Children are unique individuals who mature at different rates. In the early years, they need to develop the ability to manage feelings and behavior, to listen and to pay attention and to communicate their needs appropriately. As human beings, we communicate our emotions through our behavior and learn from the responses of the people around [...]

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For their kids’ education, there is perhaps nothing more important to the parents than getting the child into a school that is the “right one.” But how to find a school that meets the needs and expectations of the kids and the parents?
LittleStar Magazine had the honor to talk to several experienced admission officers of [...]

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admin Feature, Issue BCIS, BIBA, BSB, CISB, MSB, YCIS BJ

College Fairs are much more than an opportunity to collect colourful brochures about colleges and universities. They serve as a vital part of a student’s college research process. If done thoughtfully, students can discover unknown colleges, expand their college lists, get insider perspectives on everything from must take classes to quirky college traditions and begin [...]

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admin Feature, Issue CISS, SCIS, SSIS, YCIS SH

In a world where children are under more pressure and stress than ever, parents are also by default under that kind of pressure. We see what it takes to grow up in the new millennium and we want to protect our children from these challenges. Some people even see it is somehow easier for children [...]

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admin Issue CISB

Today’s students are so very lucky. Most of them have dozens of extracurricular options to explore, both in and out of school. The benefit of such activities to most students is irrefutable. Data from a US Educational Longitudinal Study (ELS, 2002) designed to test the impact of extracurricular activities on students identified a clear positive [...]

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Language Lessons: English Only in the School Environment?
Over many years of teaching in the early years environment in China, one issue in regards to language acquisition regularly pops up – whether or not it is better to emphasise the importance of English at their school so their children can just pick up Chinese at home. [...]

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Nearly everyone is familiar with the challenges presented by the college admission process. In addition to getting the best grades possible, there are recommendations letters, college entrance examinations, the challenges of identifying the right colleges and the seemingly unending stream of college essay revisions. No part of the process, however, strikes as much fear into [...]

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Children may appear unmotivated at school for a wide range of reasons…to gain attention, to avoid tasks, to vent frustration and anger, to seek sensory input, to win control and power, and more.
“It is most important to understand why children engage in a certain behavior,” says Junjing Fan, Occupational Therapist with the Essential Learning [...]

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At the heart of education is good communication. Communication is the key to any success in life, work and relationships. When it comes to your children’s education, you definitely want to be successful in your communications with their school. We live in a communication age where instantaneous access and 24/7 connectivity has become the new [...]

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The school playground has long been the stage for battles. Who can run the fastest or jump the highest? Such battles build confidence and mimic life’s coming struggles. Such playground antics are yesterday’s child’s play…. today’s battle occurs at the desk. More than ever before the pen has proven mightier than the sword.  Brute strength [...]

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Reading was always a big part of my childhood. My father would read to me every night and it became a ritual that went well into the 8th Grade. Reading was more than just learning new information or being transported to a new world through stories – it became a part of who I was [...]

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admin Education, Issue MSS

It takes a lot of work to get into college these days. Kids are “preparing for college” at ever younger ages. Students, particularly in and around Asia, are groomed for excellence from the time they are in Middle School. Parents looking out towards elite college admissions hire tutors to give their children an academic edge. [...]

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Sometimes it feels as if there are far too few colleges out there to meet the demand of the growing pool of industrious students and their parents. Tens of thousands of students and their families put a tremendous amount of energy and hope into getting not just into college, [...]

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- What Colleges Really Want in Students

Woe to the students of today. Many spend their High School years running themselves ragged (or are run ragged by their parents) with their sole goal of being accepted into a ‘top college’.  Now, in no way will I say that gaining acceptance at one of a handful of [...]

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Fall is here again. The air is cool, the sky is blue and High School students return to classes refreshed and renewed. Unfortunately, for many High School students, especially seniors, the return to school after junior year summer is fraught with significant stress, so much so that the blue sky, if it is blue, goes [...]

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