The importance of reading cannot be emphasised enough in young children, and we as parents need to make every day reading a high priority.

Below are some benefits and advantages that highlight the importance of reading with kids.

1. Reading to young children sets them up to succeed.

2. Reading is important to develop language skills.

3. Exposure to reading exercises your child’s brain.

4. Reading enhances a child’s concentration.

5. Reading together encourages a thirst for knowledge.

6. A range of books teaches children about different topics.

7. Reading develops a child’s imagination and creativity.

8. Reading books with children helps to develop empathy.

9. Books are a form of entertainment.

10. Reading together helps to create a bond.

To read more about these, click here.

Share these tips with your child and encourage them to try them. These practical tips are a great way for your child to naturally start feeling more confident about the language.

1) Use language exchanges

The idea behind a language exchange is that you find someone who fluently speaks Afrikaans and is also learning your native language. During the exchange you spend half the time speaking in the language you’re learning (in this case Afrikaans), and the other half in the language they’re learning (if you’re a native English speaker this will probably be English).
This kind of exchange is a great way to practice your speaking skills and cement the material you’ve learned into your brain.

2) Teach others the language

You don’t have to be an expert in Afrikaans to lend a hand to another language learner. Helping a beginner through the language will not only make you feel good about helping someone out, it will also help you use the language and keep your skills sharp.

3) Keep a journal or blog in Afrikaans

Writing out your thoughts in a foreign language is one of the best ways to practice the language daily. It forces you to take time to construct sentences and it will reveal your weak points very quickly. We recommend writing short daily entries, you can share these with your teacher of Afrikaans Tutor to see if your writing skills are improving.

4) Entertain yourself in the language

Books, magazines, movies, Afrikaans learning websites, music….. the list goes on. There’s a lot of media out there and you’re likely to find some that’s in Afrikaans.

5) Learn 3 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Afrikaans:

1. Surround yourself with Afrikaans

By surrounding yourself with Afrikaans constantly you will completely immerse yourself in the language. Without realising it you’ll be learning pronunciation, sentence structures, grammar, and new vocabulary.

2. Speak out loud to yourself

Speaking to yourself in Afrikaans not only gets you in the mindset of Afrikaans, but also makes you listen to how you speak. It forces you to correct any errors with pronunciation and makes it easy to spot grammar mistakes. When you speak out loud talk about what you did that day and what you plan to do the next day.

3. Practice daily

If you don’t practice daily then your progress will be very slow. Studying everyday allows you to review material that you went over previous days and absorb a small amount of information at a time.

What is Midline Crossing?

Crossing the Midline refers to the ability to reach across the middle of the body with the arms and legs crossing over to the opposite side.

Why is Midline Crossing important? 

Being able to cross the midline (an imaginary line down the centre of the body) is an important developmental skill. It is needed for reading and writing, for being able to reach toward your foot to put on a shoe and sock with both hands, for participating in many sports and many other day to day activities. Children who have difficulty reaching across their middle may actually get stuck in mid-reach and have to switch hands. Or they may compensate by turning their trunk to reach toward the opposite side. Poor midline crossing also makes it difficult to visually track a moving object from one side to the other or to fully track from left to right when reading.  

Midline Crossing Activities

This infographic is downloadable. Share it with your friends and family. 

Tips on how to write an effective essay.

A lot of students struggle when it comes to writing essays in their creative exams. We have outlined the process and tips on how to approach essays.

Here is an Infographic sharing our top 6 Study Tips. 

Download it, share it with your kids and help them understand the importance of being well prepared for all tests. 

Why is coding important? 

If we want to set our children up for academic success, every child should learn to code. Coding for kids not only helps improve their mathematics and writing skills but also gives them valuable skills in life and eventually in the workforce.

To read about 8 reasons why coding is important for kids to learn, click here.

Coding Camps for your child to join this Winter Holiday.

Think Camp offers age-appropriate coding courses for kids and teens. Think Camp is a stimulating boot camp for intrigued minds, with a desire to learn to code and master the fascinating world of Technology. More importantly, it equips them with necessary tech skills making waves in the modern world.

Explore Think Camp’s Coding, Robotics, App Development, Minecraft Engineering & Game Design courses these school holidays.

Winter Holiday Coding Courses

These are the different 1 and 2-day courses being offered to the following grades:

Gr 2-4 Codebot Nano: Coding Adventures with Cozmo
Gr 2-5 Gameslab: Coding & Game Design in Scratch 
Gr 2-5 Makecraft: Engineering & Redstone Construction in Minecraft
Gr 3-6  Playcraft: Game & Level Design in Minecraft
Gr 4-7 Codecraft: Coding & Mod Creation in Minecraft
Gr 4-7 Codebot: Robot Coding & logic with Cozmo
Gr 6-9 Gamemaker: Videogame Development with Construct 2
Gr 6-9 Mobile App Development with MIT App Inventor

For more information on these, you can visit the following websites: 

JoziKids

Think Camp 

Studying for tests and exams can be extremely stressful not only for students but for their parents as well. In this blog, we will cover topics such as how to study for exams, how to study effectively for exams, as well as different study methods and tips. Share these tips and methods with your child to help them feel more prepared for tests this year.

How to prepare for exams.

1. Give yourself enough time to study. Don't leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute cramming, it's widely accepted that (for most of us) this is not the best way to approach an exam. To help sort out your time management, set up a timetable to help you study.

2. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to write them. Then organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.

3. Organize your study space. Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer and play station games out of sight?

How to Study for Exams.

To study effectively for exams, follow these study tips:

1. Ask the right questions.
You don’t want to walk in on test day unprepared for what you're about to face. Try to get the answers to these crucial questions before you start studying.

Questions to ask before a test:
- What material will the test cover?
- Will there be an exam review session during class?
- Will there be after-school opportunities for more revision?
- What is the format of the exam? Multiple-choice? Short answer? Will there be essays to write?
- How many marks is the exam worth?

2. Sort out your schedule. You can actually spend less time studying for your exam if you start with a great game plan. Make a list of what topics you need to cover and when you’re going to cover them. Start your study schedule as early as possible (usually a few weeks before your test), and figure out how much time you’ll need to study each day to stay on track.

3. Grab your gear. Gather up all your class notes, quizzes, handouts and worksheets. Your previous homework will help you see what your teacher thinks is important. (Plus, you can learn from your past quiz mistakes).

4. Study smarter. Instead of memorizing all your notes, prioritize what you’ll study. Start with what will definitely be in the test, then what will probably be in the test, and finally what might be in the test. That way, if you run out of time, you know you at least have the essentials covered. By starting with the toughest material first, you have time to ask your teacher questions or get help from tutors.

5. Mix it up. Now that you know WHAT you need to study, figure out the best way to review and internalize what you predict will be in the exam. 

6. What keeps you motivated? Study groups can help you study more efficiently for exams. Make a plan with friends to review the class material together, share and compare notes, or work through tricky concepts. Or, reward yourself for each study session with something small (even if it’s just a TV break) to help you stay focused.

7. Sleep still matters. An all-nighter might sound like a good idea, but a restful night’s sleep is actually the key to your success. Start a healthy sleep routine in the weeks leading up to your exam, so you’ll be fresh and ready for test day. (But if you do happen to need some midnight study help, our on-demand tutors are there for you.)

8. Bring what you’re supposed to bring. Find out what you’re allowed to bring to the exam, and make sure you don’t leave anything essential at home. Stash pens, paper, and an extra calculator in your bag, so you’re ready for anything.

Our Exam Preparation Lessons.

We offer exam preparation lessons, which include the following:

• Setup of a Study Timetable. Study Timetables are almost the most important part of studying. They allow students to plan their studying accordingly so that they use their time effectively and don’t cram before a big exam.

• Discussion about the benefits of different study methods and we help students find the study method that works best for them.

• We help students with the most effective ways of making study notes.

• Past Paper questions to ensure students feel confident when applying their knowledge in the test.

To find out more, click here to contact us. Or click here to book a Free Assessment Lesson.

Accounting as a school subject

Accounting is a very technical subject, it is logical, and it requires reasoning. It is an important subject as it provides a theoretical and practical background for a career in commerce and business.

Does your child need Accounting help? Here are some tips on how to learn Accounting.

(Share these practical tips with your child to help them understand the basic principles of Accounting better.)

1. Read your textbook carefully to understand "WHY."

Strive to be able to say, "I understand why we do this." If you can understand "WHY" in accounting, there is very little to memorise. Try to explain every new topic in your own words. Through putting these new ideas into your own words you will learn much faster than just reciting the same words of the text a hundred times.

2. Do worked examples and problems to understand "HOW."

Even though you understand "why we do this", you must be able to apply what you have learnt. To be sure that you understand "how" as well as "why," do the worked examples that are shown with the reading material. Don't copy the book, test your own skills and then check your answers. MyTopDog is a great online platform that can be used as a revision and practice tool.

3. Remember "why" and "how.

Go back to previous chapters and notes to refresh your memory. Rework problems that were difficult for you and try to do extra problems that are similar to the assigned homework. Never wait until examination time to review your Accounting work.

The benefits of having an Accounting Tutor.

An Accounting Tutor can help build your child’s confidence by explaining difficult concepts and clearing up any confusion your child may have. To succeed a student requires a very solid foundation of basic accounting knowledge, and an Accounting Tutor can help solidify your child’s basic knowledge thereby improving their understanding of accounting terms and concepts.

If your child is struggling at school and is feeling demotivated the best thing to do is to find an Accounting Tutor who can help turn things around.

Finding an Accounting Tutor for your child.

If you are in the Johannesburg South area, click here to contact us and we will assist you in finding the perfect Accounting Tutor.