Setting out with SBOA

Everyday a new online learning site pops up. Many are paid and some are free. When searching for CBSE class 10 online learning concept videos some things to look out for are Audio and video clarity Understandable Language  7 minutes duration or lesser Teacher engagement A knowledge tracker A few of the online classes cater to specific entrance exams like IIT-JEE, NEET or NID. Brands like  Allen, Bansal, FIITJEE cater to JEE and Aakash and Brilliant for NEET. But these can be opted for once you decide your group in class 11.  For Class 10, If you have not enrolled in any of the paid coaching classes, then you can look at some free alternatives to improve your understanding of concepts. Byjus   This is currently free for the duration of the pandemic. The advantages are Sticks closely to NCERT / CBSE Curriculum Animated Concept Videos Enthusiastic Teachers Live Classes  A Learning path Tracker Basic Testing And a gamified testing model is also available. You can try the paid version if yo

With the ongoing COVID crisis, most children are unable to attend school. This has definitely left a gap in their education calendar. Here are some interesting resources that can keep them up to date on important issues sarong the globe and pave the way to deeper understanding of school concepts, be it science, math, english, social studies or a foreign language. Ted-Ed Earth School   The Earth School offers 30 adventures for learners of all ages to discover, celebrate, and connect to nature. This is done in collaboration with organizations including National Geographic , WWF , and the BBC who have offered top caliber videos, articles, and interactive resources that will be shared around the world. The Quests are designed to encourage young people to connect with nature and their environment. Typing Club   One skill that will never go a waste in our digital times is learning how to touch type. TypingClub is the most effective way to learn how to type. It is a gamified typing tutor for

Indian society values education above everything else, so it's natural that schools and parents embraced online schooling the moment the Pandemic struck. Every school, parent and student are dealing with the unique challenges that come with learning via screens, systems and devices. It’s a good idea to prepare yourself with the basic requirements of online schooling. Choosing a Device Children should not use Mobile phone screens for online learning. The small screen size can cause eye irritation and short sightedness. Screens need to be at a distance of at least 18 inches from the eye to reduce eye strain and that is impossible with a small screen. A Desktop, Laptop, Chrome book, iPad or other android tablets with a minimum screen size of at least 10 inches or more would be the best for online learning.  Retina displays and similar technologies are designed to be eye friendly. Even a used deskt op with a 21 inches monitor (which are common these days)  wil

Admission season is at hand, soon many schools in Chennai are going to throw their gates open to receive applications for the next academic year. Choosing a school is  quite a job and sometimes with the options given it's a tough decision to make. Few of the overall criteria to consider are..... 1. Distance from the school - Anything more than the recommended 5km radius is too much of a strain on the kids. 2. Mode of transport - School buses are as vital as good infrastructure in picking a school. If you cant walk to school then the most sensible option would be to use the school bus. So do check if this facility is available and adequate. 3. Board and Curriculum - In Chennai there were a few different boards till most of them were consolidated into "Samacheer Kalvi Thitam". Right now generally the question is between CBSE and The State Prescribed Board. Each  has it's advantages and disadvantages, research and find one that will fit your ward's need

The coming academic year 2014, will see quite a few changes as SBOA School and Junior College aligns itself to the CBSE suggested Guidelines. Though most of the CBSE schools in Chennai city have implemented these earlier, SBOA has taken into consideration, parents and students and have given them sufficient time to adjust to these transitions. The New academic year will start in April 2014 versus the usual June re-opening. So that means earlier exams this year for the primary sections. And also the single long summer holidays would be split into a few weeks in March and most probably a month in May. (This was already in place from last year for classes VI and up.) Also there is going to be a shift from the usual Trimester pattern to a Semester Pattern. This was again implemented earlier for classes 6 and up bur only now being introduced in the primary sections. The school starting timings have been revised for classes 6 and up at 8:15 am and for the lower c

Amazon.in Widgets Both my Dear Kids are down with a viral fever. Just the third day into a new academic year and panic strikes! Apart from catching up on all that they missed at school, the looming concern for the kids is what the teacher will say..... Mostly teachers are quite understanding if the kids and their parents follow the leave policies. If sick and absent from school for 1 or 2 days a letter from the parent should suffice. For 3 days and more, a medical certificate from a qualified doctor is required. Taking leave for purposes other than health concerns, will have to be intimated before hand. What SBOA does quarterly, is that they communicate to the parent if the attendance percentage is lower than expected and you are supposed to make it up in the coming term. This feedback keeps you on track. Falling sick happens, taking leave for miscellaneous stuff also happens, however, as parents if we stick to the leave policies, we could definitely help our kids not f

Amazon.in Widgets School's re-opened ! Coaxed my kids to give up on their games on PS3, tablet, phone, computer & TV to get ready for a new year of academics. Surprisingly it was not too difficult. My youngest had a few questions, like - Do I have to stay for lunch at school - Do I really have to use the toilets at school - Will I have the same teacher this year too.... I confidently spouted an yes to all three. SBOA School & Junior College had this tradition that the kindergartners (student of LKG & UKG) stayed with the same teacher for two years.  This was an amazing system as the kids got to know the teacher and the teacher got to understand each kid's strengths and weakness for better or for worse. Only when I reached the school did I find out that they have shuffled the teachers. I have no clue how my kid is going to take this change of plan. But I guess as with everything else, life goes on........ I'm keeping my fingers crossed till I fi

If your kiddo eats as little as mine, I'm sure you are really worried about how they are going to handle their lunch at school. From yesterday I've started to put her lunch in her lunch box and make her finish it all by herself. It does take quite a bit of coaxing from my end to get her to finish it. I guess by the end of this month it should be easier for her to handle her lunch. If you are stuck with what to pack for her lunch and snack box, here are some ideas below Snacks Raisins, cashew nuts , walnuts, Peanuts, etc,. Carrot sticks, Cucumber slices, French fries Apple slices, Grapes, Banana. Bread sticks with a dip. Dark Chocolates. Lunch Curd Rice + Egg/Vegetable Fried Rice (Put an egg anda few vegetables into it) Chapatti rolls Poori + Cauliflower/potato Sandwiches (Peanut butter, jam, cheese spread) Try the below link for kid friendly recipies http://chennaigourmand.blogspot.in/ Try and keep the recipes simple and use easy to digest ingre

Whoever thought Bag shopping would become such a big event! I just discovered that my 3 year old has preferences in the style of bag she wants to take to school ! all this without any peer influence as of yet! God help me when that happens too! Jan sport was my choice of bag, but the cost factor made me look at other options too, as you might have already guessed, nothing matched up! Then Lo and Behold, we did find the perfect first school bag at Reebok, Besant Nagar , at a cool price of Rs.360 ( MRP Rs.599 with a 40% discount) a Red and Black one that fit her like magic! Harry potter isn't the only one who is school supplies shopping with wonder in his eyes! With that put behind us, now it's on to Lunch box, water bottle , lunch bag, pencil box, hair accessories, etc, etc. If any of you had luck with these, let me know...... Photo Courtesy :  Published in Young Nation Magazine