From Da Vinci’s futuristic flying machines to Jules Verne’s “phonotelephote” (video conferencing) and onwards to H. G. Wells’ time machine, history is filled with examples of ideas preceding technological ability. Since Plato’s first documentation of Socrates’ teachings, ideas of “magical” classrooms with seamless information transfer have been suggested and even realised in education. Where would we be without ink and paper, the printing press and more recently the personal computer and the internet?

Marks are important to your children. One mark can make a difference between grades. One grade can determine what school your child can be posted to. Marks are important for English Language as it is one of the core subjects. Especially so when English forms the basis of all other subjects except Mother Tongue. For example, weak English would lead to difficulties with problem sums in Mathematics. That is why you put so much money and effort in ensuring the

According to experts, spelling is a function of three things – knowledge of phonemes and phonics, knowledge of spelling rules and memorisation and practice. What do these three mean? Knowledge of phonemes and phonics simply means the knowledge of letter sounds. So, a child who is an expert in this is able to spell a word based on how the word sounds like. Of course there are some words that are pronounced differently from how they are written. For example,

For secondary one students in 2014, the experience of transitioning between primary to secondary school will both be exciting and challenging. It is a new environment with new classmates and new teachers. While most children adapt to new environments quickly, one area that takes some time is the increase in the number of academic subjects. Not only that, these once familiar subjects become more difficult.

British philosopher, historian, mathematician, and social critic Bertrand Arthur William Russell is one of the most influential and intellectually diverse thinkers in modern history. Russell had certain themes which he loved to espouse – the purpose of education, the value of uncertainty, the importance of critical thinking and the gift of intelligent criticism. On December 16, 1951, his manifesto on teachers was published, linking his favourite themes to the responsibilities of teachers. Some of his points are also valid for