone. Motivate young children with the help of Cathy James.

  1. Pirates and Princesses

Pirates and Princesses is a fantastic blog created by Michelle, training to be a primary teacher. It explores the planning, ideas and challenges that can be faced working in the early years. The site is continually updated.

  1. Red Ted Art

Red Ted Art is a blog organised by talented Maggy Woodley. The site is full of art activities which can be used by teachers. Explore and get inspired with the blog. Along with picture the blog is one among the treasures in EYFS blog.

  1. Right from the Start

Right from the Start is an exquisite blog created by Rachel McClary which discusses about all the aspects of early education, play and similar topics. Insightful posts are available in the blog that throws light on issues such as:

  • The roles of adult in the early years setting
  • Advice for teachers who look after very young children

Let’s make the change happen:

We know that EYFS solely aims at providing the best for children. Adopt the best for your children too. With activities, teachers help to motivate and stimulate the learning ability of children.

Be the kind of teacher every student wish to have.

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“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” – Stacia

Smart phone, as the name suggests is one among the smartest invention of the modern era. In case of an emergency, smartphones help children to get in touch with their parents.

In addition to that, smartphone gifts children access to the outside world. They are free to download mobile applications, surf all sorts of websites, communicate with people all over the world, etc.

Smartphones have a lot of uses in the classroom too.  For instance, Early Years Foundation Stage makes use of the technology to identify and groom young talents.

In spite of being so familiar with smartphones, it is easy for children to invite dangers unintentionally while they are online.

It is not wise to leave children alone with their smartphone. Parents should take the right precautions to keep children safe with their smartphone.

Check out some smart ways to keep your children safe on smart phones:

  1. Restrict in-app purchases

If your app accounts are linked with credit or debit cards, it becomes easy for children to purchase apps without the permission of the parents.

Apple had to refund $32.5m to parents of children who purchased apps without the consent of their parents. Never link your credit or debit card with the app store, it can be dangerous.

  1. Always check the downloaded apps

It’s important to check the mobile applications downloaded by children. There are dating apps available in market which allows underage people to access with a minimum age limit of 13.

Online predators are something your child must be kept away from. According to 2015 Tinder experiment, online predators are using the app to groom underage girls. Prevention is way better than cure.

  1. Set Location data to private

Certain apps help in accessing phones GPS and will transfer the location data to the third party.  While using a family location service to monitor kids’, parents must make sure only they have got access. Location data can be disabled so that it would neither be available publicly nor be searchable.

  1. Make the phone secure

It’s important to maintain phone security. When a smartphone goes missing, people are worried not about the loss of a device, but the sensitive details in it. On an average, 1 out of 5 children in US have had their cell phones stolen.

So that means you should never store delicate information in the cell phone. Installing a tracking app in the phone can help locate the phone if it’s lost or stolen. Data erasing apps are available in the market along with tracking apps.

You can take a lot of precautions by installing some smart cyber-security apps as well.

Appropriate sharing

Teach your kids to share only appropriate content with others. Posting in-appropriate content can have negative effects which can be both immediate as well as long-lasting. Children must be taught about the emotional and social consequences of irresponsible sharing. With smartphones, sharing photos and videos is literally child’s play and happen within seconds too.

  • 1 out of 10 teens have had embarrassing or damaging pictures taken of themselves without their consent.
  • 1 out of 5 teens have either posted or sent sexually suggestive or nude pictures of themselves to others.

Greater responsibilities:

It’s almost impossible to keep children away from smartphone: they are getting addicted to the device day by day. A coin has two sides, so does a problem. It must not be ignored that smartphones help children in numerous ways. There are applications that help them to learn a lot of new things.

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In today’s age, we are becoming more and more culturally and ethnically diverse in all aspects of life. It spans across educational backgrounds, religion, language, race, ethnicity and geography. In spite of diversity that surrounds us most schools do not take a proactive approach to acknowledging diversity. There are numerous reasons why schools, parents and teachers alike should acknowledge diversity.

Why Acknowledge Diversity?

Diversity contributes to the richness of any environment. Students who are exposed to different cultures, backgrounds learn to respect and value people’s differences. They will develop an understanding of perspectives of different backgrounds and will also learn to function in a multicultural environment. This will also get them ready to be a part of any multicultural democracy.

A school that is diverse in faculty, staff as well as students has an enhanced environment of learning. It gives everyone a chance to experience different things that they are normally not accustomed to. Students in such schools will be more motivated and will very well be able to fit into any heterogeneous or complex society.

Challenges

Despite the benefits of having a diverse staff, faculty and students, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed and overcome. Several studies have shown that minority faculty members and women are less satisfied in some aspects that their counterparts. These aspects often include professional relations with colleagues, salary, promotion and overall job satisfaction. It is the case with minority students as well. They often feel isolated and unwelcome and are often victims of discrimination and differential treatment.

Researches have also shown that the lack of previous positive experiences among minority members and majority creates an anxious environment. The resulting atmosphere is sometimes hostile. Another challenge that most diverse institutions face is that people hold unconscious assumptions and their judgements and interactions are mostly influenced. The assumptions and expectations are often based on physical and social characteristic like gender, age, race and ethnicity.

Embracing Diversity

Conflicts are natural in a diverse environment, but overcoming them and making it an advantage ultimately lies in the hands of parents and teachers.So, what can teachers and parents to help students understand and embrace diversity?

Role of Teachers: It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that no child is left behind and there is no achievement gap among diverse groups.Regardless of their ethnic background or language difference, the goal should be see that all students thrive. Structured class room activities are a great way to highlight and acknowledge different perspectives. The teacher can create diverse learning groups, wherein each student will be required to contribute to the group. This method will make students realize that each one is important and has something valuable to say.

Another very important factor that a teacher needs to take a conscious effort is mutual respect. Disrespect for fellow students should not be tolerated. Ground rules should be established; even the kids can be included to help establish these rules. A cordial environment where opinions and perspectives of others are valued should be modelled for students.

Role of Parents: It’s not about strategies or suggestions that can make a difference. It’s more about having the right mind set and teaching your children ways to support and welcome people from all backgrounds. The best way to start would be to broaden your social horizon. As a family socialize with people with whom you would not normally associate. Arrange dinner parties, invite new friends over or simply create situations wherein you can interact with parents of other children. Engage your kids in real conversations about diversity. As you start such conversations, their curiosity will grow and will expand their cognitive and social skills.

Parents can also play a part in promoting a positive environment in school. Find your school, pay attention to how the school addresses the needs and wants of diverse students. If you notice any different discipline consequences for different set of students, then make sure you express your concern. Observe of the student leadership group is ethnically diverse, if not question.

On the whole, it is the joint effort of parents, students and teachers alike to create a community that welcomes, listens and accepts people and ideas that are different from their own. When parents and teachers play their role, the school will be transformed into a warm, welcoming community.

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Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) aims at providing quality education to students, thus contributing to the development of UAE. To fulfil the demands of a highly efficient education system, ADEC is looking forward to hire qualified, talented and multi-skilled employees. ADEC has joined hands with various recruiting agencies to recruit skilled teachers as part of the ADEC Licenced Teacher Program, who are passionate about bringing a difference in education.

The ADEC Licenced Teacher Program provides excellent self development opportunities to teachers. Continuous training will be provided to the teachers as part of workforce development activities by ADEC. Also, the hired employees will receive salary free of any taxes, with additional benefits and pension schemes for UAE Nationals.

The ADEC New School Model

It was proposed as part of the ADEC Licenced Teacher Program. There are 296 schools where ADEC plans to implement the ADEC Licenced Teacher Program.

According to the ADEC New School Model, the hired teachers will be placed in one of the three areas, which include Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain or Al Gharbia (the Western Region). Majority of the students will be local Emirati children whom the teachers will teach along with other Western teachers, Emirati teachers and Arab expatriate teachers.

The schools are divided into:

Kindergarten level (Early Years)

Cycle 1 (primary)

Cycle 2 (Middle School)

Cycle 3 (Secondary/High School)

Some campuses have Kindergarten and Cycle 1 schools together while other schools have their own campuses, depending on the size and location of the schools.

Generally, a class will have 15 to 30 students.

Teaching levels

Subjects taught by teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program and the responsibility of a classroom differs at each level of school.

Kindergarten level– Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will teach English, Maths and Science along with other essential subjects. They will be co-teaching with a local Arabic teacher.

Cycle 1– Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will teach English, Maths and Science. They will be in charge of their own classroom.

Cycle 2- Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will be teaching English, Maths or Science and they will be in charge of their own classroom.

Cycle 3– Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will teach only English. They will be in charge of their own classroom.

Pay scale and other benefits

The salary scale of teachers, fixed by ADEC, depends on the qualifications of the teachers and their teaching experience. The salary amount ranges from 12,300AED – 20,400AED per month.

The teachers will also be provided with the following benefits:

  • Air fare– ADEC covers yearly air fare for teachers, their spouses and up to 3 dependents
  • Health Insurance-for teacher, spouse and up to 3 dependents
  • Accommodation-ADEC provides accommodation to the teachers and it will vary depending on family status, with an additional 20,000AED for furniture. Extra allowance will be provided if it is unfurnished.

The teachers will have to work from Sunday to Thursday, with 35-40 working hours per week. The summer break will be from mid-July to late August. There will also be a break in December, April and for national holidays. The duration of contract will be two years.

Criteria

The candidates applying for a job under ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will have to fulfil the following criteria:

  • Fluency in English
  • At least a Bachelor’s Degree/PGCE or the equivalent
  • Teaching Qualifications (should be licenced/certified to teach in home state/country)
  • At least 2 years of teaching experience
Posted on by Edsys

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks” – Christopher Hitchens

If you are a student friendly teacher, you could have experienced at least one student with his/her ideas different from the rest. It’s astonishing and interesting to come across such students. What makes them different from others?

Get Best Free Critical Thinking Apps (Check it Now)

It’s the ability of the child to think about anything and everything. An ability of critical thinking

Critical thinking should be encouraged. Traditional concepts of learning are loosing its charm. Text based passive learning is giving way to active thinking and learning process.  The vital goal of education is to promote critical thinking in students, not making them reflect like a parrot. EYFS and KHDA are new terms that aim at improving the quality in education.

It’s really important to instil the ability of critical thinking in children through education. Early Years Foundation Stage is providing better guidance for children at a very tender age, they believe in individual abilities of children. There are Government bodies such as the KHDA in Dubai who takes the responsibility of the growth and quality of private education institutions.

As far as 21st century learning is concerned, critical thinking is an important factor. Spoon-feeding system in education has changed for better. It’s an era of better education.

10 out of the many uses of critical thinking:

We are provided with brains but we create our mind. The best mind is the one that thinks rather than the ones that accepts. Whenever we are dealing with humans we are dealing with their thoughts as well. By helping students to cultivate critical thinking, we are sowing the seeds of a generation with a better thinking capability that can help society.

  1. Critical thinking helps to cultivate higher-order thinking skill. Think beyond the print. Mostly children are fed the printed books which deny any further development of critical thinking.

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so”. William Shakespeare

  1. Rash decision making is a problem that the children should be kept away from. Stop and think before taking any action. Critical thinking ensures better thinking capacity in children which helps students think before any act.

  “He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question      remains a fool forever.” – CHINESE PROVERB

  1. Things are more sensible when we think. Make more sense with thinking. Rather than just jumping into conclusions, think twice about the displayed conclusion. Make decesions of your own.

“Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking while you’re thinking in order to make your thinking better.” ― Richard W. Paul

  1. Ideas must be clear. Complicated ideas can create confusion. Express your ideas clearly without doubt.

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”- Robin Williams

  1. There can be more than one answer for a question. Explore alternatives with critical thinking.

“There is more than one way of getting to 2 besides 1+1.”

  1. Making better judgement. Evaluate and analyse before concluding to a judgement. Better decision making from a small age can benefit an individual in life. Future is more secure with better decisions.

“Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

  1. Active thinking rather than passive acceptance of facts make children smart. With critical thinking, children tend to ask vital questions resulting in better judgement

“The one real goal of education is to leave a person asking questions.” – MAX BEERHOHM

  1. Critical thinking promotes academic improvement, effective communication with people and finding solution for complex problems.

“I think it’s really important to design things with a kind of personality”- Marc Newson

  1. Responsibility arises with better thinking. Being responsible for ones own thoughts and conclusion can make students better in learning as well as in life.

Get Best Free Critical Thinking Apps (Check it Now)

“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you; it means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; hence, grappling with hard work.” ― Adrienne Rich

  1. Critical thinking explores possibilities. Mugging up facts won’t make any person wise but thinking does.

“All things are possible until they are proven impossible.” ― Pearl S. Buck