Academic Advantage

Science fiction builds children’s Imagination

NIKHIL JAYADEVAN

Reading science fiction introduces children to the power of imagination and innovation. It also enables them to understand the impact of science upon humankind

“Anything you dream is fiction, and anything you accomplish is science; the whole history of mankind is nothing but science fiction.” — Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), celebrated science fiction writer.

Science fiction or […]

Encourage reading habit among children

– Usha Mukunda has been an advocate of open libraries for children for over 35 years. Co-founder of the Centre for Learning, Bengaluru (estb.1990) and consultant for the Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts, she works with several rural, government and community libraries across India

Reading is transformational for children and adults. For children, it brings […]

52 common latinisms everyone should know

– Jennifer Frost

Also read: 10 foreign languages in demand across the globe

Plagiarism mistakes & how to avoid them

What is considered Plagiarism?

The following can be labelled as plagiarism

Buying content (that lacks intellectual rights)
Stealing content
Borrowing a paper from someone
Copying text snippets from the internet without using quotation marks or proper citation.

When do we give credit?

Making sure to give credit where it is due is key to avoiding plagiarism.

Here’s what needs to be credited or […]

Maximise children’s learning with multiple styles

It’s important for parents to understand their children’s learning styles and intelligences to enable them to realise their academic potential

– Dr. P. John Ben is an assistant professor at Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bengaluru

The Covid-19 pandemic induced switch to online classes from preschool to university has thrown up many challenges for parents. […]

16 Boring words & what to use instead

Write with style

Teaching children the art of calligraphy not only boosts their motor development but also improves handwriting, concentration, and creativity

– R. Bhaskar is a professional calligrapher and founder of Sri Yogeashwari Training Institute, Bengaluru

Calligraphy is more than just beautiful handwriting. Defined as “the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious, and skillful […]

Many benefits of learning debate skills

– Rajiv Kacholia is an alumnus of Stanford University, former US State Debate Champion, and founder of Speech and Debate India

Teaching children to debate nurtures the 21st century skills of creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration

As many traditional jobs performed by homo sapiens are being replaced by automation, there is increasing urgency to nurture 21st […]

Developing children’s computational thinking skills

Defined as thought processes that address problems and devise solutions in the same manner as a computer would, computational thinking enables children to develop critical thinking, logic, analysis and problem solving skills – Jayalakshmi Vaidyanathan

Computational thinking (CT) is emerging as a necessary core skill for success in the new digital era. Defined as thought […]

Why children should learn coding

The science of writing computer codes to create apps, websites and software, coding helps children develop logical thinking, problem-solving, and application skills – Jayalakshmi Vaidyanathan

Coding is the new buzzword of Indian K-12 education. Across the country, private schools and even preschools are introducing age-appropriate computer coding programmes to acquaint 21st-century children with the science and technology […]

Gift your child word power!

If your child discovers the joy of words early, you’ll see her develop into an effective and powerful communicator. While one can improve vocabulary at any age, child development specialists believe children learn new words with twice the speed of adults. Here are some ideas to make the words learning process simpler.

Get nosey

Interest fuels […]

Helping with homework

With all the complexities of sibling wars and time division, homework hour can become quite a nightmare. Here are five ways of helping children with their homework.

Homework hour can be demanding for parents with one child. It’s more demanding if you have two or more children. With one child, you can focus on homework during […]

Storytelling: A powerful teaching-learning medium

The most enduring and proven pedagogy for engaging children and enhancing their knowledge, comprehension and recall capabilities is storytelling – Jayalakshmi Vaidhyanathan

In the Internet age, there are limitless resources and new-fangled techniques to help children ‘learn’ and improve their memorisation capabilities. Yet perhaps the most enduring and proven pedagogy for engaging children and enhancing their knowledge, […]

Spoken Word Poetry

A performance art, spoken word poetry is written and intended for stage performance – Jayalakshmi Vaidyanathan

Just when poetry was being written off as old-fashioned and out of tune with the social media age, it has emerged in a new avatar — spoken word poetry. A performing art, spoken word poetry is written and intended for […]

Boost exam scores with practice testing

Research has proven that distributed study over numerous sessions and timed practice testing is the best combination for exams prep.

As exam fever grips the country, children and parents anxiously search for ways and means to boost learning and knowledge retention for best results. Experts in the field of educational psychology are almost unanimous that distributed […]

Hone your child’s critical thinking skills

Capability to analyse and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs, summed up as critical thinking, is acknowledged as essential for academic and workplace success in the 21st century. Therefore it’s become incumbent upon parents to introduce children to this 21st century skill at early age – Jayalakshmi Vaidyanathan

Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) — […]