Education - Parenting Hub

Leading Educational Advice from Wingu Academy

Advice from the experts

KOA ACADEMY TALKS THE FUTURE OF WORK

Most working parents are impacted by the rapid transformations and disruptions in the world of work. Tech innovations have turned some industries to ashes, while ushering in new behemoths. There are already multitudes of brand-new career paths; and even the most perennial of careers are getting digital makeovers. So rapid and relentless is this change that it is often said that we are educating our kids for work that doesn’t yet exist. The purpose of school is to prepare our children for the real world, and what that ‘real world’ will actually entail is uncertain and unpredictable. At a recent parent webinar, Koa Academy’s Principal, Mark Anderson highlighted how this shaping the ‘how and what’ that are children learning. “We are educating digital natives to be digitally literate, and to be digital citizens,” he says. Koa Academy is a high-engagement online school, and Mark believes this is a particular advantage for this young generation. “It’s not just the world of work – all aspects of our lives are becoming digitally connected and digitally-driven.” Koa also focuses on customized learning pathways, real-world context, soft skills and unbundled education which all play to each child’s individual strengths. “There’s an immense need for flexibility and agility in a fast-changing world and school should be a place where this is fostered and developed,” Mark says. “The so-called ‘soft skills’ such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration have become top skills required by employers.” The webinar also featured Meg Bruyns, the founder of Fully Alive, who works with teams and individuals, parents and teens to help them find purpose and clarity while developing the skills needed to get the most from life and work. Meg says, “There’s a human drive to change the future of work through pushing for meaning, purpose and making a difference. Our young people are keen to be disruptors themselves challenging the status quo and impacting on social justice and environmental awareness. With latest technologies in their hands, they want to push societal boundaries and go beyond what has been possible before. So, the question is: How does their education and their youthful experience equip them for this?” You can watch the Koa Academy and Fully Alive Future of Work webinar here Discover Koa Academy here

March 11, 2022

From surviving to thriving in a new high school

Moving to a new school with new classmates, new teachers, and new subjects, can be overwhelming for a teenager, especially if it involves a transition to high school. It is completely normal for students to feel nervous about starting high school, but it does not need to be scary! Parents play an important role in assisting a child moving through this important life transition. Hopefully you have already started the process by doing a few basic things in the previous two years, but if you realise that you have not yet focused on it enough, do not put it on hold any longer as the workload at high school level is much more challenging than before and parental involvement is an important ingredient for academic success. Encourage and assist your child to build good study habits like note taking, proper organisation and time management throughout grade 8. This will form a solid foundation for the high school years to come. Understand your child’s academic strengths, weaknesses, and learning pace. True support and guidance to choose the correct subjects (as an example), are not possible if you do not know whether your child is able to keep up with certain learning content or not. If you have not yet started to withdraw from your child’s learning process, now is the time to do so. Independent learning is of utmost importance as your child starts their high school career. Your child must take responsibility for scheduling time for homework and assignments and keeping track of deadlines. Your child’s mentor at Abbotts College Centurion will provide some guidance as well and the supervised Homework Sessions provide extra structure, but it does not help if the healthy learning patterns are not reinforced at home. You must have meaningful conversations with your child about attending high school or attending a new school. To assist your child to make sense of the mixture of excitement and nervousness they will most probably experience in the weeks before the school starts and the first few weeks after it started, you must ask your child about their concerns. There are practical solutions for most of the common concerns they might experience. For instance, if they are worried about getting lost, a school plan can help to ease your teenager’s mind. By providing templates for things like rosters and study timetables, you can further help to structure and ease your child’s mind about the workload. Hopefully your child’s new school offered an Orientation Day during which they were given the opportunity to get their timetable, meet the Grade Head and the subject teachers, and learn what to expect from high school. It is obviously a great way to meet some new classmates in a more relaxed environment. Your child would typically also have been given a chance to become more familiar with the school’s layout, so they would not be completely overwhelmed on the first day. If there was such an Orientation Day and your child could not attend, or if your child joined the school later than the rest of the learners, it might also lead to anxiety because your child might be nervous about information that they missed. Encourage your child to go to the Grade Head or Mentor teacher to ask for access to documents and information that might have been shared. Ensure that your child has the right school supplies. You should have received the stationery and textbook list from the school. Your child can only get off to a strong start if they have the necessary tools to do so. If your child does not yet have the prescribed textbooks (and the correct edition of the textbook) when classes start, it will prevent them from starting on the front foot and will lead to unnecessary stress. Without realistic goals, your child will lack direction and motivation. Sit down with your child and set goals to achieve during the year. Your child’s mentor will also provide guidance with regards to goal setting for each Mark Reading, and it will be expected from you as a parent to follow your child’s goals and the achievement thereof, as it is documented in your child’s school diary, throughout the year. Have regular talks about how things are going in each of your child’s classes. Ask about subjects your child love and about those they don’t. This information will help you to encourage your child to make use of the support being offered during supervised homework sessions. Most teenagers do not voluntarily share information about what is happening at school. Abbotts College gives out seven report cards with marks and effort ratings which will help to solve that problem. The importance of your reaction after receiving the report card cannot be emphasised enough. If your child is discouraged after a disappointing report, emphasise the importance of acknowledging that they have not mastered certain concepts “yet”. Explain to them the importance of perseverance and facing the challenges that cross one’s path. And if your child brings home an excellent report, reiterate the concept that talent is not going to keep on delivering results if it is not accompanied by the determination to work hard and grow. In the bigger scheme of things, the development of such a growth mindset, will mean even more that mastering certain subject content. For further help in preparing for high school, visit https://www.oxfordlearning.com/how-to-prepare-your-child-for-high-school/ or https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html . Written by : Sanet van REnsburg (Principal of Abbotts College Centurion)

March 10, 2022

Introducing Syllabis iPublish

Syllabis iPublish is a bimonthly educational digital magazine published by Syllabis Education. Syllabis iPublish target audience is children/teens and parents, with a focus on education, innovation, and personal development. Its first issue was launched in February 2022 under the original title iPublish. The e-publication allows anyone, anywhere to submit article content based on the following content. Developments in the school-at-home market Educational Innovations Syllabis Education products and services Educational Tools such as software and games Jokes Entertainment – Movies, movie themes that link to education, new tech Submit your article – We want to showcase your creativity, whether you are a wordsmith, storyteller, tech junkie, or simply a hotshot photo snapper, we have a platform for you to show us your talent and to express yourself. Some tips for your creative writing Read! Put yourself in the readers’ shoes and take notice of pages, paragraphs, sentences, or even just single words that induce emotions in you like your reading. Reading will also enhance your vocabulary. Keep a notepad on you (or use the notes app on your phone). Whenever you think of an idea, do it a rough draft of the idea quickly on a notepad so you can keep it for later. Whenever you’re writing and setting out a scenario, put yourself in every possible position in the relevant scenario. This will help diversify the perspectives of your writing and greatly help your writing. Don’t be scared to re-do certain sections or even your entire piece. You will rarely write a perfect piece of creative writing on the first try. Many authors go through multiple rough drafts before their happy with a piece of creative writing. Don’t stop writing! Quite often people become de-motivated to write or feel like they can’t think of what to write. The best solution to this is simply to write. Just write about anything and ideas will follow. You probably won’t be writing the best piece of creative writing ever, but writing often induces new ideas. Adapt as you go, observe your family as you go, and continue to adjust to what works best for you. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn about your children’s personalities and abilities and how best they learn. What is creative writing? Creative writing is any form of writing that breaks the boundaries set by traditional writing techniques such as journalistic or academic writing. Writing, in its earliest form was seen as a form of communication, and to this day that is still one of its main purposes, but over the years people have found such joy in exploring the more creative aspects of writing. People realized that writing does not have to remain a formal means of communication but it could be used to express feelings, emotions, and most importantly creativity! Is creative writing something I should try? Yes! Besides being extremely fun and expressive, creative writing has so many pros and will help you develop some great skills. Here are a few: Creative Writing forces you to think outside of the box. With true creative writing, there are no rules and hence there is no box to think inside of. There are no limiting factors when it comes to creative writing. Developing a sense of Empathy. When you are doing creative writing, you will be creating characters and subsequently, you will be creating personalities with emotions and feelings. By doing this it will help you be more empathetic in real life as you’ll have a better understanding of emotions. Enhanced Vocabulary. Creative writing will lead you to have a much broader vocabulary. You will often find yourself having such a clear image/scenario of what you want to write, in your mind, but you’ll lack the vocabulary to describe that image/scenario in English. Over time you’ll start building up a large vocabulary as you hunt down more words to better describe your creative writing pieces. Clarification of Thoughts. When you physically write a thought down on paper it often becomes much more clear and almost tangible, which in many cases helps clarify a thought, argument, situation, misunderstanding, etc… By practicing creative writing, you will quite often be writing down personal thoughts or some of your stories and creative writing pieces will inevitably be influenced by your real life. Without even knowing it, your creative writing pieces could often guide your real-life decisions.

March 9, 2022

When I grow up, I want to be… happy

Subject and Career Choice Assessments are specifically designed, using scientific tools, to help understand a child’s unique personality and interests in order to navigate their ideal subject and career choices. These assessments are conducted by a professional education psychologist and enable learners to better understand their personal interests and strengths and encourage them to use this self-awareness to make informed subject and career choices. A Subject Choice Assessment is ideal for Grade 9 students who are deciding on which subjects to pursue in Grade 10, and for IGCSE students deciding to pursue A levels. An educational psychologist will use scientific tools and tests to identify and navigate a student’s core competencies and key motivators to help select their ideal subject package. A Career Choice Assessment is perfect for students in their final two years of school (Grade 11 and Grade 12; IGCSE, AS and A level) who want to understand and map out their best potential career pathway. A Career Choice Assessment is a vital tool to assist students in choosing a career (and lifestyle) where they will thrive (and not just survive). Some of the benefits of completing a professional assessment include: increased self-awareness defined learning goals and targets enhanced motivation lower varsity dropout rate increased employability increased job satisfaction In this article, we will look into these benefits in more detail. Increased Self-Awareness When a teenager has increased self-awareness, they are able to better understand what motivates and inspires them. This ability to objectively understand themselves will play a vital role in building a life(style) that promotes happiness, open communication and good health. A student who is able to identify and deeply understand their strengths, weaknesses, interests and motivators will be able to define a study and career pathway that highlights and compliments their unique personality traits. Define Learning Goals By identifying their long-term goals, a student is able to create a targeted learning approach to achieve these clearly defined goals. When selecting subjects at high school level, a student should consider what career path they want to explore in order to ensure that they are equipped with the right skills and qualifications to enable them to pursue that career. Some career paths may require that the child has completed certain subjects at school level in order to meet the minimum entry requirements to enrol in the course at tertiary level. For example, if a child decides that they want to pursue a career in medicine, then it would be essential that they choose Biology as a subject in high school. Enhanced Student Motivation It is no surprise that a streamlined, goal-orientated approach will aid in a child’s motivation, especially when it comes to their education. Having a goal (or light at the end of the tunnel) helps students to visualise what they are working towards and enables them to focus on these goals. This means that they are less likely to get distracted and despondent with activities and tasks that don’t aid them in achieving their objectives. Achievement, goal-smashing and the feeling of success are key motivators when it comes to learning. Understanding the benefits and rewards associated with their efforts will greatly aid their abilities to tackle each new day. Lower Varsity Dropout Rate Through increased motivation and goal definition, students who complete subject and career assessments have shown a lower varsity dropout rate. This is largely due to the fact that the child (and parents) have taken the time and energy to evaluate and define appropriate learning pathways instead of just picking a career based on what will result in the greatest financial reward. Students who have clearly defined long-term goals are able to stay motivated in their studies at varsity level. Increased Employability “Employability” refers to the likelihood of a person obtaining employment. Students who complete subject or career choice assessments tend to have an increased employability potential. This is due to their specific, targeted education approach. Learners who are subject-specialised and focused on a specific career have a higher chance of employability based on course subject matter and experience. Students who have spent the latter half of their high school career building their skillsets towards a career pathway that highlights their unique strengths are more likely to be able to build a resumé that attracts job offers that meet their areas of interest. Increased Job Satisfaction By identifying a student’s strengths and passions, we are able to advise on career pathways where they will be their happiest. Learners who pursue their career passions tend to have higher job satisfaction through their adult lives. Most people will change careers at least five times on average during a lifetime. As technology and industries advance so new career opportunities that require new skills and attitudes will emerge. A career assessment is, therefore, more important than ever and it is not so much aimed at choosing a specific job, but rather on making sure the child ends up in the right career, field or industry. Online learning platforms, like CambriLearn, offer access to a professional education psychologist who can assist with conducting a virtual subject and career assessment. These assessments will help understand a child’s strengths and weaknesses and enable them to make subject and career choices that will be sustainable and enjoyable throughout their lives.

March 9, 2022

Thrive with your tribe – enroll in a social club today!

Social interaction has always been a concern for many parents of home-schooled children. Wingu Academy who is SA’s best rated provider for online schooling from home has never seen this as a challenge, but rather as an opportunity to provide learners with an array of Social Clubs and activities to belong to, and “thrive with their tribe”. Current clubs range from the usual chess and study groups to fitness, photography, science, anime to gaming clubs. In fact, learners at Wingu Academy are so excited about the clubs that the school can boast an amazing 60% of learners have already enrolled in one or more social clubs. “We believe that it all has to do with being in touch with our learners’ interests and offering the activities that are most relevant to them,” says Ross Laubscher, Student Development Team Leader at Wingu Academy. One of the most popular clubs is the Gaming Club with 106 students enrolled in this club alone. We even have our very own Minecraft server! Minecraft is a popular, child-friendly computer game that combines exploration and survival skills in a unique and fun way. In simple terms, it’s like digital LEGO – which you can use to create anything from a small hut to a huge, sprawling metropolis. Where the only constraint is your imagination! It is also a great educational tool that is being used all over the world to teach valuable skills such as mathematics, problem-solving and basic programming. Wingu released its very own locally hosted Minecraft server, exclusively designed for Wingu learners. It offers a safe place where learners can connect and play with classmates, outside of the classroom. They can collaborate on big projects, by using teamwork to collect resources efficiently, build structures faster, and share ideas. The server hosts both design and Redstone challenges that are intended to encourage not only innovative and creative designs, but also technical skills. This is just one of the 10 awesome clubs for learners to participate in. To much excitement and on request, a science club was introduced this year for all the budding young scientists calling themselves “The Experimentals”. In this club, we will be exploring the wonderfully wild, weird and wacky world of science, while having fun with some at-home experiments and science project. Belonging to a social club has many benefits: Learners can interact with each other outside of school. It provides a sense of belonging with like-minded learners. It keeps learners entertained while learning new skills. It provides a platform for teachers and learners to connect on a more personalised level. It promotes healthy competition among the learners, which is an important life skill to learn in order to thrive with resilience. Some of the clubs have presidents and club panels and this fosters responsibility and leadership skills “We launched the Wingu Social Clubs as a way to accentuate the holistic development of our learners and provide a safe and fun space for our Wingulians to make friends and learn more about topics they are interested in outside the curriculum. Wingu is truly the closest you will ever feel whilst distance learning.” says Panashe Tiffany Saungweme, Associate Director of Human Capital at Wingu Academy.

March 7, 2022

Which learning style best describes your child?

Different people with different personalities will tackle the same project with different strategies. No two children are the same and therefore they will not learn in the same way or at the same pace. In a traditional classroom setting the teacher to learner ratio is usually around 1:25. It is simply not possible for a teacher to create personalised lessons for each student. For this reason, when the teacher creates her lesson plan for a particular subject, she chooses an approach that will cater for the class average. Understanding your child’s preferred style of learning is vital to ensure that they feel motivated in their studies. Once you understand what style of learning is best suited to your child, you can tailor their studies to fit their needs. This is what we like to call personalised learning. Over the last few years, more and more parents and guardians are choosing a personalised, self-paced and tailored approach to their child’s education. CambriLearn is an online learning platform that doesn’t just recognise the importance of personalised learning, they prioritise it. Every child is unique and there is no “one-size fits all” approach to education. Parents and guardians should ask themselves; is my child’s education provider harnessing and nurturing my child’s individual personality? Understanding your child’s learning style – the VARK system It is important to note that no one learning style is better than another. As a parent, you might prefer to read a manual whilst your child might prefer to see instructions in a diagram format. This is totally ok! We should celebrate and strategically approach each student’s preferred learning style in order to promote optimal learning and knowledge retention. According to the VARK system, there are four types of learning styles – visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinaesthetic. This short fun quiz can help you better understand your child’s preferred learning style*, and the below article will explain each of these learning styles in more detail. Types of Learning Styles VISUAL Visual learners understand and remember things by sight. They retain information better when it’s presented to them in a graphic depiction, such as arrows, charts, diagrams, patterns, shapes and symbols. The best way to explain concepts to visual learners is by explaining ideas visually. For instance, when explaining a scientific process, it can be done by using a diagram. Visual learners are usually quite neat in their work. They often close their eyes to visualize or remember something. They tend to have difficulty with spoken directions and may be easily distracted by sounds. Here are a few practical examples of how to approach visual learners; Have their eyesight checked on a regular basis. Use flashcards to teach new concepts. Draw pictures to help explain new concepts and then explain the pictures. Colour code things. Avoid distractions during study times. AUDITORY Auditory learners prefer listening to information that is presented to them orally and they retain information better when it is heard. These learners work well in interactive group settings where open communication is present and may enjoy reading aloud to themselves. Saying things out loud helps them better understand the concept at hand. Auditory learners retain information best when it is presented to them via strategies that involve talking, such as online lectures and group discussions. They can benefit from repeating back the lessons, having recordings of the lectures, and group activities. Auditory learners may hum or talk to themselves (or others), which leads people to think that they are not paying attention, when in fact they are. Here are a few practical examples of how to approach auditory learners; Ensure that they can hear what the teacher is saying. Have their hearing checked on a regular basis. Read stories, assignments, or directions out loud. Record yourself spelling words and then listen to the recording. Read test questions out loud. READING & WRITING Reading and writing learners consume information best when it’s in words, whether that’s by writing it down or reading it. These learners succeed with written information on worksheets, presentations, and other text-heavy resources. These learners are note-takers and perform strongly when they can reference written text. These individuals usually perform very well on written assignments. To connect with a Reading and Writing learner it is best to have them describe charts and diagrams by written statements, take written quizzes on the topics, or give them written assignments. Here are a few practical examples of how to approach reading and writing learners; Encourage them to take notes during class. Equip them with books and reading materials to help them work through concepts. Encourage them to make lists. Promote activities such as essays, creative writing and writing projects. KINAESTHETIC Kinaesthetic learners (also known as tactile learners) enjoy hands-on, practical lessons and thrive when engaging all of their senses during coursework. They learn by touching and doing. Kinaesthetic learners tend to learn better when there is some type of physical activity is involved. They need to be active and take frequent breaks. These types of learners often use their hands when they talk and may have difficulty sitting still. These learners are usually very in touch with their reality, which is why they require using tactile experience to understand something better. These learners tend to work well in scientific studies due to the hands-on lab component of the lessons. The best way to present new information to a kinaesthetic learner is through personal experience, practice and examples. These learners often communicate by touching and appreciate physically expressed forms of encouragement, such as a pat on the back. Here are a few practical examples of how to approach auditory learners; Encourage lessons that involve touching, building, or drawing. Do lots of hands-on activities like experiments, art projects, nature walks, or role-plays. Don’t reprimand them if they tap their foot, walk around, or rock their chair while reading or studying. Trace words with your finger to learn to spell. Take frequent breaks during reading or studying periods (frequent, but not long).

March 3, 2022

KOA ACADEMY INTRODUCES KIDS TO PHDs

School years are all about preparing our kids for the real world, where one day, they will work and hopefully, thrive. With rapid rate of continual tech advancements, it’s become harder to feel certain about the shape and substance of the ‘real-world’ that our kids will soon inhabit. There are already multitudes of new career options, as well as dramatic changes to long-established career paths. High engagement online school, Koa Academy has introduced a monthly session, ‘The doctor will explain you now’ that brings together the entire school and a working PHD graduate. The doctor is challenged to explain their doctoral studies to the kids in 15 minutes, and then participates in a Q&A that enables Koa learners to learn more about their work and field of study. The latest session of ‘The doctor will explain you now’ featured Dr Malebogo Ngoepe, a Biomedical Engineer working in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, says, “Dr Ngoepe does fascinating work in the computational modelling of blood clots, and this was a rare opportunity for Koa learners and educators to get insights into the ways that technology and engineering are being used in the medical field to understand diseases and improve treatments.” Dr Ngoepe, who graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then completed her PhD in Biomedical Engineering explained how she and her team developed a model of blood clotting, set up computational experiments and then verified the computer data with simple real-life experiments. Mark says, “The aim of these sessions is to activate learners’ curiosity and give them a glimpse into the world of work, and the study paths that professionals such as Dr Ngoepe have taken to become leaders in their field. From her straightforward presentation they could see how she and her team are working to benefit society and make a difference to health and well-being. Dr Ngoepe also highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration, which are such important 21st Century skills that we are cultivating at Koa Academy.” For parents of kids aged 8-18, the next ‘The Doctor Will Explain You Now’ is on Tuesday, 22nd March from 8:15 to 9:00am. Dr. Michelle Blanckenberg, a Conservation Biologist who investigated the effects of land-use change, from small livestock farming to protected area, on vegetation and mammal communities in the SKA region of the Karoo, South Africa, will be talking to us about her PHD. Come join us: Online | Tues 22 March | 08:15-09:00 | Ages 8-18 | Free | Register at https://forms.gle/um5wMcZwQq5pZui29

February 28, 2022

THE BENEFITS OF INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING FOR MATHS

Conventional classroom teaching is based on the teacher as content provider directed at the middle. However, because there are so few kids that ever truly ‘fit the average’, most of us parents have experienced worries and frustrations when our kids are either out ahead on their own and bored, or left behind. As Maths learning builds along clear learning trajectories, there’s probably no subject that causes us more anxiety if our kid is losing interest or falling by the wayside. Individualized learning is a concept that has developed as an antidote to traditional ‘teaching to the middle’ but it is still hard to implement in a typical classroom setting. It’s an area where online learning has much potential. Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, a high-engagement online school says, “Done well, there’s significant scope for individualized learning online across all subject areas; and it is highly effective when it comes to Maths education. At Koa, we use a mastery-based approach that ensures that each learner only moves on when they have a comprehensive grasp of concepts and have mastered their Maths practice sessions. Working in a small, well-connected 8-person Pod means that their teacher is keeping close track on their progress and if a kid gets stuck, then they get lesson time with our dedicated Maths teacher.” When it comes to Maths at Koa, the online school provides a number of key benefits of individualized learning: Collaborating with their Pod teacher, each child sets their weekly Maths targets based on their own pace Learners, teachers and parents can track daily progress for each child Bookable one-on-one or small group Teacher Time sessions provide Maths specialist support There’s a range of additional Maths platforms that are available for learners to boost skills, so they can access a mode of learning that suits them best If any learner requires more than the in-house support, then the school partners with parents to help them access that assistance for their child Mark advises parents: “Remember that Maths requires patience, practice and confidence. Message that consistently and gently with your kids rather than the more common message that ‘Maths is hard’. If you are looking to supplement what your school is doing in Maths, there are lots of Maths platforms and programmes out there – many of them free – which you can tap into to help boost your child’s Maths. This is the beauty of individualized learning in the online space.” Discover Koa Acadamy here

February 21, 2022

Wingu iAS Level Laboratory Kits – pioneering the way to give learners real-life experience

After months of planning and development, Wingu Academy is proud to introduce our iAS level learners to Wingu’s own unique laboratory kits. As per the requirements to pass Chemistry, Biology, or Physics on iAS level; learners are required to write a practical exam where they need to perform several laboratory experiments under supervision. “To ensure that our students receive the absolute best quality education from the comfort of their home or educational center, Wingu; with the assistance of specialists in the respective courses, designed unique laboratory kits that contain everything learners need to gain real-life experience working with laboratory equipment,” says Ian Strydom, Managing Director of Wingu Academy. All the kits are designed with the safety of learners in mind, without impeding on the skills they require to pass their final practical exam. Under the guidance of our Lab Masters the learners will explore the exciting practical world, having fun while learning as is synonymous with Wingu. In Biology the learners will explore the tiny world of plant and animal materials through their very own microscope; learn how to identify different biological molecules and discover the wondrous mechanisms of enzymes. Our Physics kits will transform our learners into real life physicists by teaching them how to use the scientific method to control electrons through building electric circuits and how to bend forces to their will using springs. But the most exciting kit of all is our one-of-a-kind Chemistry kit. This kit will have learners feeling like mad scientists, giving them the opportunity to experience chemical reactions firsthand in their own miniature laboratory. With the guidance of our skilled Lab Master, the learners will learn how to perform titrations; identify specific chemical molecules and what the effect of temperature is on the rate of a chemical reaction, and a whole lot more. Our first practical sessions started in February, and we are super excited to hear the feedback from our young scientists!

February 18, 2022

Routines for Special Needs Children

How little steps guarantee great results Many children with special needs feel overwhelmed by daily activities such as brushing teeth or getting dressed. A daily schedule of activities with predictable routines for each activity can make the world seem less chaotic and frightening to them. Understanding Schedules and Routines A schedule represents the main activities that happen across your child’s day. Routines are the activities that happen within your schedule. They are repetitive and usually involve a series of little steps. One example of a daily routine is your child’s morning routine and all the steps involved: getting up, going to the bathroom, brushing teeth, getting dressed, having breakfast, packing a school bag, and getting in the car. Children who understand the steps in routines quickly accomplish tasks with little or no adult assistance. Essentially, once taught, routines are daily activities that your child will be able to complete with no assistance. Bear in mind that ‘no assistance’ does not mean ‘no support’. It is important to note that your child’s preferred mode of learning is visual over verbal. Therefore, support can be in the form of a visual schedule or checklist that uses simple language and pictures/symbols. Pictures and symbols make the schedule more real and serve as reminders for your child. The rule of thumb for routines is that visual support must be provided at your child’s level of understanding. How schedules and routines help A consistent daily schedule combined with step-by-step routines helps create a predictable day. Children with special needs feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. Everyday activities and routines can provide comfort during challenging and uncertain times. Routines can help them understand what is expected of them in specific environments and life situations. As they can predict what will happen next, how people around them will behave, and what they will need to do, anxiety, as well as maladaptive behaviours, are reduced. Essentially, schedules and routines at home/ school help children with special needs: Feel in control of their environment Feel safe, secure, and comfortable Know what is happening now and what comes next Know how to do an activity or task Engage in learning The positive effect of routines on maladaptive behaviours Both research and experience tell us that it is more effective to build positive behaviour than control negative behaviour. Routines can positively affect your child’s ability to complete routine tasks. At school, routines positively affect their academic performance as well as their behaviour. One proactive strategy I use as a teacher is to adopt consistent classroom routines. Establishing a consistent and predictable routine helps my students complete tasks without my assistance. By doing this, I accomplish two objectives: my students have the opportunity to learn and I can devote more time to actual teaching. I also make use of interactive routines to teach functional communication such as getting the teacher’s attention, appropriate group behaviour, and how to participate in discussions. Using routines at home As a parent, using routines will free up time for you to devote to other things. For example, a routine will help simplify a complex environment like your home and inform your child exactly what to expect, what is expected of them, and what behaviour is acceptable. Routines will allow your child to quickly accomplish day-to-day tasks. Routines will also help create smoother transitions between activities, allowing for fewer opportunities for disruptions to occur. Fewer disruptions result in fewer outbursts and meltdowns. In addition, when your child is expected to complete routine tasks, they have the opportunity to learn greater responsibility and self-management. Routines can also help you teach your child the following: Appropriate social skills Communication skills Self-regulation Your core values and beliefs Establishing Routines To identify potential routines for teaching, all team members who live with and/or work with your child should analyse a typical day and list all the tasks your child has to do. The next step is to perform a task analysis. This involves analysing a specific activity and breaking it down into its individual steps. I suggest that parents and teachers select sequences of activities according to the time of day. For example, a common sequence on a school day morning may be to take off pyjamas, get dressed, eat breakfast, wash up, brush teeth, pack a school bag and get in the car. During school, routines would be related to school activities. It is very helpful for parents and teachers to work together to establish routines. Implementing Routines Your child has to be taught the routine steps systematically until they have mastered the routine. Mastery of a routine means your child can perform all the steps in the routine without adult assistance or prompts. The more systematic and consistent your routines are, the faster your child will learn them. Once taught, these steps should be reviewed and retaught frequently to ensure your child does not deviate from the routine. Children with special needs perform better if there is consistency between your expectations, their responses and your feedback. If you find that your child has made changes to the routine, it may be necessary to review your expectations, then model and provide them further opportunity to practice their performance, to restore a sense of consistency and order. Too many changes will make the routine unpredictable. This could result in your child becoming confused and anxious. Change must be communicated before it happens, using simple language /pictures/symbols. Make sure there is enough time for your child to complete tasks without feeling rushed. Make time to relax into the routine. This will further reduce any anxiety. Using rewards to reinforce routines Providing a reward for completing a routine helps make it a positive experience. Rewards can be anything your child enjoys such as praise, time doing a favourite activity, or attention. Keep in mind that rewards must be earned and not used as bribery. Rewards must also be age-appropriate. Before a routine becomes familiar and

February 17, 2022

Taking your young child out of school could cost you more in the long run

Over the past 18 months we have noticed a worrying trend of parents choosing to take their young preschool children out of school, thinking that they can slot back into formal education once things return to normal. As educators and specialists in Early Childhood Development (ECD), we know that the stimulation and consequent growth of the brain, the body and the emotional heart, has an influence on every aspect of your child’s future life. Our advice to parents is to think carefully about what educational building blocks are necessary for their child’s overall development and how best to ensure that your child is in a stimulating environment where the young child’s needs are prioritized. There are no shortcuts when it comes to growth and development, and prioritising early childhood education now (from Grade 000) will set a solid foundation that will significantly impact your child’s success in Primary School, High School and later in life. Why is early childhood education so important? It is well documented that the first 2000 days (or 5 to 6 years) of a child’s life are critical to a child’s development: emotional, cognitive, social and physical. During this time the brain’s architecture is forming and the child’s physical environment has a huge impact on brain development. In the Foundation Phase of a school, we lay the foundations for future learning and for life. This begins with our little preschoolers in the ECD section of the school. The educators are experts on the various childhood development stages and their training and experience means that they can specifically provide what the child needs at crucial moments for their development. How do young children actually learn? Young children learn with their senses: sight, touch, sound, smell, movement and taste. Preschoolers learn through play and it’s important that they have the opportunity to play in a variety of ways all day, every day. Sometimes they learn with their hands, sometimes with their heads, and sometimes with their hearts. In order for brain development to occur, children need certain types of stimulation to create synapses or connections between neurons in the brain. As educators, we want to create plenty of opportunities for those synapses to be created because it helps children to fully understand and process the world around them. According to research by Dr Karyn Purvis, scientists have discovered that it takes around 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it is done in play, in which case it only takes 10 to 20 repetitions. Let them make a mess. The messier the better! For further cognitive learning to take place, the development of the child’s sensory system is vital. ‘Sensory play’ gives the child the opportunity to see, touch, feel, smell, hear and taste different things. Sensory play is often called messy play. Things used for messy play can be sand, water, mud, sawdust, grains, paint, dough etc. This play should be creative, explorative and experimental. When your child is interacting with these materials through messy play, disorganised information going into the brain throughout the play is then stored in an orderly manner within the child’s brain. In other words, letting children play in the mud literally helps their brains grow, and has a great influence on life-long learning. “The messier a child is when she goes home, the happier I am as I know that her brain is being developed through the creation of new synapses in the brain.” ~ Lynne Elfick, Principal of the Junior Primary, St Teresa’s School. Imagination, fantasy play and emotional development Imaginative and fantasy play give children the opportunity for self-expression and to develop life skills to control impulses, to problem-solve and to make plans. By interacting and engaging with other children, in an environment where caring educators explain and unpack emotions, the child learns to understand different emotions and starts to have an understanding of her own emotions. This then leads to an understanding of others’ emotions, which allows her to respond in an empathetic manner. The young child learns to express her needs in an acceptable manner, to work collaboratively together, to listen to opinions, and to form her own opinion. Debating and negotiating, which are essential life skills, starts at a young age and needs to be guided by caring educators with good values and morals. A happy child is a learning child The child needs to form positive relationships, in a nurturing environment where the educators actively seek a positive connection with each child, allowing her the freedom to feel safe, loved and accepted. This influences the developing brain, and lays important foundations for emotional well-being. This in turn forms a stable and calm state for the brain, which is vital for learning to take place. Put simply, a happy child is a learning child. A sound early childhood education gives your child a solid foundation for life Right from our little ones in Grade 000, we encourage a love of learning by stimulating the child’s natural curiosity. The ‘what’ questions of the toddler are replaced by the ‘why’ questions of the preschooler. A good educator plans well, but then follows the curiosity of the children in her care. There are days where you look back at the end of the day and perhaps not much of what you had planned has taken place, but then when you reflect on what learning has taken place, you cannot help but be content that the children have been engaging with one another and have grown in wonder, curiosity and knowledge. We consider it a privilege to be the custodians of your child’s early childhood education and learning. By Lynne Elfick Principal of the Junior Primary St Teresa’s School in Craighall Park, Johannesburg

February 15, 2022

CAN YOUR CHILD MASTER MATHS AT ONLINE SCHOOL? 

It’s not just kids, many parents have ‘Maths anxiety’. While, the importance of Maths education is all but universally recognized, if you’re a parent who is not confident about your own Maths abilities, you’re likely to be feeling some stress around how you support your child in mastering Maths. You may even doubt whether it is likely that your offspring can master Maths. When parents were at school, the dominant thought about Maths proficiency was that some kids would be naturally inclined – ‘gifted’ in Maths, most though would struggle along to get average results and there would be others, who would have no hope. Maths education was the process of sorting out who was lucky, not-so-lucky and downright unlucky. Thankfully, this erroneous and harmful idea no longer underpins Maths education, and it’s not an attitude our children should ever encounter in the Maths classrooms of today. Reams of research has attested to the fact that everyone can learn Maths and become proficient. It’s also shown that ‘Maths anxiety’ can be a real roadblock to any child’s potential in mastering Maths. However, for some parents, worries around their child’s Maths abilities may cause them to pour the family’s resources into extra Maths lessons, and also impact on their school choices. Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, a high-engagement online school says, “I’m really passionate about how we approach Maths at Koa. In fact, more than any other subject, we have seen kids grow in confidence and skill in this area. Last year, for example, we had a boy, who had failed Grade 8 Maths at his local school in 2020, go on to complete two years’ worth of Maths with us in 2021. He wrote his final Grade 9 Maths exams and passed confidently, effectively catching up with his grade age. With a different approach, there are remedies available within the school environment.” That ‘different approach’ includes mastery-based learning which is ideally suited to Maths education where the meaning of numbers and number concepts need to be understood rather than trying to rely on memorizing rules. Maths practice teaches kids how to apply principles to different problems rather than replicating calculations; and, importantly, mistakes are opportunities for reflective learning and doing it again until you get it – rather than never getting a second chance to master a Maths operation and trying to move on with a fundamental Maths learning deficit. It turns out that digital platforms are adept at providing mastery-based learning in Maths. Anderson explains, “When you harness the real strengths of the digital space, Maths can really come alive! We use platforms which are designed specifically to teach Maths online. Content is broken up into focused ‘bite size’ chunks, which are immediately followed by checkpoints which help a learner to know whether they have grasped the concepts or need to revisit them. A learner progresses as they master each concept, rather than learning for 6 weeks only to write a test and find out that they have major gaps in their understanding. It means that you can try something, fail, learn and try it again. This builds confidence – and Maths is such a confidence subject! The platforms are also wrapped up in a gamified environment which is engaging and feels native to the online space. On top of that, at Koa, we know that every learner needs person-to-person academic support at times in Maths. So, we have daily bookable Teacher Time where a learner can book a session with their Pod Teacher or a Maths Subject Specialist to work together on their platform. They’re never alone, and their parents can monitor their kid’s progress daily but do not need to get involved in teaching their kids Maths.” Discover Koa Academy here

February 11, 2022

How to become a super organised Wingulian

At Wingu Academy we encourage our Wingulians to develop good study habits and get organised from the word go. According to daniel-wong.com here are some of the top tips to get organised, focused and avoid falling behind. 1. Develop a routine Consistency is the key to student success. So write down your general weekly schedule and create a routine. Include things like when you’ll do your homework, when you’ll review the things you’ve learned, when you’ll exercise, and so on. It’s not possible to stick to a routine 100% of the time, but at least set up the framework to keep you focused and on track. 2. Set rules for yourself Set some very specific rules for yourself. These could be things like “complete all projects and assignments at least two days before they are due” or “start studying for tests at least one week in advance”. Review your rules once a month and adjust them if necessary. 3. Work on one task at a time; don’t multitask One of the most important organisational tips for students is to focus on one task at a time. Multitasking seems like a good idea because you can pretend that you’re working twice as hard. We all get bored of the tasks we’re working on, so jumping about seems more fun. The problem is that it doesn’t result in the best outcomes. Here’s what I recommend: Take a scrap piece of paper and write down the task you’re working on right now, e.g. Math assignment, questions 1 to 5. Put that scrap piece of paper on your study table, to serve as a reminder for you to stay focused on the task at hand. 4. Keep one notebook and one binder for each subject Take all your notes for one subject in one notebook. When you run out of space, start a new notebook. Label each notebook clearly, e.g. History Notebook 1, History Notebook 2. This will make it easy for you to find the information you need in the future. Don’t take notes on loose sheets of paper you may lose. Also, don’t just use only one notebook, in which you take notes across all your different subjects. 5. Do five minutes of daily planning each day Before you start doing your homework or studying for a test, look at your planner first. Take note of all upcoming deadlines, and think about your schedule for the rest of the day. Then you can decide what specific tasks to work on for the day. Doing daily planning will ensure that you’re always working on the most important tasks, and that you don’t leave anything out. 6. Block out time in your schedule for the things that matter most Blocking out time in your schedule is a critical time management strategy for students. If you don’t do this, other things which are less important will fill your schedule. 7. Break down big tasks into smaller tasks Breaking down big tasks and projects makes them seem less overwhelming and more manageable. Doing this also makes it clearer what your specific next step is, so you’ll be less likely to procrastinate on your assignments. 8. If a task takes two minutes or less to do, do it immediately The “two-minute rule” was popularised by productivity expert David Allen. When you follow this rule, small tasks don’t pile up and become overwhelming. Things like texting a friend, sending your classmate some information via email, or asking your parents to sign a consent form are all quick tasks that take less than two minutes to complete. When you do these tasks immediately, you’ll feel a sense of achievement too. 9. Create a conducive environment at home for studying You need to have the right environment to work. You need all the necessary materials, stationery, paper and study tools. You also need a suitable table and lamp. And if you want to be productive, you definitely shouldn’t study on your bed! 10. Before you start work, eliminate all distractions Take a moment and think about the distractions you typically face when you’re trying to study. Common ones include text messages, notifications on your phone, social media and YouTube. 11. Every day, review all the new information you learned in school earlier that day A quick review of the key concepts should only take you about 20 minutes. Doing this helps to ensure understanding, so you stay on top of the material. If you really can’t do this review on the same day, do it the following day while the information is still fresh in your mind. 12. Keep an ongoing list of the questions you have about the class material As you read your notes and the textbook, keep a list of the things you don’t understand and the questions you have. As soon as you’re able to, ask your teachers about the items on your list. If you do this consistently, you won’t need to spend so much time studying for tests and exams, because you already understand the information. These are only some of Daniel Wong’s tips. He has lots more in his article: https://www.daniel-wong.com/2017/04/10/students-get-organised-for-school/ It may seem overwhelming, but adopting one new habit at a time will take you further then you know until you’re comfortable to tackle the next one. Remember that your journey as a student is about progress and not perfection.

February 11, 2022

MOTIVATE YOUR CHILD FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Getting children motivated to learn is a challenge for many parents. Many factors can cause a lack of motivation, including seeing no purpose or value in studying, boring teaching methods, a lack of relevance, inappropriate levels of challenge and an uncomfortable, unsafe or unsupportive learning environment, amongst others. Parents know the importance of their children being motivated to learn and to achieve; however, they often do not know how to get them motivated. As we reflect on our students’ outstanding results in the recent Cambridge International examinations, and on their emotional well-being, we would like to share some ideas to help you motivate and empower your child to achieve academic success. Whilst we believe that Cambridge International is an excellent qualification and it offers an international standard, choice, and flexibility, the guidelines provided here can be applied in general to any qualification. Start with the end in mind It is important for your child to know why they are learning and what their end goal is. Explore future careers Would they like to pursue a professional career? Do they wish to run their own business one day? Would they like to learn a trade? They should start considering these questions as they progress on their academic pathway and it is essential that they do so before they need to choose subjects. Once they have an idea of possible career options, they should start finding out about career paths, and what is required to qualify for possible career choices. They should start researching different careers and qualification requirements, speak to people in the workplace about their careers and how to qualify, find job-shadowing opportunies, and contact professional associations and further education institutions. Consider further study options Once they have an idea of possible career options, they should start contacting further education institutions to find out about the qualifications offered and the entry requirements. Would they like to attend a college or university? Would they like to study in South Africa or at an international institution? Encourage your child to search the internet to find career and qualification information and contact the different institutions to start finding out about possible courses and admission requirements. Choose the right subjects For admission into South African public universities, specific USAF minimum admission requirements apply for exemption for Bachelor degree purposes. Each educational institution also has their own admission requirements for their different courses. Make sure your child chooses subjects which will enable them to meet these requirements. Individualise learning Every child is unique. They have their own interests, strengths and preferred way of learning. Help them design their unique academic plan to meet the admission requirements and to achieve the best possible result in each subject. This plan can be adapted, so that your child enrols for an examination when they are fully prepared and has the best chances of meeting the requirements. Assist your child to plan their study timetable and schedule according to their pace and when they learn best. Some students prefer to focus on one or two subjects a day, whilst others prefer to work on all their subjects every day. They might prefer to start and finish early, or to start and end their academic day later. Provide a structure A sound academic framework helps children to study effectively to achieve their goals. Ensure that realistic timeframes are set to prepare for their planned examinations and that they complete each section of work within these timeframes. Make sure they maintain a regular study routine. Utilise quality resources Ensure that your child makes full use of the syllabus documents, endorsed resources and past examination papers to prepare well for their examinations. Select qualified, experienced subject specialist tutors to guide and support their learning and to inspire them. Encourage active learning Research shows that children learn better if they are actively involved in finding something out, rather than listening and trying to memorise the information and being given the answers. In our experience, an adaption of the “flipped classroom” approach is extremely effective. Using this approach, learners work through the material independently. They then utilise their tutoring time for instruction only in those topics or with problems which they do not understand. Tutors also check learners’ understanding so that they know which areas or topics to revisit. Delegate responsibility for learning Whilst it is important to guide children and to check that they are on track, it is very motivating for children to have control of their learning experience. Allow them to have direct input into their learning and to set their own pace. We find that children learn more effectively and they achieve better results as they are gradually empowered with the responsibility to determine the pace and quality of their learning. Guide and support Parents should gauge the guidance and support each child needs and keep providing this according to their needs as they progress on their academic pathway. Whilst children like to feel in control of their learning, they also need to know that they are not on this journey on their own. Share and celebrate in their successes, continue to keep an eye on their progress, and bring them back on course when necessary. Enjoy the journey with your child.

February 10, 2022

Wingu Academy’s Centurion Learning hub provides a unique learning space for learners to thrive with their tribe

Wingu Academy’s Centurion Learning Hub has officially opened its doors to learners between 6 – 18 years. Wingu Academy offers the internationally recognised British curriculum and has recently also introduced Grade 10 CAPS. Wingu’s CAPS curriculum is SACAI accredited and will be expanded from 2023. Wingu’s Learning Hub provides a safe space for a blended learning approach which allows learners to learn from home or get support in person at the Learning Hub. It offers the opportunity for children to have access half or full day at the hub, as well as a 3-day or 5-day option per week. This provides a unique level of flexibility between working at home or hub with uninterrupted education for learners as an alternative to attending a traditional school. Learners can engage and interact with fellow learners in a safe and friendly environment that promotes learning and personal growth. The Learning Hub further provides support such as learning spaces to attend seminars and tutorials, collaborative learning spaces, learning coaches, science and robotics laboratory access and a variety of extra-curricular support. Learners are encouraged to take part in activities such as sports, drama, art, music and many others as part of the school’s extracurricular programme. “We understand that the development and learning of our learners requires a balance of academic and personal development in and outside the Academy and Hub. Taking part in physical and cultural activities provides an invaluable opportunity for children to develop physical, emotional and cognitive skills,” says Leza Petersen, Wingu Centurion Learning Hub Manager. Some of the activities are presented at the Learning Hub, which also lighten the burden on parents, whilst other activities are accommodated at trusted service providers. The host of activities include: Arts & Performance Drama Swimming Arts & Crafts Music Baking Horse-riding lessons / Equine Therapy Golf Hockey Drone Club Chess Science Early Childhood Development STEM principles Robotics Software Engineering Wingu Academy believes these unique learning opportunities will assist children to thrive in a positive environment to build trust, coordination, teamwork, motivation, attitude and mobility and foster a spirit of healthy competition with fellow Wingulians (Wingu Academy learners). Enrolments are still open until mid-February 2022. To join Wingu Academy’s Centurion Learning Hub or for more information, you can book a free consultation session at: https://wingu-academy.com/book-now/ or send an email to [email protected]. The Learning Hub Manager can be contacted directly on email: [email protected] or mobile: 084 552 6546.

February 4, 2022

Koa Academy & Fully Alive host free webinar for parents

We’re in the midst of a seismic change in the world of work. We’ve seen tech disruption so far eliminate industries, transform others and usher in brand-new ones. Many working parents have experienced this first-hand. We expect emerging and evolving technologies to continue their innovation and disruption at an ever-escalating pace. Advances in the early field of Artificial Intelligence are already showing the promise of the machine to diagnose illness, offer optimal legal solutions and compose music that even aficionados can’t distinguish from human effort. This has led to the common assertion that we are educating children today for jobs that don’t yet exist, or for roles that are going to look very different from what they are like today. Principal of Koa Academy Mark Anderson says, “This is why we named our school ‘Koa’, which is a type of tree. Koa wood is famous for being both strong and flexible, which is what we want for our learners – to grow into adults who are robust and flexible at the same time, and therefore adaptable in a fast-changing world. We want this for them academically, as well as socio-emotionally.” Parents are invited to join a conversation with Mark and Meg Bruyns, the founder of Fully Alive for a one hour free Future of Work Webinar on Tuesday, 1st March 2022 (6pm to 7pm) to gain insights into how we need to be educating our ‘digital-native’ kids for a very different future of work. Meg, a self-described ‘passionate people developer’, works with teams and individuals, parents and teens to help her clients find purpose and clarity while developing the skills they need to get the most from life and work. She says, “It would be helpful for parents to understand that the transformation of work is not just driven by external factors such as the tech. There’s a people-driven change too. The young generations entering the workforce, and those preparing themselves for it, are not that interested in clocking in 9 to 5 for a pay-check. They want to experience how their work makes a difference in the world. There’s a human drive to change the future of work through pushing for purpose and meaningful impact. Our young people are keen to be disruptors themselves challenging the status quo and influencing big issues like social justice and environmental awareness. With latest technologies in their hands, they want to push societal boundaries and go beyond what has been possible before. So, the question is: How does their education and their youthful experience equip them for this?” During the webinar, Mark will be sharing information about the range of practical ways that Koa Academy is integrating the development of the skills that 21st Century employers prize most, with its IBE-accredited academic curriculum. He says, “There are so many exciting things that learners can do from Enrichment streams that lean into each child’s interests, strengths and passions to our mastery-based approach that develops goal- setting, adaptability, time management and a growth mindset. The platforms and applications our learners use day-to-day are the ones that are being used by people in the real world. Our focus is not on school as an end-goal, but the nurturing of lifelong learners, which is what our kids need to be in order have the strength and flexibility to thrive in the future world of work” Lifelong learning is something that Meg also feels strongly about. She says, “For educators and parents, their quest is to know how to support the young generation in becoming intentional, lifelong, fearless learners. This develops the resilience, agility and adaptability that will help them succeed in our constantly changing world.” Parents are invited to register for the free Future of Work webinar here visit www.koaacademy.com

February 3, 2022

Understanding Independent Learning

Independent learning is a method or learning process where learners have ownership and control of their learning – they learn by their own actions and direct, regulate, and assess their education. The independent learner can set goals, make choices, and decisions about how to meet his learning needs, take responsibility for constructing and carrying out his own learning, monitor his progress toward achieving his learning goals, and self-assess the learning outcomes. The concept of independent learning is associated with improving the educational experiences and outcomes for learners through student-centered learning approaches that personalize learning and enable the learner to take ownership of the learning process. In other words, you need to be able to do your own research instead of expecting a teacher to give you all the background material you might need. What is the difference between homeschool and independent study? Independent learning curriculums like the curriculum provided by Syllabis Learning allow students to learn with little direct teaching and interaction from the parent. Most independent programs have a pre-set program and are meant to be mostly self-instructional. To become a good independent learner you should be motivated, resilient, ready to overcome challenges, and good with time management. Why is independent learning important? The skills you gain with independent learning are transferrable and valuable to most jobs that you will perform. These include motivation, independence, initiative, time management, organization, multi-tasking, strong reading, and writing skills. Benefits of Independent Learning The child learns how to read (or listen) for understanding. This is a skill that takes practice, and it is important for standardized tests. When the child is answering questions based on what they have read, it is a way of holding them accountable. They will learn to concentrate as they read because they will know they are going to need to use the information for their homework. The child learns HOW TO LEARN. When a child has become accustomed to learning independently, they can pick up any book and learn the information in it. This means they can continue a lifestyle of learning throughout the rest of their life. They will never be dependent on someone else to teach them something. The child has greater freedom to determine their routine. When teachers or parents are not part of the equation for learning a particular subject, the child can schedule that subject any time in their day. This often helps with motivation and effort. The child learns about their learning style. When teachers or parents are in control of their entire day, they don’t have the opportunity to experiment with different environments, times of day, or methods of learning. By trying to learn on their own, they become more self-aware, discovering how they like to learn, how they learn best, and how they do not. The child is free to learn at a faster pace. If the child is capable of understanding something well and wants to keep going, he can. He is not held back by a teacher’s lesson planning or availability. The child learns perseverance and self-reliance. When a child struggles through to success, he has learned a very valuable lesson. Some things don’t come easily, but by not giving up, success is possible. The child learns initiative. The responsibility for learning is on the child. He needs to do everything he can to find the answers he needs before asking for help. This may mean going back and reviewing previous material, looking for answers to help solve the current problem or answer the current question. (This is a good habit and also helps with studying for tests.) Independent learning prepares your child for university. University students are expected to take responsibility for their own work, grades, completion of assignments, etc. No university professor is going to hold their hand or even notice if they are struggling, most likely. The student is expected to do the work, find outside resources, and ask for help when they need it. If they are used to it being this way at home, then they won’t feel like they are in over their head in university. Here are some helpful self-learning techniques to make independent learning more effective. Find a good study space: Try to avoid things that might distract you. Put your phone in another room, switch off the TV, and sign out of social media. If possible, try to study away from areas where you eat or sleep. Set goals: A good way to keep your motivation up is to think about what you want to get out of your work and remind yourself next time you are flagging. Get into a good routine. A good routine can help you avoid that feeling of the whole day slipping away without getting any work done. Try to get started on work at the same time every day and include time for breaks and having fun. Read actively: You will need to be an active reader, paying close attention to the words you are reading and their meaning. Skim read: Speed read or skim material before reading it in detail and then summarising the text in your notes. Go solo: Practice working on your own for long periods without seeking the help of an adult. Effective time management: In work or unit studies, you are more than likely to have several pieces of work to juggle at any one time. Break each project down into the relevant tasks, work out how long you will need to spend on each part, then allocate time in your diary in order or priority. Take handwritten notes. Writing out notes by hand might help you to understand and remember the content better. Taking handwritten notes is especially powerful if you try to put things into your own words and do not just copy the language your teacher uses. It can also help to use diagrams to structure your thoughts. This might feel harder at the time, but it will create a stronger memory. Different sources: When doing research, try to draw from a variety of different sources. Be persistent: If a task is challenging, do not

February 3, 2022

Homeschooling: How to Raise Happy Kids (and Parents)

It is safe to say that parenting through a pandemic has dished out a few lessons on how to cope with the daily dose of mom guilt. People speak of the ‘new normal’ and we slowly find ourselves levelling out – back into the daily routine. But things are different now; it has become a little harder to take life for granted and to just ‘get on with it’. Because the last two years changed us, all of us. The Year of Banana Bread 2020, the year of the banana bread, the year of loungewear and the year that the parents became the teachers. At first, homeschooling was a temporary replacement for a traditional classroom setting. The change was driven by necessity, not by choice. And whilst “panic pandemic homeschooling” is not a true reflection of an optimal online schooling model, it did turn out to be a wonderful consolation prize for many families. The onset of the pandemic catapulted us into online work environments, homeschooling and online shopping. We learned to quickly appreciate the benefits of online learning platforms like CambriLearn, which offers an all-in-one online education from pre-primary to matric. When we look back on the lessons learned in parenting through the pandemic, we can now see some silver lining to the experience. More and more people are now realising the potential and benefits of remote work and school environments and have put measures in place to reset and restructure the work and education aspects of their lives. Many parents have experienced first-hand that their children learn better when they want to learn. When they have a vested interest in the content and how they are exposed to the subject matter. The best educational setting is the one that helps a child achieve their goals, that makes the most of their abilities, and meets their unique personal needs. Are you paying attention? With challenges like anxiety, ADD, ADHD and other special needs we have to ask ourselves – is there one schooling option that is right for everyone? Or should we be paying more attention and investigating more personalised approaches that suit each unique child? With six-hour school days on top of extramural activities on top of extra lessons, children (and parents) are under pressure. Homeschooling has opened the door to alternative education solutions that better serve the diverse needs of our children. When I grow up, I want to be healthy and happy Logan Laplante is a 13-year-old boy who hosts a popular TEDx Talk episode about his homeschooling experiences. In a profound moment in the video, he talks about what he wants to be when he grows up. His answer is simple and one that we as adults so often forget. “I want to be healthy and happy,” he says. As parents, our number one goal for our children should be for them to grow up to be happy. And we can only hope to raise our children in a way that enables them to learn from our own pursuit of happiness. What is the right (school) choice for your child? The right education solution for your child should be the one that allows them to study in an environment that supports their individual needs, rather than one that casts them into a one-size-fits-all mould. CambriLearn offers a personalised, flexible and self-paced learning solution to suit each child’s individual needs. With over a decade of experience, their online learning platform has been tried and tested by more than 3.5 million students worldwide. Their interactive course content and teaching methods promote optimal knowledge retention and help instil a child’s love for learning – throughout their schooling career.

February 3, 2022

THE ‘DON’T PANIC GUIDE’ TO THE NEW YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

Being a mother of teenage boys and a principal of a high school has taught me a few lessons about the start of a school year. The first is that my expectation of a perfectly seamless start to the year is just not possible! One would like to imagine that the principal’s sons are highly organised and efficient, excited, and ready to walk through the school gates on the first day of the new year. Books are covered, stationery is packed, school attire is ready and waiting, grocery shopping is done for the menu you’ve prepared for lunches. Yes! Organised and feeling good as a mom! Unfortunately, this is often the wish but not the reality, even in the principal’s household, where my own two sons tell me not to panic. “Mom, we do the same thing every year, why do you think this year is any different? Can we go and play games now?” I should trust them more… Putting the principal’s hat on becomes a very different picture. I am there to calm parents like me. Perfection does not exist! Phew, thank goodness! As parents, we have the best intentions for our children and we often feel the pressure of not doing enough or being imperfect. Just know that you are not judged by the teachers if the seamless start to the first few weeks has not occurred in your household. A few good tips from the ‘inside’ may assist with a calmer, more rational approach to those first few weeks at school. Let’s take a look at some advice for parents and some points I would discuss with my teachers in a first staff meeting before we welcome your children to the school: Try and allay any anxieties your child may be having, especially Grade 8 students going into high school and students who are going to a new school. Your child’s social and emotional learning journey plays an important role in their academic success. Teachers understand this important foundation for learning and a good school will assist students to manage themselves, reduce emotional stress, and support them through their high school journey. Finding friends to sit with at break can be a challenging prospect for the introverted child. In my school, my teachers are on the lookout for these students and are always willing to try and connect new students with others who may have similar interests or subjects. It is important that parents and guardians communicate how their child is feeling with the relevant staff at the school so that they can assist them in adjusting. A meeting with all the teachers or the principal to discuss emotional, familial, or academic challenges is vital to the success of the year and the feeling of security for your child. Many parents, myself included, order textbooks late in the year from the supplier the school has offered. Buying textbooks is a financial commitment and many will await year-end bonuses or 13th cheques to assist with this purchase. This would mean that books ordered late, will only arrive at the beginning of the year, dependent on when the suppliers get back to work after the new year. My advice is not to panic! Teachers will understand that textbooks arrive late and will ensure that notes are available to ensure the student will not be compromised. Follow-up is constant and schools will always make a plan for students to have access to learning resources! If your child does not have all the stationery requirements, this is also not the worst thing that could happen. Teachers in most schools always give a couple of weeks for students to settle in and afford the time for parents to purchase what is still missing. They will also give specific instructions for books and how they should be covered, if at all. You may finally have a teenager who can do this on their own! There may be times that a student’s timetable is incorrect – especially in the senior grades. This is normally a small adjustment by the Deputy Principal in charge of academics. Once again, it is to be expected that there may be hiccoughs at the start but those first few days are there to iron out minor errors in timetabling. Whatever the panic in your household may be in those first few weeks of the year, remember that a good school will be there to support and assist where necessary and not condemn and criticise! Over the years, I have noticed that the challenges that seem insurmountable to many students can easily be sorted out with caring and empathetic staff members at your child’s school. By far the most important part of the beginning of the year is that we allow them to settle in, build good relationships with their teachers and make wholesome friends. Encouraging healthy relationships helps students develop important life skills such as communication, cooperation, resolving conflicts, and problem-solving. I wish all parents a positive start to the new school year. It may not be seamless but we need to allow our teenagers to also take responsibility for their learning journey. Have a happy and healthy 2022! By: Marion Kohler, Principal of Abbotts College Johannesburg South

February 2, 2022

MAKING A STRONG START IN 2022 – ADVICE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

There’s a saying that goes: Start as you wish to finish. Resolving to give the very best from the very beginning, and putting in the necessary work every day, will ensure high school students perform to the very best of their ability this year and reach their goals, says Izak Stander, Principal of Abbotts College Northcliff. “Every year when I welcome my management team back to campus, I remind them that every new year brings a new chance to start off right. This is true not just for our teachers and staff, but also for all students, who will benefit from taking a little time to reflect and realign their goals as we enter the new academic year,” says Stander. He says there are a few things high school students can do to get them started on the right track towards a successful year: 1.Set goals Setting both personal and academic goals is the starting point. Jot some ideas down on paper and remember to put an estimated date of when you plan to reach this goal, and measures you will put in place to meet your goals. If you are entering senior high school, this is a great time to start doing your research on different tertiary institutions to gather information regarding admission scores, subject requirements, duration of studies, and so forth while the pressure isn’t yet on. Also remember that public universities are not your only option, and that there are highly respected qualifications you can pursue through private higher education providers such as The Independent Institute of Education. Once you’ve determined what you want to accomplish this year (or in the years to come if you are close to finishing school), you can reverse engineer the milestones you need to reach to realise your future dreams. 2.Do the work – every day Discipline is probably the most important weapon in your arsenal. Being disciplined every day, and completing the tasks which are the building blocks towards mastery in a systematic and sustained manner, is a winning formula. Sometimes today’s work may seem negligible and easily left until tomorrow, but the small tasks will soon compound and you will find yourself suddenly under pressure (causing stress and anxiety) which could have been avoided. 3.Find a great school and choose the correct subjects Finding a great school is important. Read more about tips to help you choose a great school here. Sometimes even students who try their best find that they are not happy in their environment, or not making the progress that they are capable of. While it is important to make a commitment to do your very best in the environment you find yourself, it is equally true that if something is just not working, it is not worth keeping on doing the same thing and expecting different results. All people are different, and if the traditional school environment turns out not to be the optimal one for you, it is worth considering your options and making a change if you find a better fit. At Abbotts College, for instance, students are able to continue learning in a non-traditional environment. Students also have access to after hour teacher assistance and subject clinics. Regular feedback in the form of 7 report cards throughout the academic year also assist students to continue to track and improve on their academics. 4.Find your balance While your academic journey is extremely important, you should also strive to maintain a well-balanced personal life. Spending quality time with your friends and family, regularly exercising and having good routines for eating, sleeping and relaxing is very important. Having a good routine will also ensure that you are in a good foundational mindset to achieve your goals. “All of us must regularly take a step back to re-evaluate our goals,” Stander says. “The most successful people all over the world continuously must take a step back, realign, and make changes to achieve success. Never give up, and be kind to yourself and to others. May 2022 be a very successful year for all students and our wider community!” Written by our principal at Abbotts College Northcliff, Mr Izak Stander.

February 1, 2022

The changing landscape of homeschooling in South Africa

More and more families are starting to realize the numerous benefits associated with home schooling. It is no longer a stigmatized, isolated learning experience. Due to the global pandemic and the rise of online curriculum service providers, home schooling has evolved into a bespoke educational offering that merges the best elements of a traditional brick-and-mortar school system with the advantages that independent distance-based learning can allow. However, despite the great benefits of homeschooling, there are also certain disadvantages to this approach. Let’s explore some of these pros and cons of a home schooling approach. Disadvantages A possible disadvantage experienced by a homeschooling parent, is that the parent might become frustrated by having to take on the role of a teacher. Deciphering not only the coursework, but the curriculum outcomes as well, can create a lot of anxiety for parents. Parents might struggle to know whether they are “doing the right thing” or not. Especially in cases where learners are older, parents might be intimidated by the difficulty of some of the coursework, as they are not subject experts themselves, but are now expected to teach their children mathematics or physics that they have done 20 odd years ago – or sometimes not at all! In cases like the aforementioned, parents often start to invest in expensive private tutors, which can lead to a high financial burden. However, by making use of an online curriculum service provider, such as Wingu Academy, these disadvantages can largely be mitigated. Through a reputable online curriculum service provider, learners can have access to subject expert tutors and learning coaches, which eliminates the need for parents to act as teachers themselves. With this in mind, let’s focus on the benefits of homeschooling, and in particular the benefits of online schooling. Benefits 1. Academic flexibility The traditional education system allows for very little flexibility in learning, when in reality, education is not a one-size fits all solution. Some learners are very strong auditory and visual learners. Other learners might learn best through repetition. Some might prefer learning through practical application. Home schooling affords an individual the opportunity to learn in a way that suits him/her best, especially if combined with a blended learning teaching strategy – which incorporates live classes and remote learning elements, such as interactive lessons, quizzes and games, as well as practical project based learning. For learners who are professional athletes, or who have parents with careers that require frequent travelling, the flexibility of a home schooling system is particularly beneficial. Furthermore, in a traditional schooling context, with high student-to-teacher ratios, a lot of time is often spent waiting for assistance. Learners are often expected to partake in extracurricular school subjects which do not interest them. The flexibility of homeschooling allow learners more time to focus on things that truly interest them. Learners can progress according to their own ability and interest. 2. Fosters independent learning skills Learners who are homeschooled and allowed the freedom to learn in a way that suits him/her best, naturally also acquire the ability to learn more independently. In other words, these learners don’t need someone to guide them through all elements of the learning material step-by-step. They are more confident in assimilating academic resources for themselves – a skill which they have honed during their years of homeschooling! This sense of autonomy is an invaluable ‘soft-skill’ that will aid learners for years to come, whether at university or at work. Furthermore, learners who homeschool with the help of an online curriculum service provider learn how to be adept at using technology, often from a young age. These learners learn how to use cloud computing tools to collaborate remotely – an essential future of work skill, which is becoming even more important in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world. 3. Health and safety Learners who struggle with anxiety, social anxiety or depression, or who were victims of bullying in a traditional school context, can study from home in a safe environment.. Learners have the opportunity to focus on their mental and emotional wellbeing. In small amounts, stress can be good, but the incredible pressure that is placed on learners to perform academically – or that they often place on themselves – can become debilitating. There is less pressure on learners to conform or fit a traditionally expected mould, which is beneficial to a student’s self-esteem. Learners with special needs or learning disabilities might feel especially marginalized in a traditional school setting, and their confidence can suffer. In a home schooling environment, parents are better equipped to introduce certain interventional strategies to address learning challenges. With the global pandemic learners can study from the safety and comfort of their homes without the fear of being infected or having to wear a mask. Schooling remains uninterrupted and unaffected. Parents sending their children to school for the first time, have peace of mind knowing that their child isn’t affected by the current circumstances surrounding Covid-19. 4. Social development A fear that many parents who are considering homeschooling have, is the fear of social isolation. Parents fear that their children will not develop social skills or have no friends. However, due to the flexibility of homeschooling, learners often have more time to engage in social extracurricular activities or community initiatives – such as joining a sports club, or volunteering at a local shelter – where they can still make friends and interact with peers. For learners who make use of an online curriculum service provider, the shift from parent-led to facilitator-led education means there is an even greater opportunity to interact socially. In an online school environment – which essentially emulates some elements of a traditional school environment, such as live classes – learners continually interact with classmates and tutors. 5. Higher quality education In traditional classes with high student-to-teacher ratios, learners do not get individualized attention. In a home schooling context, learners can receive more individualized attention, either from a parent or tutor. When making use

January 31, 2022

HELPING YOUR MATRICULANT CHOOSE A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

Across South Africa, thousands of successful matriculants are about to embark on a new and vital stage of their educational journey. It’s widely recognised that gaining some kind of tertiary education enhances young people’s opportunities to find fulfilling work and meet their future career and life goals. A 2021 survey conducted by SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology) amongst almost 1000 parents who are members of the popular The Village parenting community on Facebook, found that 83% of the parents of high school learners believe that tertiary education would improve their child’s employability. The decisions around what to study and where to study are serious ones for a family. Factors such as accreditation, costs, quality, closeness to home and safety are always important concerns for parents. However, our pandemic experience over the past two years has raised other issues for parents and students needing to make tertiary education decisions in the next few months. Janine Kendall, Counselling Psychologist and SACAP’s Head of Teaching and Learning: Education Recruitment says, “What came out of our research is that parents are uncertain and concerned for their children’s tertiary education journey as a result of the pandemic and general environmental challenges. Parents and guardians want to be confident that the tertiary institution they select with their matriculants, delivers on robust academic quality with practical skills, provides a safe environment and offers the support to nurture students in uncharted waters. As they have closely supported their high school learners through disruptions, lockdowns and threats of illness, parents have a keener awareness at this time of the value in their children developing resilience and agility so that they cope during uncertain and challenging times.” Researching, considering and applying to tertiary institutions along with your child works best by following an agreed process, where roles and responsibilities, and where the power lies in decision-making are clear upfront. Itemising your priorities when it comes to what you want from the institution can expand the criteria you and your child will use to evaluate, which supports optimal decision-making. For instance, the quality, breadth and depth of student support services offered may be important for new students who require input and reassurance as they embark on their studies. Educational philosophy and institutional values may be important to some parents who want their children growing up to be agile thinkers and appropriately flexible in a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain and volatile. Kendall says, “It was interesting to find in our research that many parents were not just concerned about academic rigour, but also want to see their children gain practical skills through their tertiary studies. This is a shift in today’s parents who are recognising that tertiary institutions need to help students become work-ready and that their study experience needs to build real-life competencies as well as academic knowledge. SACAP is very well placed to deliver on these needs and to ensure that our graduates are able to respond and adapt to challenging environments as they grow in their career.” SACAP, which offers accredited degree programmes in Applied Psychology, Management & Leadership, and Social Work & Community Development, has a keen focus on innovative teaching and content styles for educating agile thinkers for the future. That institutional agility was put into practice over the pandemic years, when SACAP has kept every student always on track with their studies with very few interruptions and delays. SACAP also has one of the most comprehensive and holistic student support services offered in South Africa. SACAP Registrar, Claire Du Plooy says, “I have had the privilege of studying in various Higher Education private and public institutions, and I have never seen or experienced student support and development in quite the way SACAP offers it. SACAP recognizes that academics is one part of the student’s life and journey, but that their academic success also relies on their emotional and psychosocial wellbeing. The focus is therefore on the holistic student, from academics to emotional support to student life. I think the one thing that sets SACAP’s student support and development apart is that I genuinely believe that each member of the team has a passion for students, for their growth and for their success. Practically, what this looks like is the availability of individual and group counselling support, individual and group academic support, various workshops, online interventions, social events, advocacy and leadership opportunities, peer-support, and support and genuine care of our students on their academic journey.” This is designed with the needs and wants of Gen Z students particularly in mind as a generation which values input, mentoring and close support as they develop the all-round skills and particular 4iR skills-sets that will help set them up for work success. Kendall concludes, “Parents and their matriculants need to take a range of factors into consideration as they seek a good match between their child’s learning style, strengths and challenges, as well as their career goals. Tertiary education is a whole-of-life, absorbing experience, and each aspect of this plays a role in the outcomes of their child’s studies.” To find out more visit: www.sacap.edu.za

January 28, 2022

GET TO KNOW MAJOZI, SA MUSO & KOA ACADEMY’S NEW HEAD OF CULTURE

SAMA-nominated hitmaker, Majozi, takes to the stage in SA education this year as Koa Academy’s Head of Culture. Appreciated for his warmth and humanity, we sat down with Majozi so that SA parents can get to know him better: What was your favourite subject in school, and why? “It was history. The other subjects didn’t even come close for me, I’m not sure why. Maybe it was the story-telling aspect, mixed with trying to understand where we’ve come from and how we got here.” Did you have a teacher that made a huge difference in your life? How? “My history teacher, Mr Van der Bergh. I really enjoyed the subject and he was an interesting character. He shared interesting stories and poems with us all the time.” Looking back, what would you have wanted to change about your own school experience? Tell us more about a song that inspired you when you were at school and why? “I wish I had the opportunity to pursue more of the creative arts in school. We never had music but we did have drama. I wish I had explored that avenue at a younger, school-going age, but to be honest, not many people took it seriously or saw any value in it. I started playing guitar at the beginning of high school, and any song that was fun to play inspired me. I remember playing along with anything from Jimi Hendrix and Metallica, to Blink 182 and Avril Lavigne. As long as it had a few chords and riffs, I would try to play it.” As Koa’s Head of Culture, what are you most looking forward to? “I’m really looking forward to working with the students. In my previous interactions, I found them inspiring and they gave me so much hope for the future. I’m honoured to try and tap into what I’ve already seen and help them explore their creative endeavours in whatever form that may take, in the Koa environment that allows them to grow and feel valued.” Tell us more about your musical journey, and how you got started… “I use to sing in the choir in Grade 1, but I really started being interested in music when I started playing guitar at the age of 13. I was pretty average at most things, but I took to guitar fairly quickly and just had so much fun. Learning to play other songs helped me understand how songs were made, and that inspired me to write my own songs and got me on the path to a creative career.” When you think back to your youth, what did music, arts & culture mean to you? “So many of my favourite memories have songs attached to them, and I’ve been introduced to many of my friends through a mutual love for the same music. My youth is full of those moments. That all turned into important moments like playing music in church, growing spiritually and finding a community that loved me.” What is your greatest wish or prayer for young South Africans? “I wish all young South Africans knew that they are loved and that they are enough. No matter who they are or what they’ve done.” What is the best thing about being a professional musician? “I love meeting interesting people. Music has opened many doors for me, and I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with some of the most fascinating people in the world.” If you weren’t a musician, what other career would you like to explore? “Acting, not sure I’d be any good, but I’d have fun.” If you had to give a young, emerging artist just one piece of advice, what would it be? I would quote the incomparable musician, composer, arranger and record producer, Quincy Jones, who said: “Never be a better musician than you are a person’.” Koa Academy is a high-engagement, online school offering an accredited IEB-curriculum for Grades 4 to 12. Learners, who engage with their teachers in high contact 8-person Pods, get to interact with Majozi in a range of experiential arts and culture projects that aim to develop real-life skills. Majozi also engages with parents through various webinars and school activities. Discover Koa Academy here

January 27, 2022

Advice to the parent who is undecided on Homeschooling

Are you one of those parents who have been toying with the idea of homeschooling your child? You want to do it…but you don’t want to do it! You find yourself wishing you were a fly on the wall in your colleague or friends’ house to see what homeschooling is really like and how it is done. You must be wondering things like whether it is true that homeschooling takes so few hours a day, do the kids enjoy it more than traditional school? Are they miserable? Do they love the freedom? Do they miss seeing other kids? Are they geniuses? Are they behind in schoolwork compared to other kids their age? There is no need to wonder, we are able to enlighten you with some valuable knowledge. Answers to All Your Home-schooling Questions: I am a parent and I do not know how Homeschooling works. Conventional home-schooling is essentially doing school-at-home, using similar methods to those used in public or private schools, where a parent, in-home tutor or online tutor take on the role of the teacher. However, in today’s day and age, very few families can afford the luxury of employing personal or online tutors and in most cases both parents are employed to make ends meet. Most SA Home-school curriculum providers, offer a conventional home-schooling curriculum, which even if done ‘online’ is actually already outdated, and of little consequence to today’s learner. Syllabis Learning has taken the Lead in modernising learning and our new Independent Learning curriculum is by far the best solution for the modern-day learner, which requires virtually no input from parents, teachers, or tutors. Independent learning is a modern form of learning. It has been proven to be effective, convenient, and fast, thanks to the rise of the internet. Nowadays, you can learn how to do almost anything through a simple Google search, by watching a YouTube tutorial, or by simply reading instruction manuals. Self-learning is the new form of learning that is equipping people with skills that are relevant to their daily activities. Testimonial of a working Mom- “I will tell you that I was very skeptical of how this was going to work out. I have been so pleasantly surprised to find out how simple the Syllabis Independent Learning curriculum really works with extraordinarily little input from me. My daughter adamantly says she never wants to go back to a public school again!”. How expensive is homeschooling going to be? You will most probably be surprised at the affordability of such a comprehensive platform! The yearly cost of the Syllabis Independent Learning Curriculum, at the date of this publication, starts from R 3590 for Grade R to R20990 for Grade 12. Discounts are offered for multiple learners from one family. Payment plans are available on request. Prices quoted are subject to change without notice. How many formal home-school hours should home-schoolers do per day? Research has shown that on average, home-schoolers study about two to three hours a day. Take away trips to and from school, moving from class to class, taking pre-determined breaks and the delays that slower learners in the class create and what you have is the freedom to work at your own pace and schedule. The Grade 1-3 curriculum can take as little as 2 hours of work per day, Grade 4-9 from 3-5 hours per day and an estimated 7 hours for Grades 10-12. We already battle over homework! How am I going to get them to do all their schoolwork at home? This is the game-changer…when kids get home from school they are exhausted. School is a is a full-time job for a child, 7-8 hours spent concentrating and working, all they want to do when they get home is chill out. Traditional schools demand at least 2-3 hours of homework to be done every single day. With home-schooling there is no homework. Are my kids going to be weird? This is one of the biggest fears of most parents who are considering home-schooling. The socialisation issue. This is the biggest myth of all about homeschooling. Going to a conventional school does not mean that you are going to be super suave and develop awesome social skills. Going to a conventional school does not make you cool and home-school does not make you weird. There is data to back this up. This amazing paper out of Stetson University examines and compares many studies of social skills of home-schooled children. Here are some striking findings. “Children attending conventional schools showed more than eight times more behavioral problems than home-schooled children. Shyers described the traditionally schooled children as “aggressive, loud, and competitive” (1992b, p. 6). In contrast, the home-schooled children acted infriendly, positive ways. He noted that they introduced themselves, initiated conversation, co-operated with others, invited uninvolved children to join them in play, took turns, let others know it was alright if they lost a game, and even “exchanged addresses and phone numbers for future contact”. The homeschoolers had better social skills? This must be one isolated study, right? Nope. There were many other studies in the paper that showed the home-schooler to be equal to or more advanced than their peers in this area. How is my child going to make friends? Home-schoolers have more time to spend with friends and get involved in social activities such as sports, scouts, and church etc. Your child will have time to find things they are interested in and sign up and get involved in external activities, in turn they will make friends and meet new people. With Syllabis Learning you child will have the

January 26, 2022

Wingu Academy’s Wellness Hub provides next-level services to ensure learner well-being in online environment

Learner well-being is a core focus area for Wingu Academy, especially due to the increase in mental health awareness in the online environment. In fact, Wingu Academy takes this so seriously that they have a dedicated wellness hub, called Wingu Wellness. The vision is to collaborate with students, guardians, and parents, as well as the valued staff of the Academy, to build a safe online learning environment. “Wingu Wellness provides up to date information on mental health issues, learning barriers, coping mechanisms and stress management, to mention a few. Working alongside top names in the field, like Dr Serahni Symington, counsellor and play therapist specialist, we will be providing counselling and mediation sessions and webinars free of charge, to anyone in the Wingu Family.” says Ian Strydom, Wingu Academy’s Managing Director. Services offered by Wingu Wellness Hub Current services include: Organising concessions for learners with learning barriers; Wellness consultations with a wellness coach or qualified counsellor; Monthly webinars; Sensitivity training; Resolution of behaviour misconduct; Assisting students and parents with day-to-day educational needs, i.e. study assistance, identifying learning styles, etc. Diagnostic Testing facilitated by Educationist, Dr Belinda van der Westhuizen Family mediation offered through Dr Serahni Symington How does Wingu Wellness assist students? The Wingu Wellness Hub will be assisting students by offering consultation sessions with either the Wellness Coach or a trained therapist. This will act as a safe space for learners to talk about what is weighing on them. They also provide learner applicable content to assist them in matters that they do not feel comfortable coming forward about. They further facilitate external coaching in the form of play therapy for the younger learners, by referring them to Dr. Symington. Wingu Wellness will also act as a means to further promote the many social clubs within the Academy to assist learners in still benefitting from the social aspects that are sometimes lacking in the cyber world. How does Wingu Wellness assist parents/guardians? Assistance includes the same support as to students, but on top of that also offering family mediation through Dr Symington. “We offer comprehensive and professionally verified content to assist in matters dealing with how to cope with situations such as moving a learner from a mainstream school into an online learning environment or to things like dealing with family trauma.” says Panashe Tiffany Saungweme, Associate Director of Human Capital. Aiming to assist the Wingu Family with their overall well-being. “Wingu Wellness is not just an initiative to create awareness of mental barriers we may all have, but rather a platform providing a safe space to find solutions and encourage positive well-being behaviour for everyone part of the Wingu Family.” Strydom concludes.

January 25, 2022

Back to school Safety

As many normal activities have continued to require careful consideration as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, parents are now challenged with “Back To School” and what that means for their children and their families. “We know there is a lot to manage during this time, and it can feel like there is very little in your control. But whether your child will be attending school at home, in-person or a combination of the two, we want to help make sure they stay injury-free. Remember it is important to make injury prevention part of your Back To School plan. That is something you can control”, says Thilda Nel (Executive Director, ChildSafe). With a new school term about to start, now is the perfect time to take a few minutes to remind your children how they can stay safe when going to school, whether they walk, bike, take the bus/train or ride in a carpool or use scholar transport. No matter how your children get to school, make sure they are safe and prepared to make the trip. ChildSafe reminds all parents and caregivers to ALWAYS teach their children to: Look left, right and left again before crossing the road. Walk on sideways or paths and crossroads using traffic signals and pedestrian crossings, where possible. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road. Avoid using cell phones and headphones when walking near and around cars and to be aware of their surroundings. Wear a properly fitted helmet when biking to school. Wait for the bus/train to come to a complete stop before entering or disembarking. Drivers should ALWAYS: Ensure that children under the age of 12 are properly buckled-up in the back seat. Adhere to speed limits and drive slowly in residential areas and school zones. Look out for pedestrians while driving. For more information on injury prevention, call ChildSafe at 021 685 5208 or please visit www.childsafe.org.za

January 21, 2022

UNBUNDLING EDUCATION – WHAT DOES IT MEAN, AND HOW COULD IT BENEFIT YOUR FAMILY? 

The traditionally slow-moving education sector has been rocked by the global pandemic, setting in motion changes, that many education professionals believe are long overdue. There’s been a massive uptake of EdTech tools and online education platforms. At first, this was in the effort to ensure continuity in learners’ and students’ education during lockdowns. However, schools, teachers, learners and their families found benefits from their digital explorations and experiences that they want to continue. There are many families who have post-lockdown, transferred to online schooling, home schooling and hybrid learning solutions. While the concept of ‘unbundling education’ is so far mostly discussed in the context of tertiary education, it can apply just as easily to schooling, and is likely to become popular in the private school, online school and school improvement spaces. Just as the unbundling option on your TV service offers you tailored choices and cost benefits because you only pay for the channels you actually watch; unbundling education will enable families to choose specific education services relevant to their children at lower costs. Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy which embraces the unbundled education concept explains, “Our COVID lockdown experience has showed us that paying full private school fees for a purely online programme just does not make sense. After all, those fees include the cost of the academic programme, all the teachers, the entire running costs and maintenance of the physical facilities and a myriad of other brick-and-mortar related costs that were irrelevant to families with kids learning online at home for months. This has opened many parents’ eyes to the fact that an unbundled education makes the most sense in the long run where they could pay for different education service providers to suit their child’s individual needs at lower costs. Unbundled education empowers parents to be more selective with limited resources, accessing the best opportunities for their children across their changing educational and life stages.” Koa Academy puts this into practice by offering families a top quality IEB academic program along with unbundled education options. In addition to covering the full academic programme for grades 4-12, the Academy helps Koa children explore and identify their unique passions and then offers both in-house enrichment options as well as helping parents to leverage the benefits of the extra time and resources which are freed up by online learning. Koa also partners with third-party service providers in many spheres to offer Koa-partner discount rates. Mark concludes, “This enables Koa families to access many more options than are typically available at any one school, as well as access the best available options, all at lower costs.” Discover Koa Academy here.

January 20, 2022

How to Get Your Kids Excited About Going Back to School

Try to think back to when you were a kid. The prospect of going back to school probably wasn’t the most exciting thought for younger you. Even if you did look forward to heading back to school, it probably had more to do with catching up with your friends than spending most of your day in a classroom. And there’s a good chance your kid feels the same way. If the thought of HB pencils and homework puts your kids to sleep quicker than a bedtime story, there are a few ideas to get them excited about back-to-school season. Get Some Blinged-out Stationery Kids love cartoons, and that love can be leveraged to get them interested in things that would otherwise bore them. That’s where stationery comes in. Instead of stocking up on the typical stationery brands, get your hands on school supplies that feature their favourite animated characters. Is your kid a PAW Patrol fan? Then you’re in luck! You can get collectable PAW Patrol stationery with every Wimpy Kids’ Combo Meal. Head to a Wimpy near you to start your kid’s collection. Plan Something Memorable for Their First Day Make sure the first day of school starts with lots of fanfare. Prepare their favourite breakfast treat or treat them to lunch after their first day of school. It could be the start of a wonderful tradition—and a great way to take the sting out of a new year. Get Creative with Their Lunch A brown-bagged sandwich is okay, but why go with just okay when you can have extraordinary. For the first day of school, treat your kids to a lunch they won’t forget. You don’t even have to prepare it yourself. Order something light and lekker like a toasted sandwich from Wimpy to enjoy at break time. Give Them a Goodie Bag Ever heard of Schultüte? It’s an age-old German tradition that’s gotten a lot of kids through the first day of school. Schultüte means ‘school cone’, but it has very little to do with ice cream. The large and embellished cone is a gift given to children on the first day of school, and it’s filled with stationery and special treats. If that sounds like something your kid will enjoy, grab some colourful poster board, shape it into a cone, fill it with sweet treats and their new Wimpy PAW Patrol stationery. Put Yourself in Their Shoes If your kid isn’t keen on going back to school, allowing them to voice their frustration can go a long way. Before convincing them of the importance of school, just let them get their thoughts off their chest without any interruption. They’ll eventually come around to the idea of school, but for now, just let them vent. It’s common for kids to describe school as boring. If they’re not thrilled by the idea of returning to school, there’s plenty you can do to get them onboard about back-to-school season.

January 18, 2022

Future-proof your child’s employability from an early age with 4IR Skills

The world of work has been changing over the past decade. There were talks of the 4th industrial revolution by many forward thinking individuals, but the trends towards the revolution has become very clear in the workspace. Trends such as remote work which seemed an impossible consideration for many companies, has become centre stage and many will pay the price if an effective remote work policy is not put in place. Most employers had to rapidly change the way they worked, resembling the 4IR trends that have shaped the vision of the Future of Work. The catalysing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has turned leaders to focus on what the lasting effect of the pandemic will have on their workplace. Leaders in education have turned their focus on what the lasting effect will be on (a) educators and (b) the future leaders – the youth – and they have a responsibility as a transformative element in society to be paving the way to thriving, growth mind-set individuals ready for the 4th and even the 5th industrial revolutions. But how? According to a report by the World Economic Forum, titled “The Future of Jobs”, the skills that will be most in demand during the fourth industrial revolution are: Complex problem solving Critical thinking Creativity Managing people Coordinating with others Emotional intelligence Judgement and decision making Service orientation Negotiation Cognitive flexibility “Education can no longer be about learning facts. Educational organisations must focus on being transformative experiences, delivering an individual that has gained more than knowledge after completing a program. Central to these future skills is a mindset resembling that of the entrepreneurial-mindset where resilience and personal growth are centre stage in determining success. Education systems and mindsets – striving to master a fixed set of learning outcomes and avoiding failure are outdated viewpoints. Instead, critical and creative thinking, embracing failure as a positive growth opportunity, resilience and collaboration should take centre stage in transformative education strategies. It’s important to future-proof your child to thrive with skills of the future, like lifelong purposeful learning, unlearning and relearning, adaptability and rapid (re)skilling, says Ian Strydom – Managing Director Wingu Academy. Why is it important to future-proof your child’s employability? The industries tied to the defining 4IR technologies (robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, nanotechnology, cloud computing, quantum computing, machine learning, additive manufacturing, genetic modification) will birth new areas of work. McKinsey and Company predicts that by 2030, up to 30-40 percent of all workers in the developing world may need to move into new jobs or at the least up- or re-skill significantly. At Wingu Academy learners are introduced to subjects such as coding, robotics, app development and game development from an early age to build a foundational grasp of these fields. Learners and parents have a preconceived idea of Robotics and Coding and in general believe it’s for the “smarter” kids or for learners who are doing really well in other subjects. In doing so, they automatically disqualify themselves from enriching their future careers with these skills. We want to challenge this mindset. Every field in the future will incorporate coding and robotics to some extent and having a keen understanding of the underlying principles will set them up for success. Apart from the hard practical skills learnt, integrated robotics and coding curricula teaches students invaluable soft skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and solving problems logically and has the added advantage of teaching them to persevere in solving problems. Employers are looking for high-performance individuals – young people and mid-career employees- who are in sync with the demands of a rapidly-changing digital workforce. Learners that have these skills at school will be at an advantage, even if a child doesn’t go on to pursue a career in coding/IT. Even if a learner doesn’t go on to pursue a career in coding/IT, how will this benefit them? The first obvious advantage is the opportunity to be employed directly in the IT industry which offers huge employment potential. Currently SA has 200,000 unfilled positions that require a knowledge of coding. Coding has emerged as a new literacy that allows us to leverage the power of computers. At school it is important that children learn to use computational thinking to solve problems as this way of thinking is best developed early on. A keen understanding of computational processes allows team members to collaborate with programmers, to better understand the impact of actions and decisions on enabling digital technological processes (and the teams that develop them) and use design thinking principles to drive innovation effectively. Coding and IT are becoming prominent in almost all career fields. For instance; artists are using machine learning algorithms to create unique art, acting and entertainment machine learning algorithms are used to write scripts and in medicine or biology it is used for diagnosing diseases and finding new treatments by repurposing medicine. “Our aim is thus that learners who complete these courses will not only be more desirable to employ, but at the same time exceed employers expectations,” Strydom concludes. What will the learners be taught to master with these programmes at Wingu Academy? Learners in the Coding and Robotics programme will use a variety of different programming languages such as Python and JavaScript to solve various problems, some translating into creative solutions in the real world. They will apply their skills in various different fields of interest including music, robotics, science and others to demonstrate the power of coding in various fields. More mature learners enter the Software Development programme where they work on front-end and back-end solutions and build a variety of web applications to develop a portfolio of evidence, equipping them with many entry level skills in the IT industry. Parents who would like to find out more about Wingu Academy’s Kukua Programme can visit https://wingu-academy.com/innovation/. The internationally recognised curriculum at Wingu Academy prepares learners for entering University degrees locally and across the globe, and focuses on building critical and creative thinking skills. The

January 18, 2022

LIFELONG LEARNING – IS THIS A SKILL THAT CAN BE TAUGHT AT SCHOOL?

Nowadays, we frequently hear about the importance of ‘lifelong learning’. But what is this? Lifelong learning is a self-driven, sustained pursuit of knowledge and experience that inevitably enhances our personal and professional lives. The mantra of a lifelong learner is that there is always more to learn. In our personal lives, lifelong learning leads us to new frontiers and into exciting worlds based on the individual interests we pursue in our free time. In our professional lives, lifelong learning compels us to build on our work skills-sets; helping us to stay relevant in the fast-changing world of work, increasing our competitiveness in the job market and opening up new and better work opportunities. Across these interconnected spheres, lifelong learning tends to lead to greater fulfilment in life, and often enhances our capacities for personal development, active citizenship, and social cohesion. Should lifelong learning be taught at school? We asked Mark Anderson, Principal of high-engagement online school, Koa Academy, and he says: “Lifelong learning is a skills-set encompassing both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills. School is where it starts formally. There are technical, practical skills when it comes to learning such as time management and self-management which can be taught and reinforced in the school environment. There are also ‘soft skills’ which are taught through modelling, coaching, and practicing over time. Developing these skills rests on the foundation of an essential spark that ignites a desire and an enjoyment of learning which you find in high engagement school environments. Children are innately curious, and curiosity is the major driver of learning. The school environment, as well as the home environment, need to keep triggering that curiosity which creates the opportunities to develop the skills and self-motivation to keep learning. It is this that opens up the pathway to a lifetime of continuous learning.” How do our kids ‘learn to learn’, and how to think about their learning? Mark says, “The best place to start with young people is to help them figure out their individual interests as well as why we learn certain things in school. We also want to develop key skills which make learning easy – like being able to prioritise, organise and manage time effectively. We also want to nurture a high sense of personal investment in learning – the idea that my learning benefits me personally and significantly, which helps develop learners who are highly self-motivated. The last thing you want is your child to finish Grade 12 and still have to be told what to study, when to study, how to study and – especially – why to study!” Lifelong learning is a game changer for our future adults. Some of the many benefits include being able to identify and reach personal goals more easily, increased financial opportunities, healthier brains, higher self-confidence and self-motivation, and improved social skills. Discover Koa Academy here

January 14, 2022

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