EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT - May 2020 by Gulf Times

Ways to help keep children learning during the pandemic T

he coronavirus pandemic has upended family life around the world. School closures, working remotely, physical distancing — it’s a lot to navigate for parents to navigate. Robert Jenkins, UNICEF’s Global Chief of Education, offers five tips to help keep children’s education on track while they’re staying home.

Plan a routine together Try to establish a routine that factors in age-appropriate education programmes that can be followed online, on the television or through the radio. Also, factor in play time and time for reading. Use everyday activities as learning opportunities for your children. And don’t forget to come up with these plans together where possible. Although establishing a routine and structure is critically important for children and young people, in these times you may notice your children need some level of flexibility. Switch up your activities. If your child looks restless and agitated when you’re trying to follow an online learning programme with them, flip to a more active option. Do not forget that planning and doing house chores together safely is great for development of fine and gross motor functions. Try and stay as attuned to their needs as possible.

Have open conversations Encourage your children to ask questions and express their feelings with you. Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress, so be patient and understanding. Start by inviting your child to talk about the issue. Find out how much they already know and follow their lead. Discuss good hygiene practices. You can use everyday moments to reinforce the importance of things like regular and thorough handwashing. Make sure you are in a safe environment and allow your child to talk freely. Drawing, stories and other activities may help to open a discussion. Try not to minimize or avoid their concerns. Be sure to acknowledge their feelings and assure them that it’s natural to feel scared about these things. Demonstrate that you’re listening by giving them your full attention, and make sure they understand that they can talk to you and their teachers whenever they like. Warn them about fake news and encourage them – and remind yourselves – to use trusted sources of information such as UNICEF guidance.

Take your time Start with shorter learning sessions and make them progressively longer. If the goal is to have a 30- or 45-minute session, start with 10 minutes and build up from there. Within a session, combine online or screen time with offline activities or exercises.

Protect children online Digital platforms provide an opportunity for children to keep learning, take part in play and keep in touch with their friends. But increased access online brings heightened risks for children’s safety, protection and privacy. Discuss the Internet with your children so that they know how it works, what they need to be aware of, and what appropriate behavior looks like on the platforms they use, such as video calls. Establish rules together about how, when and where the internet can be used. Set up parental controls on their devices to mitigate online risks, particularly for younger children. Identify appropriate online tools for recreation together - organizations like Common Sense Media offer advice for ageappropriate apps, games and other online entertainment. In case of cyberbullying or an incident of inappropriate content online, be familiar with school and other local reporting mechanisms, keeping numbers of support helplines and hotlines handy. Don’t forget that there’s no need for children or young people to share pictures of themselves or other personal information to access digital learning.

Stay in touch with your children’s education facility Find out how to stay in touch with your children’s teacher or school to stay informed, ask questions and get more guidance. Parent groups or community groups can also be a good way to support each other with your home schooling.

ONLINE EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC Supplements Team

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One of the outdoor quad areas at the new Al Wajba Campus, opening September 2020

Doha College

Educating, nurturing and inspiring

oha College is one of the world’s leading British International Schools, educating students between the ages of 3 to 18. Its achievements in the fields of academia, sport and the arts are outstanding. The college’s new state-of-the-art campus, and its exceptional teaching team reflect the unwavering pursuit of excellence.

ambitiously steering in the same direction. One of the critical facets of the college’s remote learning success has been the strong and much vaunted educational triangle between students, parents and teachers, all working purposefully towards delivering an education that is as enjoyable and yielding as it would have been

The student leadership group (Head Boy/ Head Girl, their deputies and the team of prefects) are strong leaders of their teams and the entire student body. All students of the college are consulted on a regular basis and, as a result, influential in shaping the approach to learning. A Doha College education reaches far beyond the curriculum: Students are educated as global citizens, who listen, take responsibility, respect others and have the confidence to stand up and be heard. Established in 1980 and celebrating 40 years of excellence in education in Qatar, the college is about to embark on an exciting new chapter with the opening of its expansive new campus in Al Wajba in September 2020. With its existing sites in Al Waab and West Bay uniting under one roof in its state-of-the-art new home, Doha College is paving the way for the next 40 years of innovative education.

Retaining teaching excellence during a pandemic As the world’s first High-Performance-Learning School, Doha College strives to exceed expectations at all times. The underlying growth mindset stands firm, even during the current remote learning phase in which it finds itself. A powerful and resonating vision and ethos ripples through its community that has everyone

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Teaching phonics online to Primary-aged Doha College students

in the classroom. The success of this concerted effort has been evidenced across the whole school with exceptionally high engagement levels, and the innovative future-orientated adaptation of student learning to these new circumstances.

Secondary science teacher leading a Year 7 remote teaching class on acids and alkalis

Establishing effective ways of collaboration allowed everyone to develop a good understanding of each other’s roles at these restricted times and, just as importantly, it unleashed a level of flexibility which paved the way for teachers and students to quickly adapt to new approaches in teaching and learning. Once everyone had found their feet within the new on-line classroom processes for recording attendance and ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding, the students’ progress curve continued along the same gradient as would have been expected in a live classroom situation. Like in any new situation which requires a process of adaptation, the ground was fertile for innovative ideas and new ways of thinking in order to further refine and perfect the remote learning system which was designed, right from the outset, to be malleable so that changes could be made at any time, and at short notice, so that every individual student’s needs is met. Regular surveys of students, staff and parents provided the essential data for said improvements and, what is more, they encouraged the entire stakeholder community to take responsibility and actively contribute. Well-versed in, and with a modern technical set-up for the delivery of a British-style education right from Early Years to the Upper 6th Form, Doha College, under the strategic direction of Principal Dr Steffen Sommer, was able to adapt quickly and thus launched its remote teaching-and-learning strategy within 48 hours of the ministry’s directive to close schools due to COVID-19. Dr Sommer puts this down to the College’s resilience, and the entire community’s positive can-do attitude. As the first accredited High Performance Learning School in the world, Doha College has truly internalised, and fully embedded in all its systems the HPL philosophy which has, at its nexus, the firm belief that all students can and will be high achievers as long as the inherent essential ingredients are made available to each student at the right time and in the right quantity (e.g. a varied and balanced curriculum; highly qualified, well-motivated and inspiring teachers who personalise their students’ learning; a wealth of opportunities in class, and out of school; supportive parents who understand and back the HPL philosophy, a school culture which is engaging, innovative, student-centred and focused on well-being, etc.).

Principal, Dr Steffen Sommer, said: “With the HPL philosophy, a future-oriented growthmindset approach to learning, tightly woven into the college’s DNA, we were well prepared, both structurally and mentally, for coping with the unknown. As a school where every student has been equipped with a one-toone device for their daily learning in school and Dr. Steffen Sommer, Principal at home, technology has been used in an interdisciplinary manner at Doha College for years. Digital platforms have been integral to the students’ learning, and digital teaching tools like class dojo and Firefly, our well-established virtual learning environment and allembracing communication platform, had been tried and tested well before the pandemic struck. The skills and aptitudes generated by the High-Performance-Learning philosophy have been invaluable in this unprecedented time of unexpected change. “ A visionary leadership team and dedicated heads of both, the Primary and Secondary schools, allowed for remote learning to shine in terms of its delivery of quality education within the current restrictions. Head of Primary, Grant Gilles shared an insight into how this was achieved: “There are unique challenges in working with our youngest students, especially when all teaching is delivered on-line. Our partnership with parents has been instrumental in the success that has been achieved, as flexibility has been key to developing an understanding of the new modus operandi for which clear expectations had to be set for all within the framework of our remote teaching-and-learning strategy. Our staff have worked tirelessly to create engaging lessons with opportunities to personalise support for individuals. Our regular whole-class meet-ups on-line have also been a great success in maintaining a critical sense of connection and community. We have also tried to maintain as many aspects of the curriculum as possible, as well as day-to-day celebrations of success. This has involved house events, headteacher award ceremonies and weekly assemblies; even trips to the virtual library.” For Secondary, the prospect of no examinations and the anxiety of students about their futures were key area of focused support. Ruth Sanderson, Head of Secondary, highlights how the College excelled at these challenging times:

“Our subject specialists and welfare teams collaborated at all levels to support each other and the students during remote learning, a veritable credit to the strong relationships which have been fostered at Doha College for forty years. Although everyone misses the face-toface interactions, we have been able to use technology to teach lessons, arrange meetings, hold support sessions, and enjoy some fun activities and initiatives. Next half term, we are planning a virtual graduation for our Year 13 students to mark this important milestone in their lives. The whole community is learning and growing together, and this is wonderful to see.”

Key to success in remote learning Consistent, clear communications with all members of the DC community

Regular surveys with parents, students and teachers to identify areas that are working well, and to adapt those that need improvement at various stages, thus allowing for the remote learning programme to be constantly up-dated and improved in order to ensure the highest levels of effectiveness in a very short timescale

A dedicated crisis team that allows for advanced planning and reduced impact on the school

A pre-existing integrated digital learning scheme, including one-to-one devices for students which support the timely set-up and deployment of remote learning

Wellbeing of all students during these anxious and testing times being the focal point of many activities to ensure that learners remain engaged and connected to their peers and teachers.

Having mastered its remote learning programme, Doha College has already turned its attention to the next academic year at its new campus in Al Wajba, and what the education for its 2,500 students may look like. It is keeping a careful eye on those countries across the world whose students have physically returned to school, analysing the latest best practice and how social distancing rules can be applied in a school environment. Doha College is progressing well with the plans of what can be achieved within those parameters, and they are confident that whatever the guidance for social distancing may be, they will be able to fulfil the requirements. Whatever the measures are, one thing can be sure when it comes to this top British international school: they will always continue an education in the typical Doha College fashion, Excellence for All, Excellence from All being their motto.

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E-â&#x20AC;&#x2020;learning

The best bet during lockdown By Dr Anjana Kannankara

he Corona pandemic has made a global impact in the past weeks and continues to hit most of the sectors, with education being one of the most affected ones. Students across the world are losing valuable time in their education during the imposed lockdown amidst fears of pandemic. The situation has forced the schools to shut down and the students to stay at home. No wonder, the children as well as parents feel emotionally and psychologically drained at this juncture. At such a time, the extended lockdown period is forcing the education sector to rapidly evolve. Most schools and institutions have come up with the idea of online classes for students to start their respective academic years, instead of wasting time due to the delay in reopening of schools.

Why online learning becomes important A major factor that frames student life is a set routine comprising school, homework, coaching or tuition classes, co-curricular activities, and more studies with a dash of entertainment thrown in. But this routine has completely been disrupted - the boundaries between study time, play time and me-time having merged these days, owing to the governmental regulations. Establishing a routine becomes crucial for children, especially while staying indoors the entire day, to which they are not used to. A routine will keep the child engaged and the discipline to follow that routine has to come from parents. The online courses help to do just that. Not only can many of the students now attend the online classes arranged from school, they can remain in a routine, if they choose to attend a few of the online courses from leading ed-tech and e-learning websites. We must recognize that each school community is unique, and it may not be possible for the proposed strategies of social distancing and hygiene practices to be implemented in every setting, during the Corona pandemic scare, if the schools reopen now. The online environment offers unprecedented opportunities for people who would otherwise have limited access to education, as well as a new paradigm for educators in which dynamic courses of the highest quality can be developed.

Advantages of online learning Easily accessible The e- learning method requires only an internet connection with good speed and a computer or mobile. While taking classes online, attending is as simple as opening up your computer or tablet unlike physical classes. The sessions can be even recorded for later use.

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Budget friendly

Can be personalised according to individual needs

There are numerous courses and resources available for free access which can get rid of any financial issues for fee payment during lockdown. Also the fees can be kept low while going online, as the student will not be expected to pay his share for the cost of maintaining the whole institution.

When it comes to e-learning, the students can customize - the learning environment, the learning content itself, the interaction between facilitator student and the learning content as per personal preferences. This aspect can generate more interest in students towards learning.Â

Convenient to fit into the day

Since the students do not require to travel to a particular class for learning they can save the travelling time and use it for relaxing after the lessons. All the more, while learning, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel tired due to travelling, hence easier to concentrate. This way more time can be dedicated for studies.

Students can fit online classes around their existing responsibilities and commitments and can learn at his or her own pace and time thereby planning study time accordingly. As long as a student meets the deadlines and participate appropriately online, he can be fine. This means much less pressure and intensity. Available 24x7 The teachers and the students can interact with each other at any time without the limitations of day or night, for providing study materials, clearing doubts or taking tests; provided the time is convenient to all participants. The students and teachers get an opportunity to maintain a warm relationship while communicating without fear.

No commuting required

Flexible Online courses give students the opportunity to plan study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around- anytime, anywhere. Students can study and work at their convenience. It gives learners plenty of time to digest, engage with each other, practice, or do their own research. Comfortable ambience to focus With online classes, it’s much easier to focus on what is going on. The students can put themselves in the right environment. Headphones can be used if surroundings are noisy. The interactions happen online, meaning they won’t easily wander off topic. And students can choose to study at a time when they are freshest. For those who struggle to concentrate, online classes might be the ideal solution. More Individual attention The teachers can also be at ease as they have enough options to interact with each student online, instruct and address specific issues even directly after the class. They too won’t have the usual pressures of managing school hours, checking the notes, commuting etc hence will be in a better position to take care of student needs online than in physical class rooms. Social distancing can be exercised Amidst the regulations of social distancing and self isolation, the students if allowed to attend schools may not be able to exercise the safety precautions in an effective manner. It would be very tough to control the students from playing or touching each other which might make the situation of virus spread out of control. Online classes can provide the same quality of education in the comfort of their homes thereby helping in securing their future and also in controlling the virus spread.

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Encourage your child to learn another language By Sara Burkhard

n a globalized world, being able to speak a second or third language is something that offers people value for the rest of their lives. While there is a lot of evidence that says the younger a child learns, the better, children acquire pronunciation, accent, and grammar rules best before the end of their teenage years.

So, how can you help your child become fluent? Speak with them If you already speak the language they’re studying, it will be easier for your child to feel comfortable trying to speak it. Just as they learned their native language from you, they’ll benefit from trying to practice language skills together. You can help them establish a good foundation with the comfort of home, away from exam scores or the classroom. Study with them One of the best ways to encourage your child to practice something that might be tedious or even difficult at times is to join them. Study with your child and show them that you can overcome any challenges together. It will show them they’re not alone, help strengthen their skills, and it’s a great way to feel connected to each other.

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Find entertainment in that language Think about how your family likes to be entertained together. Is there a TV series you all like to watch? How about movies? There are loads of great films and TV shows out there that offer subtitles or even audio in different languages. Turn those on next time you’re going to have a family movie night and see if you can pick out any of your favorite phrases together.

know about your situation and invite them over to chat in the language your child is studying. Try to host a dinner or activity you try together where everyone only speaks it.

Have them join a language course Language courses are a great way to learn quickly. And while your child’s school may not offer one, there should be plenty of community organizations that offer your child the chance to expand on their language skills. Another great alternative is to find a prep course abroad where your child can be fully immersed in the language and build a stronger foundation with it. Find study groups Along with a language course, your child could benefit greatly from joining a group. A lot of communities have after-school programs, classes at a local recreation center, or other community groups where your child can find friends and peers who are also trying to improve their skills. Look within your community Speaking of building upon your community, do you have a friend, family member, or neighbor who speaks the language your child is trying to learn? Let them

Use apps and online tools Another great way to supplement your child’s learning is to use apps and online tools. One of the most famous apps at the moment is Duolingo. It’s a great way to practice short phrases, learn new vocabulary, and even try pronunciation. Some other popular tools include Memrise, which helps gamify the experience, Busuu, which helps with pronunciation and accent, and Drops, which offers five-minute quick studies you can take anywhere.

Leading the way for middle years students in Doha

he Hamilton International School is one of Doha’s newest and most exciting premier schools, situated on a magnificent campus in Mesaimeer, with world-class facilities, an extensive after school program, and a bespoke international curriculum. At the core of Hamilton’s innovative curriculum are three respected international curricula that work together to excite children and prepare them for later examinations. The International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), and the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) together provide a range of age-appropriate and exciting learning opportunities. The Middle School will open the next academic year (2020/21) with Grades 6, 7 and 8 (Years 7, 8 and 9). Hamilton’s International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) is different because it has been specifically designed to support the development of 11-14-year olds - both academically and personally. Building on the foundations of the International Primary Curriculum for younger students, the IMYC considers the changing brains and emotional needs of adolescents, offering rigorous and engaging learning opportunities that are connected, collaborative and help students to take creative risks with their learning in a safe and supportive environment. As such, the IMYC is now the chosen curriculum of 140 schools across 50 countries worldwide.

“I began noting how teachers and curricula could better support their learning, and I became a passionate advocate about what schools can do to help these students not just survive, but thrive in these important but often challenging years.” – Emily Porter, the Group Director of Learning & Education at the International Schools Partnership.

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Emily Porter, the Group Director of Learning & Education at the International Schools Partnership (ISP), has 20 years of experience in education including the design and writing of the IMYC. In the early part of her career, Emily spent a decade working closely with middle years students and developing a deep understanding of the unique needs of middle school-aged children. Much of this time was spent with different students from a wide range of backgrounds and countries. She commented: “I have been working with 11-14 years olds for 20 years now, and in this time, I have really come to understand this age group in specific ways. I began noting how teachers and curricula could better support their learning, and I became a passionate advocate about what schools can do to help these students not just survive but thrive in these important but often challenging years. I’m very excited to be supporting the implementation of the IMYC at Hamilton, to ensure our middle years students are supported and encouraged to learn to the best of their potential, and that they truly do experience Amazing Learning.”

Scholarships are now open for Middle Years students applying to join Grades 6, 7 or 8 for September 2020/21. Applications close Tuesday, 23rd June 2020! Apply Now! Visit: hamiltoninternationalschool.qa for more information! To Visit Website The IMYC will develop skills like: - Self-motivation - Self-regulation - International mindedness - Looking at subjects from multiple perspectives - Empathy and compassion - Being able to take positive actions for change The IMYC supports student agency – that is, their voice, choice and ownership – helping them to develop self-motivation and self-regulation with their learning for middle school and beyond. In addition to this, the curriculum has been intentionally designed and adapted by Hamilton to develop students’ personal attributes and international mindedness.

International Learning Opportunities for Our Students Both The Hamilton International School and Park House English School are part of the International Schools Partnership, a global network of schools, and students from both schools, have access to international learning opportunities. The ISP Buddy Exchange Programme is one such opportunity. It enables reciprocal exchanges between students from ISP schools for a period of one month, providing students a unique international and cultural learning experience while cultivating long-term friendships across the world. Although this learning opportunity has been postponed because of the current travel restrictions around the globe, ISP has launched the Virtual Buddy Exchange Programme for its students. This is an eight week programme running from May to June 2020, and brings ISP students and schools across the world together for a unique international and cultural learning experience. The programme is aimed at those students who were signed up to the 2019/2020 ISP Buddy Exchange Programme, so that they don’t miss out on their unique international learning experience. For more information on this programme and The Hamilton International School please visit https://hamiltoninternationalschool.qa.

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Must-have features of an

Online Education platform By Vishal Dani

n online education platform is meant for delivery of educational content to students. The platform, unlike a textbook is an interactive medium where students can engage with the content. And therefore, these platforms are in high demand in schools and universities across the globe. Because every institute wants their students to understand the concepts and its implications in the real world. This high demand has resulted in the production and availability of many such online education platforms in the market, putting educational institutions in a dilemma. How do they decide which platform works best for their students? Every vendor claims to have the best learning platform which benefits students and teachers. They all have multiple features are more or less similar to one another.

What then, is the differentiating factor which you should look for while selecting an online learning platform? Here, we will highlight some of the features that must be present in a learning platform. Having a concise list will help you determine and compare among multiple tools and make the right choice for your students.

So, here are the must-have features of an online education platform.

Feature 1

Easy-to-use interface

First of all, we need an interface that is easy to use. The icons and text should be clear and legible. Teachers and students must be able to navigate through the app smoothly. A lot of teachers are still getting used to the idea of using eBooks and online content delivery platforms in classrooms. As instructors are required to design courseware, they must be comfortable in using the platform efficiently. The tool should be designed in such a way that someone who does not know coding must be able to use and operate it without difficulty. As for students, they will appreciate a platform which allows them to navigate easily and functions smoothly.

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Custom branding

Feature 2

An institution would want a platform which offers a touch of personalization. Just like all the learning resources provided by an institute has their logo over it, similarly, the learning platform must also incorporate their brand image/logo and color palette. It will give the students a sense of belonging, rather than using a third-party tool. Therefore, you must look for a vendor who can provide a white-label platform, which you can customize as per your liking.

Feature 3

Offline reading

Though it’s an online education platform, it must also be accessible offline. Students might want to download some content and read later. And in case there’s no Internet connectivity, students should not be deprived of the chance to study. So, there must be an option for users to download content and read it offline.

Cloud-hosted platform

Feature 4

Ensure that it is a cloud-based platform. Meaning, all the data is saved on the cloud. With a cloud-based tool, you can be assured that your content is always accessible from anywhere and anytime. Moreover, it can be updated as and when required, and the changes would be reflected in all students’ eBooks.

Feature 7

Analytics

Feature 5

Interactive elements

You should be able to add interactive elements to the platform. Online interactivities include quizzes, audio files, videos, simulations, gamification etc. The tool must also allow students to make notes and share with their peers or teachers, bookmark pages, search for information, highlight texts, etc. Including interactive elements increases student engagement with the courseware. Hence, look for all the interactivities that the platform offers.

Licenses, access and validity

Feature 8

Assessment tools

Feature 6

Quizzes and assessments are an important part of education. Ensure that the tool lets you create different types of quizzes to keep the students engaged and interested in the course. You can have various styles of quizzes, such as drag and drop, match the pairs, answer in brief, labeling, multiple choice questions, fill in the blanks etc. The platform must enable teachers to add quizzes anywhere in the course moduleat the end of each chapter or in between chapters. Teachers must be able to review the assessments and provide feedback online.

Feature 9

Device agnostic

An analytic tool helps measure the effectiveness of the learning program as well as the teaching effectiveness. It will provide detailed insights into the learning pattern of each student. Teachers need this report to get actionable information.

Find out whether the tool allows teachers to give individual license to each student or create a group license. Based on the license type, access codes are generated, with which students can access the eBooks. Also enquire about the validity of the licenses.

The online education platform must be device agnostic. Since it is an application, it must be readable on most of the devices and operating systems. Students might have different devices with different operating systems- Windows, iOS or Android.

They can get insights into content consumed by each student, percentage of the course completed etc. This information helps them improve their teaching approach, redesign the course content or pay more attention to a student who needs help.

Some platforms allow teachers to set the validity of the course for every student, post which the students won’t be able to view the course. Licenses and access codes gives the educators control over who can view the content.

The learning platform that you select must be able to deliver content on all devices and operating systems. This will save the students and their parents from the trouble to buy a new device that’s compatible with the learning platform.

Content security/ DRM protection

Feature 10 The platform should give you complete control over the content. In order to protect your content from unauthorized use and download, you can encrypt the eBook with DRM protection. This will ensure that only those users with the access codes can view the courses.

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Parenting during lockdown Tips to keep the calm at home

ear, uncertainty, and being holed By Valle Dwight up at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 can make it tough Not justofchild’s for families to keep a sense calm. play Want to help kidstodo better in school? But it’s important help children feel Don’thealthy forget routines, to show them outside to safe, keep manage play. Whether it’s building a castle out of their behavior and build resilience. blocks, to from be a pirate, or riding Here pretending are some tips the American bikes, play isn’t just good for family the body — it Academy (AAP) to help your actually helps the brain. through the outbreak.

and reassuring voice, tell them where you are going, how long you will be gone, when you will return, and that you are taking steps to stay safe. Look forward

Tell them that scientists are working hard to figure out how to help people who get ill, and that things will get better.

Keep in touch with loved ones

Children may alsoFantastic worry aboutfindings a Whether pretend grandparent whoit’s is shooting living alone or a enemies or playing a dollhouse, relative or friend with anwith increased risk there’s a whole lot going on when of getting COVID-19. Video chats can young kids useanxiety. their imagination in play. help ease their Pretend play uses many parts of the brain, n Model how to manage feelings including those that control language, Talk through how you areand managing movement, emotions, cognition. It youralso ownhelps feelings. am worried about kids (“I explore new roles and Grandma I can’t work go visit her. figure out since how things and how they Thefitbest canworld. do is to check inhas with intoI the Research shown her more often by phone. will put a that kids who spend lots ofI time engaged reminder on my phone to better call herabstract in the in pretend play are morningand andmore the afternoon until this thinkers socially and outbreak ends.”) linguistically competent. And Tellyou your child before you was thought your child leave the house for with workdolls! or just playing essential errands. In a calm

14 ONLINE EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC

Use rewards & privileges to reinforce good behaviors (completing school assignments, chores, getting along with siblings, etc.) that wouldn’t normally be given during less stressful times.

Offer extra hugs and say “I love you” more often.

During the pandemic, it is more important than ever to maintain bedtime and other routines. They create a sense of order to the day that offers reassurance in a very uncertain time. All children, including teens, benefit from routines that are predictable yet flexible enough to meet individual needs. structured exercise, andfor it’s most Children rely on their parents definitely not playing games. At its safety, both physical andvideo emotional. best,your play children engagesthat the you body and mind Reassure are there in imaginative activities a for them and that your familythat will develop get child’s ability to think creatively, work through this together. as a team member, and create and n Answer questions about the pandemic follow rules. So if you’re worried your simply & honestly child needs to spend more time doing fractions/practicing Talk with children about violinany frightening or diagramming news they It is OKa to say people sentences hear. to become complete human arebeing, getting sick, but that say following remember kids also rules need like hand washing and staying unstructured time to build, create, home will help your family stay and fantasize. healthy. As any kid with a pile of mud n Recognize your child’s feelings (birthday cake, anyone?) already knows,say, playfor performs an“Iessential Calmly example, can see role in childhood But since we’re that you aredevelopment. upset because you can’t all your adultsfriends here —over.” and it’s easy to forget have Guiding what children instinctively understand — questions can help older children we’ve culled through theissues. research to find and teens work through (“I know most interesting on different itthe is disappointing notstudies to be able to hang of play right and how kids with kinds your friends now.they Howhelp do you grow. think you can stay in touch with them?”)

Attention- to reinforce good behaviors and discourage others - is a powerful tool. Notice good behavior and point it out, praising success and good tries. Explaining clear expectations, particularly with older children, can help with this.

Keep healthy routines

Address Valuable children’s play fears isn’t limited to

Direct your attention

Structure the day

With the usual routines thrown off, establish new daily schedules. Break up schoolwork when possible. Older children and teens can help with schedules, but they should follow a general order, such as:

Know when not to respond

As long as your child isn’t doing something dangerous and gets attention for good behavior, ignoring bad behavior can be an effective way of stopping it. Use time-outs

This discipline tool works best by warning children they will get a timeout if they don’t stop. Remind them what they did wrong in as few words and with as little emotion as possible. Then, remove them from the situation for a pre-set length of time (1 minute per year of age is a good guide).

Wake-up routines, getting dressed, breakfast and some active play in the morning, followed by quiet play and snack to transition into schoolwork.

Lunch, chores, exercise, some online social time with friends, and then homework in the afternoon.

Family time & reading before bed.

Use positive discipline Everyone is more anxious and worried during the pandemic. Younger children may not have the words to describe their feelings. They’re more likely to act out their stress, anxiety or fear through their behavior (which can, in turn, upset parents, particularly if they are already stressed). Older children and teens may be extra irritable as they miss out on time with friends and special events being cancelled. Some ways you can help your children manage their emotions and behaviour: Redirect bad behavior

Sometimes children misbehave because they are bored or don’t know any better. Find something else for them to do. Creative play

Suggest your children draw pictures of ways your family is staying safe. Make a collage and hang it up to remind everyone. Or, build an indoor fort or castle to keep the germs at bay, bringing in favorite stuffed animals or toys.

Avoid physical punishment Spanking, hitting, and other forms of physical or “corporal” punishment risks injury and isn’t effective. Physical punishment can increase aggression in children over time, fails to teach them to behave or practice self-control, and can even interfere with normal brain development. Corporal punishment may take away a child’s sense of safety and security at home, which are especially needed now. Take care of yourself

Caregivers also should be sure to take care of themselves physically: eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep. Find ways to decompress and take breaks. If more than one parent is home, take turns watching the children if possible.

How do you measure success in school? By Philip Bradley

eing reflective is a critical personal and organisational skill. At the Swiss School, it is important we reflect on our successes and also establish aspirational goals that will make us the best we can be for students and learning as we move forward.

This year has seen many important milestones and metrics that are easy to quantify. We opened the year by celebrating our triple IB authorisations (PYP, MYP, DP), welcoming 30 new teachers and 300 new students. Currently, there are over 700 students, representing 70 different nationalities, speaking 35 languages; this measure of internationalism is certainly a cause for celebration even though it brings complexity!

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Our new IB Diploma students have also brought a clear future focus to the campus with global college and university applications approaching. SISQ continues to expand structurally and in August we opened 20 new learning spaces.

As tempting as it is to focus on some of these data points we have also spent time on some very important philosophical thinking, thinking that defines the SISQ culture. For example, we considered the following quote from Edmund Burke.

“Success is the only infallible measure of worth to vulgar minds.” SISQ or any organisation depends upon the degree to which we all live and breath our purpose or vision. At SISQ our vision is to develop learners who are Fulfilled, Inspired and Prepared; achieving that vision requires us to commit to what we will not do, as much as to what we will do. We need to be open-minded and reflective; we need to understand that even as adults there is a need to learn, unlearn and relearn. We must not miss the point. Of course at times we measure success against academic expectations but it is vital we recognise skills and dispositions such as grit, honesty, empathy, focus

Burke, the Anglo-Irish statesman, was obviously provoked into making his comment two hundred and fifty years ago by a world that was sadly misaligning its values or simply missing the point. His quote is a powerful reminder to schools to make sure that our definition of success is authentic and driven by our core beliefs and not just easy to measure numbers. Indeed I started this article with some easy to measure numbers of which we are proud, but ultimately the success of

and kindness. Developing these “soft skills” is known to increase success in school and life beyond.

Admissions for September 2020 are now open. Online interviews and assessments are being conducted at the moment – only limited places available!

About the Author Philip is the Head of School at the Swiss International School in Qatar (SISQ). He has been involved in International Education for over 30 years. Prior to joining SISQ, he served as the High School Principal at the International School Bangkok. He has previously held administrative and teaching positions in Peru, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, France and Wales.

His teaching background is in geography, earth science and physical education. As an administrator Philip has spent a lot of time establishing strong learning focused teams with a focus on IB, curriculum development, assessment, grading and social emotional learning projects.

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Unicef’s

Healthy eating tips during lockdown

he coronavirus disease outbreak is upending life for families around the world. As schools and childcare centres close, many parents are finding themselves stuck at home for most of the day juggling childcare, full-time work and other competing responsibilities. Figuring out “What’s for dinner?” can be yet another daily challenge. To make things even harder, panic buying and disruptions to food supply systems mean some foods can now be difficult to find. And for many people, unemployment and lost income are making food shopping an additional financial challenge. While many parents are understandably looking to ready meals and processed foods as a quick and low-cost way to feed the family, there are convenient, affordable and healthy alternatives. Here are five ways to help feed your children a varied, nutritious diet that will support their growth and development, all while building healthy eating habits.

General food hygiene tips Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing any food.

User separate chopping boards to prepare uncooked meat and fish.

Cook food to the recommended temperature.

Where possible, keep perishable items refrigerated or frozen, and pay attention to product expiry dates.

Aim to recycle or dispose of food waste and packaging in an appropriate and sanitary manner, avoiding build-up of refuse which could attract pests.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating and make sure your children do the same.

Always use clean utensils and plates.

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Swap in healthy dried or canned alternatives when fresh produce is not available Fresh produce is almost always the best option, but when it is not available there are plenty of healthy alternatives that are easy to store and prepare.

Canned beans and chickpeas, which provide an abundance of nutrients, can be stored for months or even years, and can be included in meals in many ways. Canned oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon are rich in protein, omega 3 fatty acids and a range of vitamins and minerals. These can be used cold in sandwiches, salads or pasta dishes, or cooked as part of a warm meal. Canned vegetables, such as tomatoes, do tend to contain lower quantities of vitamins than fresh produce, but they are a great fallback option when fresh produce or frozen vegetables are hard to come by.

Keep up fruit & vegetable intake Purchasing, storing and cooking fresh vegetables can be challenging in a lockdown, especially when parents are advised to limit trips outside of the home. But wherever possible, it’s important to ensure children are still getting plenty of fruit and vegetables in their diet.

Dried goods like dried beans, pulses and grains such as lentils, split peas, rice, couscous or quinoa are also nutritious, longlasting options that are tasty, affordable and filling. Rolled oats cooked with milk or water can serve as an excellent breakfast option, and can be spiced up with yoghurt, chopped fruits or raisins.

Whenever it is possible to get hold of fresh produce, do so. As well as being eaten fresh, fruits and vegetables can be frozen where possible and will retain most of their nutrients and flavor. Using fresh vegetables to cook large batches of soups, stews or other dishes will make them last longer and provide meal options for a few days. These can also be frozen where possible and then quickly reheated.

Limit highly processed foods

Build up a stock of healthy snacks Children often need to eat a snack or two during the day to keep them going. Rather than giving kids sweets or salty snacks, opt for healthier options like nuts, cheese, yoghurt (preferably unsweetened), chopped or dried fruits, boiled eggs, or other locally available healthy options. These foods are nutritious, more filling, and help build healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.

While using fresh produce may not always be possible, try to limit the amount of highly processed foods in your shopping basket. Ready-to-eat meals, packaged snacks and desserts are often high in saturated fat, sugars and salt. If you do purchase processed foods, look at the label and try to choose healthier options containing less of these substances. Try to also avoid sugary drinks and instead drink lots of water. Adding fruits or vegetables like lemon, lime, cucumber slices or berries to water is a great way to add an extra twist of flavor.

Make cooking and eating a fun and meaningful part of your family routine Cooking and eating together is a great way to create healthy routines, strengthen family bonds and have fun. Wherever you can, involve your children in food preparation – small children can help with washing or sorting food items while older children can take on more complex tasks and help to set the table. Try as much as possible to stick to fixed mealtimes as a family. Such structures and routine can help reduce anxiety for children in these stressful situations.

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Stay physically active during school closures T

here are many ways your child can be active, even while practicing social distancing. According to recommendations from the American Heart Association, kids aim for 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per day. Here are a few suggestions to get your child moving: Exercise as a family: Children will be more motivated to exercise if the entire family participates. Family walks, bike rides, dance parties, living-room yoga sessions, or backyard soccer games are just a few examples of how your household members can exercise together.

Encourage outdoor activity: Whenever possible, encourage your child to get outside, even for a quick stroll around the block or a game of catch with a sibling. Several 10-minute outdoor exercise sessions can quickly add up to a full workout.

Watch online exercise videos: Many online services offer exercise videos geared toward children. Additionally, many sports clubs, exercise studios, schools, and other community organizations are providing on-demand virtual fitness content for kids.

Take a class: If you have the financial resources, consider supporting your local fitness studio or personal trainer by signing up for online fitness classes or training sessions. Some personal trainers will even host a private virtual “gym class” or sport-specific training session for young athletes who want to work out from home.

Make it a challenge: Work with your child to set an ageappropriate exercise goal, such as five bike rides per week or 50 push-ups in a row, to motivate them to keep moving.

Assign calorie-burning chores: Chores such as mowing the lawn, working in the garden, washing the car, or cleaning out the garage provide excellent opportunities for kids to build muscles and burn calories. Consider assigning your kids age-appropriate jobs that do double-duty by helping you accomplish household tasks.

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Benefits of

International School at home and abroad

that no culture has more significance than the others as nobody has the “home field” advantage. In an environment like this, everyone is equal and students are more likely to get along and build a community together.

By Sara Burkhard

ttending an international school is an enriching experience for students of all ages. It can be particularly valuable for those in high school who are determining who they want to be as they enter adulthood, the type of career they’d like to pursue, and where they might see themselves living in the future.

Opportunities for growth

Having an international influence during this time could give students a global perspective as they explore diverse cultures and open doors to a range of new options. However, attending a school with a global focus might not be the singular factor in helping students expand their international perspective. Here’s a comparison of attending international school locally versus attending an international school while also studying abroad.

Friends and peers A wonderful part of attending high school is the chance to make friends and spend time with your peers. While studying at an international school, you have a special opportunity to meet students from different cultures, exploring new world views and perspectives. Although, an international school in your local community will be attended primarily by students from the area, meaning most of the student body will be locals. A major benefit of studying at an international school like EF Academy is that students come from all over the world to attend. Every student has this unique experience together, coming from different backgrounds. This helps to level the playing field,

While studying in their native country, students still have all the comforts of their home readily available. This means there’s less need to be independent, and for the most part, it remains a very similar experience to attending a standard high school in the area. And while that’s a great fit for the majority of students, the opportunity for students to grow and expand their horizons is amplified by living abroad. While studying abroad, students have the chance to learn about the local culture and find confidence in a different environment than they’re used to. For high school students, this also gives them the chance to learn about the university process and career opportunities in the country they’ve temporarily emigrated to. This can be particularly valuable for those who’d like to further their education in a different country. Overall, living abroad helps students expand their horizons and understanding of the world works beyond their immediate culture and community. This gives students a chance to see a new way of life and embrace new opportunities in a variety of important areas.

Cultural influences Studying at an international school will always help students to embrace a global focus. International schools promote international topics of education, building a strong foundation of cultural understanding. Studying a curriculum like the IB Diploma or Cambridge International Examinations can give students the chance to learn more about new cultures and the world beyond the classroom. This experience is only amplified by the simultaneous opportunity to study abroad, where students are confronted with a new culture in their daily lives. Students attending an international school in their local community are still primarily influenced by the culture they’ve always been a part of. Even if they spend the whole day practicing foreign languages, discussing world matters, and studying a more globally-inclusive curriculum, students will still leave campus each day and go back to the same surroundings they’ve had their entire lives.

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ACS International Schools shares distance learning tips for parents T

subjects do you have today? How will you spend your time? or What can I do to help? And at the end of the day you might ask: How far did you get in your learning tasks today? What did you discover? What was hard? and What could we do to make tomorrow better?

o support the millions of school students across the UK now continuing their studies at home, ACS International Schools has compiled its best practical advice for parents who are adapting to their new role of both parent and educator, while juggling working from home.

It’s important to remember that not all students will thrive in a distance learning environment and they may struggle with too much independence or lack of structure. These check-in routines help support your child to find structure when learning from home and, critically, will help them develop self-management and executive functioning that are essential skills for life.

ACS’s tips aim to help families make the best of new and unfamiliar learning environments, and equip parents for the more practical aspects of learning from home. Robert Harrison, Education Strategy Director, ACS International Schools, comments: “Distance learning presents us all with formidable challenges, and we are all learning how to do things differently. While no one is sure yet how long distance learning will continue, we know that it won’t last forever, and it’s important that we offer the best support we can in this time. Children and young people take cues from adult behaviour and attitudes, so remember to communicate calmly, confidently and optimistically that we will pull through the crisis together. Managing our own emotions will help your children stay focused on learning and looking forward to another school year.”

ACS’s top distance learning tips for parents

Help students ‘own’ their learning: No one expects parents to be full-time teachers or to be experts in every subject, the best thing to do is to provide support and encouragement, and expect your children to do their part. Try not to help too much becoming independent takes lots of practice and this is a good opportunity to put those skills to the test!

Encourage physical activity: When living and working at home, we will all need to allocate time to let off steam. Physical activity is vital to health, wellbeing, and readiness for learning. During this time, take the opportunity to practice exercising ‘alone together’ with digital workouts and online instructors. Plan hands-on, life-ready activities that keep hands busy, feet moving, and minds engaged!

Begin and end the day by checking in: Establishing a routine is important and ensuring you make a habit of checking in with your child at the beginning and end of each day will help keep them grounded, will allow them to process instructions they’ve received from their teachers, and will help them to organise themselves and set priorities. In the morning, you might ask: What classes/

Connect safely with friends: It is likely that young people across the UK will already be missing their friends, classmates and teachers, and where it is fantastic that you can help your child maintain contact with friends through social media and other online technologies, it is also very important to monitor their social media use and ensure they stay safe online. Remind your child to be polite, respectful and appropriate in their communications, and to report unkindness and other problems so that everyone maintains healthy relationships and positive interactions.

Make the most of an unusual and stressful situation: We are going through a time of major upheaval to our normal routines and ways of life and there’s a great deal of anxiety in the world right now. Children benefit when they get age-appropriate factual information and ongoing reassurance from adults. In the current circumstances, it is often possible to reframe challenges as opportunities - for spending time together, discovering new ideas and interests, and investing energy and attention in activities that often get pushed aside by everyday tasks and responsibilities. Slow down and enjoy the unexpected benefits.

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De-stress and regain your energy By Claudia Pesce

Feed your body

unning from one class to the next, combined with personal and family responsibilities, not to mention things like the economic crisis, fear of losing your job, poor eating habits, few hours of sleep, etc…is one deadly cocktail. You cannot simply force yourself to go on. Sooner or later your health – physical, mental and emotional – will suffer for it. So, now that we all agree that it is indeed very important to take the time to detox and de-stress, let’s take a look at the steps.

With our hectic schedules and busy life, it’s far too common for ESL teachers to grab a quick bite instead of sitting down to lunch, or chow down on whatever we can find first once we get home. So, during your detox period, eat good, nutritious food. And take your time. Savor it and enjoy the flavors. Yummy, delicious food does wonders to our mood.

Get unplugged Turn off your cell and computer, and leave these and any other technological devices off for the duration of your detox period, ideally. If it’s not possible choose one time during the day for you to check in, like first thing in the morning for a few minutes, and then disconnect yourself. This may be difficult, but it will be well worth it. Remember what it was like when we were little and had nothing better to do than sit on the porch and watch birds fly from tree to tree? Go back to the basics – enjoy time with your family, long walks or a cup of coffee with a friend.

Get plenty of rest

Guzzle up the H2O

Allow yourself to sleep in. Indulge in a midafternoon nap. Or just lie on your comfiest sofa and look out the window. Let your entire body relax and enjoy the feeling that there is no rush, no place you have to run to right now. If you haven’t been getting enough hours of sleep, catch up on your zzzs. When your students see you again, they’ll notice the difference.

It’s no big news that most of us don’t drink enough water. But few are aware that dehydration causes headaches, false hunger pangs and food cravings, among other symptoms. To find out how much you should drink in liters, simply multiply your weight in kilograms by 0.033. So, if you weigh 60 kg, that works out to about 2 liters of water a day.

Feed your soul Read some of your most inspiring authors. Read magazines as you lounge on your favorite chair. But don’t read stuff for work. Read things that will take you back to a more relaxed, carefree place.

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Get exercise Running from class to class does not qualify as good “exercise”. It’s stressful. Take the time to really enjoy some stress-free physical activity. Go jogging, walking, hiking, canoeing, rollerblading or anything you really enjoy doing outdoors.

Try meditation As an ESL teacher you need to keep your students on their toes. You need to provide activities that are challenging, but not too difficult for their level. You need to complete the coursework and help your students meet language goals, but also keep your students’ individual needs and learning styles in mind. This takes a lot of mental work! During your detox period, take the time to quiet your mind. A meditation can be as simple as closing your eyes and freeing your mind from all of the clutter, or it can be guided step by step. Find a quiet spot, free of any distractions and close your eyes. Breathe in and out. Let the tempestuous sea of ideas, problems and issues fizzle out till it’s nothing but a calm ocean of opportunities.

Fun Artificial Intelligence activities for Children By Alexiei Dingli

he pandemic is bringing the entire globe to a halt and since children will have ample time at home with their parents, why not use this time to try some fun activities whilst teaching them some Artificial Intelligence (AI)? I know that AI can be daunting some times, however, the examples below were specifically chosen to be easy to use for parents. So what are you waiting for? Eliza is one of the first chatbots ever created (1964). The chatbot works by typing something and it will give you a reply. The replies are somewhat limited; however, it is still fun and safe to chat with it. Because of this, it is highly recommended for children who are still learning how to read and write.

Eliza can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-Eliza Mitsuku is one of the most advanced chatbots currently in existence. It won various prizes and can talk about most topics. Since it is an advanced chatbot, it is recommended for older children since it can deal with mature topics ranging from the coronavirus, world history and much more. Because of this, it is recommended that smaller children use it in the company of a guardian.

Mitsuku can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-Mitsuku Sentence Generator gets an image as input and creates a caption for that image. It does so by understanding

the objects which make up the image and giving them a label. However, the AI is not perfect and sometimes it makes some mistakes. The children can be asked to correct the captions of the Sentence Generator.

The Sentence Generator can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-See Thing Translator takes a photo of an object and gives us a description of it using a natural language (such as Spanish, Italian, etc.) of our choice. It can be easily used by children to learn how to pronounce things found around the house using one of the foreign languages they are learning at school.

Quick Draw can be played at https://tinyurl.com/ AIEx-Draw Shadow Art allows children to learn how to make shadow puppets just by using their hands. The AI will then look at their hands through the camera of your mobile device and decide whether it’s good or not!

Shadow Art can be used at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-ShadowArt Intelligent Piece of Paper shows how a program can play the game of Tic-Tac-Toe and win by following straightforward rules.

The Thing Translator can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-Translator

The Intelligent Piece of Paper can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-TicTacToe

Emoji Scavenger Hunt uses AI to identify emojis in the real world using the mobile device’s camera. It starts by displaying a picture of a key, and the child has to go around the house looking for a real key. The AI will then verify, using the camera of the mobile device, whether he is correct or no. This game can help small children learn about different objects found around the house.

Semi-conductor allows you to manage a real orchestra just like a real-life conductor. All one has to do is look at the camera of the mobile device and move his hands!

The Emoji Scavenger Hunt can be played at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-Emoji

The Semi-conductor can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-SemiConductor Freddiemeter is a karaoke AI which allows you to sing songs by Freddie Mercury and then rates how good you are. This game is not just fun for kids who are learning how to read but for all the family!

The Freddiemeter can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-Freddy

Quick, Draw! is a game whereby the user has to draw something, and the AI has to guess what it is. This game is ideal for children of any age.

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Protecting kids from

Online Scams

urfing the Internet means possible exposure to online scams, something your children might not have any concept of. If you’re allowing them to go online, it’s imperative that you discuss online scams. Such scams come in a variety of guises, including those that specifically target children.

Let’s look at how to best protect your kiddies from those who would scam them.

Educate yourself first The first step in protecting your children from online scams is to educate yourself on the types of scams currently floating around the Internet. One type of scam is the free trial offer, which claims to provide, for example, free one-month trials of some “amazing” product. The fine print of these scams includes terms stating that after the trial period, you’ll be paying for the product once a month ... forever. Other examples of Internet scams include fake Wi-Fi hotspots; social media and email messages indicating you’ve won an expensive prize or should enter a contest to win an expensive prize; and bogus pop-ups warning of supposed viruses and malware. The latter scam often looks like legitimate antivirus programs, but what you’re doing to “fix” your computer is actually infecting it with a virus. Unfortunately, these are merely some of the many online scams that exist, so be sure to do your homework.

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Errors Many Internet scams are rife with grammatical and spelling errors. If you receive messages laden with such errors about a “great deal” or contest, it’s probably a scam, even if it comes from a “friend.” However, there are plenty of Internet scams that contain flawless wording, as it’s one of the ways scammers make their messages look legitimate.

Communication

Learning the signs Once you feel secure in your knowledge of Internet scams, it’s time to pass this information on to your kids. Educating them about indicators of scams is important, with typical signs including:

accepts an invitation for a screen test. They may seem real at first, but they always ask for money to continue “working” with the agency.

Scholarship scams Another scam that targets children is scholarship scams. They claim to be recognizing children for academic achievement but, as with talent scams, require paying significant upfront fees.

When it comes to recognizing scams, keep communication open and clear with your children. Stress that they should always come to you about any suspicious messages or pop-ups they receive, and regularly discuss online scam signs if Internet usage is a big thing in your house. Scammers rely on children’s innocence, so consider limiting Internet time in your home until you’re certain the kids are scam-savvy enough. Courtesy: NortonLifeLock

Foreign offers Messages from “foreign princes” claiming you need to help them transfer thousands of dollars, and simply have to pay the $150 wiring fee to enjoy a cut of the money, are now-classic online scams.

Emotional manipulation Manipulating emotions is another common scammer trick. Financial stress, loneliness, and frustration are examples of the emotional states scammers prey on. They might not ask for money, but they will insist on personal information, which they will then use to steal identities.

Talent searches “Kids talent searches” are types of scams that target children specifically. These scams might suggest that a child joins a particular modeling agency or

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Compass International School’s Virtual School Experience Personalised learning for your child, wherever your family is in the world

s part of Nord Anglia Education’s global network of 66 premium schools, Compass International School’s education offering is unmatched in Doha.

Through the Nord Anglia Virtual School Experience, your child always has access to personalised learning taught by our school’s world-class teachers. No matter where your family is in the world, we can still welcome your child into their classroom through our virtual school.

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Your child will: n Participate in lessons in real-time with their world-class teachers wherever possible n Receive and submit assignments n Collaborate with their peers n Develop essential skills independently n Be recognised for their outstanding work

Bringing creative and inspiring lessons to your child through our virtual school, our blended learning approach is designed to ensure that your child receives the full curriculum of education, whilst staying healthy and safe at home. Our global team of world-class teachers have all the tools they need to share best practice and ideas for optimising your child’s personalised learning. Whether it is daily movement challenges set by some of our PE teachers or lateral thinking exercises to help keep students engaged, being part of a Nord Anglia school means that your child will benefit from the creativity and commitment of 9,000 talented teachers worldwide. The 66,000 students across all Nord Anglia Education schools are also connected through Global Campus, where they collaborate and create world-class ideas. Students may work remotely together, solving challenges like those set by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or collaborating on solutions for UNICEF’s Sustainable Development Goals. Whilst our school is closed, our friendly Admissions Team are on hand to offer you the best possible virtual and over the phone experience. Book a personalised one to one Virtual Discovery Meeting to learn more about our school and how your child can benefit from a Nord Anglia education. Visit our website to book your Virtual Discovery Meeting today: cisdoha.com

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Time Management tips to stay productive By Madeline Ames

igh school is a busy time. Between classes and homework, sports and co-curricular activities, free time can be hard to find. While participating in a variety of activities can be fun, feeling overwhelmed by commitments is the opposite. We’re all familiar with late-night study sessions and last-minute essay edits. The panicky feeling that comes with unpreparedness is not a fun experience. Juggling a busy schedule with a variety of commitments can be tough, but shouldn’t end in sleepless nights of cramming for exams. Read on for some time management tips to keep your stress low and your productivity high.

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Make a to-do list

Take time for yourself

Creating a list of all your tasks is an important first step in figuring out how to manage a busy schedule. Whether you use a calendar, journal, or the notes app in your phone, writing down everything you need to do is a great way to clearly keep track of what you need to focus on each day, week, or month. Each time you finish a task, cross it off – and watch your list dwindle as you accomplish your goals. Seeing all the things you’ve achieved will keep you motivated, and you’ll feel a fantastic sense of fulfillment when your entire list is complete.

Even if it’s just a few minutes a day, be sure that you take time each day to check in with yourself. Whether it’s taking 15 minutes to go for a walk outside or taking a break to meditate or practice yoga between papers, give yourself time to rest and reset. Prioritizing self-care will ensure that you stay aware of your well-being even during the busiest times. Don’t forget to sleep, too! You will be most productive when your mental, emotional, and physical health are being paid the attention they deserve.

Understanding and practicing time management in high school is one of the most beneficial skills students can learn. By figuring out how to balance academics, sports and activities, social engagements, and self-care, students set themselves up for success in both university and their future careers. Time management is not an easy thing to master, so by building healthy habits in high school, students will be well-equipped to juggle a variety of commitments throughout their lives.

2 Set reasonable goals

Plan ahead

While keeping track of all your tasks can be helpful for time management, it can also be overwhelming. In order to stay on top of your tasks without feeling stressed about how much you need to do, break each task down into smaller, more attainable pieces. For example, instead of trying to tackle an entire project in one night, separate it into steps. If you make time to brainstorm, research, write, revise and edit a paper, it will be easier to tackle each piece of the project instead of trying to do everything at once.

Each week, take some time to review your upcoming deadlines and commitments. Lay everything out in a planner or a calendar on your phone, so you have everything in one place. Plan your study schedule based on how much time you’ll have during the week. If you know you’re busy volunteering Wednesday afternoon, plan to start studying for you history test a little earlier. This way you won’t be caught awake in the middle of the night cramming for an exam.

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Special Education and Teaching Skills

eachers are the cornerstone of children’s development. A solid teacher offers inspiration and encouragement so that students achieve success inside and outside the classroom. When it comes to children with special needs, teachers must possess characteristics that help them deal with physical and cognitive disorders. Here are five effective traits of every special education teacher.

adapt lessons that work for the strengths of each child. In certain circumstances, students may function well but have social interaction problems. Others may not be able to perform basic speaking or motor skills. While designing daily activities and plans for the classroom, a teacher must get creative in order to accommodate all of the children’s needs. Since disabilities may manifest differently each day, planning must remain flexible as well. There must be time to deal with outbursts or other roadblocks. New teaching techniques are developed on a regular basis, so a special education teacher must remain abreast of the most effective methods.

Acceptance Organization

Patience When a child has special needs, patience is a must. Since this type of student takes longer to perform simple tasks, understanding is key for development. No matter how long it takes, a special education teacher must give a child time to complete the task. Having a good sense of humor will help along the way. Although the classroom is a place for serious learning, dealing with a special needs child will require the ability to create a cheerful environment that empowers this type of student to gain success. Also, it is up to this teacher to take time and comprehend each student’s individual needs so that frustrating situations can be avoided.

Organization is key for all teachers, especially those who deal with disabled students. When a child is taught in an organized environment, he or she will have higher confidence levels. There are numerous ways a teacher can remain organized. For example, it is possible to use color-coded folders and notebooks. To cut confusion, it is wise to label various areas of the classroom. Every special ed teacher must keep records so that he or he can accurately report students’ accomplishments to administrators and parents as well.

Creativity Since all children have different learning styles, a special education teacher must have the ability to

A special education teacher works alongside disabled students with various problems. No matter the issues, this professional must accept all children and interact with dignity and respect. Even children who are unable to communicate properly or function at low developmental levels sense negativity, especially when a teacher is acting in an uncomfortable manner. It is key to create a sense of value within the classroom so that all children have the maximum chances of gaining success.

Intuitive and calming nature Certain children find it difficult to express their feelings, especially when they have communication problems. Oftentimes, special needs students withdraw or act negatively when they get confused or feel overwhelmed. A special education teacher must use his or her intuitive skills to uncover the underlying reasons behind the poor behavior. Also, it is essential to provide a calm temperament when dealing with these type of students. Many children must balance behavioral and learning issues, so a classroom environment can be extremely stressful. An effective teacher will be able to calm his or her students so that anxiety is reduced. When children feel safe, they are more likely to be open to learning. Special education teachers require a number of skills different from traditional educators. They play a vital role in the classroom and must work hard to maintain balance. The above traits are just a few characteristics that create an environment that works well for children with physical and emotional disabilities. When a teacher possess these virtues, special needs students are sure to thrive.

Tips for choosing and applying to

Universities

it now, it doesn’t mean they will continue to! Make sure you know what you’re getting.

Geography after my first year, and had a strong Politics and Government research strand which matched my interests. There’s nothing worse than picking a course and then realising that your favourite subjects from A-Level are nowhere to be seen in it.

By Laura Warner

o here is a list of top things to consider and check out if you’re applying to university.

Make sure you’re doing what’s best for you If you’re applying for university, make sure it’s because you want to go. When deciding on which course to study, make sure it’s because you enjoy it. When working out where you’ll go to university, make sure it’s a place you want to (and can afford to) live in for the duration of your degree. I would absolutely recommend taking advice from teachers, parents, friends, current students – and sometimes these provide the best insights into university – but be careful to ensure that the final decision is your own, and one that you’re happy with.

Too many students pick their university choices based on the university itself and not the course they’re going to be studying, and this will rarely end well. I knew that UCL would allow me to specialise in Human

When I was applying I spent a disproportionate amount of time looking at university league tables, working out which was the best university I could possibly go to, and it wasn’t helpful. Since being at university I’ve learnt that league tables rely heavily on a measure of research output, so they are not directly evaluating my university experience. If you’re going to look in detail at a metric, make it student satisfaction scores – you want to go to a university and study a course where current students are happy. You’ll realise there’s more to life than statistics and prestige, and you’ll gain the most from a university where you enjoy studying and living.

Work out whether you want to go to a research university or a teaching one Research universities’ primary focus is research, and teaching universities teach: it’s about as simple as that. I chose a research university because of the prestige associated with it, but that’s meant that I get less teaching time – approximately between four and six hours per week. You’ll almost certainly spend more time in lectures and seminars at a teaching university, and less time allocated to independent study and the benefits of this vary depending on how you work best. If you’re not easily motivated and don’t enjoy working by yourself, opt for a teaching university! Even if you do, be aware that it’s hard to structure your week around only a few hours of teaching – even for the most driven students!

It doesn’t matter what they offer at the moment, it matters what they offer when you’re there Make sure you’re applying for the course, not the university

Don’t obsess over finding the ‘best’ university

As a Geographer, a degree course with some good field-trips was important to me. At the open day I heard of trips to America and Australia, which really excited me, but none of which were offered when I arrived at university. Always ask the question what projects, modules, trips you will receive and they will be running when you are there: just because they offer

When you get there, always demand more of the university Universities get away with not providing the services they advertise all too easily and it is not good enough. From day one if you’re not getting the lectures you expected, the essay feedback they promised, a quality of teaching deemed reasonable, and access to clubs, societies, careers services, health centres and accommodation, ask questions and demand answers. I spent my first year at university pretty sad: it wasn’t what I expected and it definitely wasn’t living up to any of my expectations. I spent my second year angry that I wasn’t receiving the service that was advertised to me when I accepted my place, and indeed the one I was paying £9,000 a year for. I’m spending my third year insisting that changes are made, and being proactive in helping these occur. This is simultaneously one of the most important and frustrating things I’ve done at university.

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The American School of Doha Leading Beyond the Classroom

he American School of Doha (ASD) is a Pre-K through Grade 12 school that is an educational leader in Qatar and throughout the MENA region. ASD is defined by its proactive teaching and learning environment that consistently engages forward-thinking and is committed to the intellectual and personal development of its students, inspiring and empowering them to become positive, active, global citizens. A Global citizen leads beyond the classroom and stays resilient in uncertain times. “The extent of the current state of the world was not anticipated or predicted, however, ASD was prudent and active in planning for the potential scenarios,” said Dr. Heather Vlach, Director of Teaching and Learning.

ASD takes the duty it has to provide its students with a high-quality education very seriously, even if that means instruction taking place outside of the classroom. Teneen was introduced as a Learning Management Tool to the ASD community in 2017/2018 and was fully implemented into the curriculum during the 2018/2019 school year. Teneen is part of ASD’s commitment to deliver on its vision to extend beyond walls, fostering innovation and encouraging a technology enhanced environment. ASD recognises that having an online platform is critical, not only to enrich learning, but it serves a larger purpose in cases such as school closure. Teneen Virtual School (TVS) is used to deliver high-quality learning to students online, fulfilling ASD’s value of responsibility. The ASD Leadership Team began scenario planning for the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-January 2020, with the priority of ensuring that the community was prepared should a school closure occur. At the start of February 2020, ASD began preparing the community for the possibility of going virtual. All students, across all Grades, were expected to log in and submit assignments in ASD’s TVS platform. The goal was to test TVS to ensure all students and parents were able to access the platform. ASD took particular care to ensure that Elementary School parents were equipped to help their children navigate the TVS platform since these students require their parents to help them access online school. Faculty and Staff were diligent in their preparedness for the transition into online schooling, attending training sessions and updating lesson plans accordingly. Thanks to these initiatives, when TVS did kick off on March 11, the transition to the online classroom was relatively seamless. “We felt the school took immediate action preparing a month ahead of the school closing. Children were coming home with reports of briefings and meetings about the potential for an eventual lockdown and virtual school. When it happened teachers were always available to answer questions and doubts, so we felt confident about the transition,” said ASD parent Elisabete. ASD takes the commitment it has to effectively communicate with parents and the community seriously during these uncertain times. ASD Director Dr. Tom Hawkins has held multiple Virtual Coffee and Conversation meetings with over 150 parents via Zoom in order to gauge feedback and provide updates from the Leadership Team on

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scenario planning and preparation. These meetings have been conducted in addition to the weekly memos that have gone out to the community. All divisions at ASD have held virtual meetings over Zoom with parents and conducted parent and student feedback surveys, seeking assessments of TVS in order to garner ideas for improvement. Teachers then take that feedback to improve online instruction. Nick Mitchell, Middle School Associate Principal accredits TVS’s success to its teachers saying “the single most important reason for our successful transition was our outstanding teachers. They went above and beyond to transform their teaching from the classroom to the home to ensure that all our students continue to learn in collaborative, creative, and authentic ways”. There’s no question that virtual learning is more challenging than normal school, but our teachers have done an amazing job adapting. Teachers have created an environment where students do not feel like they are at home at a desk alone. “I was expecting TVS to just be an email from my teacher every day outlining what to do. But TVS allows teachers and students to connect very similar to being in a classroom” said Joseph, a Junior at ASD.

Teachers are also trying to make TVS fun! In elementary, birthdays are still being celebrated with classes, online games are happening in the Middle School, and some classes have been practicing salsa during class in High School! Although the transition to TVS has been seamless thanks to the actions taken to prepare the community for school closure and the thorough communication ASD has provided to the community, having school online is not ideal for any educational entity. ASD understands that although students will continue to learn, they will miss the social and emotional connections made while physically going to school. With this in mind, ASD teachers have taken every effort to ensure students continue their social and emotional connections with classmates and teachers. Grade 1 teacher Sweta Agrawal says â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try to keep my TVS videos fun by learning to use new technology using things kids enjoy like green screen, TikTok, and timelapses. My own children are often in the videos. In one video my 3-year-old son helped me show my students how to make a smoothie. In another video, my 6-year-old and I jumped in puddles and told my students that their homework was to find the biggest puddle to jump in. Through our daily connections, I want my students to know that

even though we are not physically together their teacher is still thinking about them every day. We are challenging them to do their best, cheering them on, watching their growth and marveling at how capable they are.â&#x20AC;? ASD Faculty, Staff and Parents have put in an amazing effort to ensure TVS is successful, but the success of TVS comes down to the resilience of each ASD student. Although ASD on campus learning is closed, virtual learning continues. ASD is proud to teach dedicated and resilient students who are leading the way for learning in Qatar and beyond.

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Inspirational Tips for Students Motivation By Emma Rundle

ne of the most important features, as well as challenges of a student is motivation. All people need motivation to keep up with their daily tasks and obligations, but, for a student, the need to be constantly motivated is enhanced. In order to build a good career for yourself, you need to be consistent with your academic efforts. To do so, you need to be motivated not only to choose your field of study, but to actually finish your day-today tasks in time. In spite of knowing this, most students aren’t thrilled about their academic obligations. There’s probably not a single student in the world who hasn’t felt lack of motivation to get up for class or do his homework. For most students, this is an almost every day experience. The tiredness and pressure can make you lose your motivation to study. Thankfully, there’s such a thing as self motivation, which means that you are the one responsible for your productivity and success. Back when I studied in an Australian university, I’ve learned the four essential habits that boost the motivation. Here they are.

Change the perspective None of the motivational tricks and tips will ever work unless you change your perspective toward learning or finishing projects. Seeing how students learn a variety of subjects and work on versatile projects to build several skills they’ll need in life, it is only natural that you won’t be interested in every topic you come across. Even so, you’ll still have to study that topic or write a paper on it. Therefore, the best answer I can give

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you to the question how to get motivated is simply to accept this as something beneficial to you. Even if you don’t like math, the skill you’ll obtain by studying will serve you a lot in life. Those who don’t like writing, see their written homework as a torture, but writing is a crucial skill to succeed in today’s world.

yourself for it. It doesn’t have to be anything big. A night out with friends, some time in front of the TV watching your favorite TV show, or a day spent with family – every idea you like is good enough.

The sooner you change your perspective, the more willing you’ll be to do your assignments.

Focus on your areas of interest You can’t love every subject you’re studying. It is unnatural and no one does. But, while you have to work on all your skills and study for all subjects, you can focus most of your efforts on the things you love. After all, pursuing something you love is the best thing you can do for your future career. Don’t slack off in terms of other subjects, but try to turn your favorite area of study into your hobby. Research the field, get involved in it, and simply build a healthy study habit by using your area of interest. If you do this often, you’ll be more productive to study. Focusing on the things you love can keep you productive and build a fine study habit for you, which is something that will keep you in the mood when you have to study for the other subjects.

Get some support

Reward yourself for a job well done

Ask your teachers for help, find and hire a professional, or simply tell your family that you feel exhausted. Having support is crucial during busy times such as your student years.

Even the smallest accomplishment can give you a sense of satisfaction. The goal of every student is to graduate, but, to get there, you need more than just one big goal. Give yourself small goals to keep you motivated to work on them. When you are finished with a task successfully, reward

There are plenty of places where you can get support and motivation. Work with your friends and peers, ask others for help, and look for motivation in different places. When you lose focus from your studies, a bit of a competition will keep you running.

The constant workload and academic pressure can cause tiredness and overwhelm in every student. To keep yourself motivated to finish your studies and perform well, you need these motivation tips and tricks. Try to practice them throughout your education.