MANAS Learning

Why do Indian parents need to rethink how we teach spelling? As Indian parents, we are very invested in our children's academics, as we culturally believe that proper education leads to better jobs and a better future. In this process, we often see that our children are struggling or confused with spellings, and God forbid if our child asks a question like why there is a k in Knife and why it is silent, then most of us have no answers or end up wondering why. India has been traditionally using the whole word method, which is reading the word as a whole, not phonetically breaking the word into sounds and reading or spelling. Just consider this: if a grown adult has a vocabulary of 4 lakh words or more, and just imagine learning all these spellings by heart without logic or rhyme. The generation is changing. We are bringing up our children where they are more curious and have no fear of asking a question, unlike us. Would it not be better to teach them the spelling rules, the differe...

Brain Development for Kids Through Simple, Everyday Play As parents and educators, we all want children to grow up smart, happy, and emotionally strong. But here's something important to remember: Brain development for kids doesn't happen through worksheets or screen time. It happens through PLAY. Play is not just fun—it's essential for brain growth . When children play, they're not just passing time. They are building attention, memory, language, creativity, and problem-solving skills. What You'll Learn in This Guide: How play builds different parts of the brain Why Indian children especially benefit from "whole-body" play 3 child brain growth activities (games) you can start today Why Play is Powerful for the Growing Brain Critical Brain Development Statistics Between birth and age 10, a child's brain is growing at lightning speed . In fact, 90% of brain development happens before age 6 . During this time, brain cells (neurons) are forming...

  How to Know If a Child Needs Help – Beyond Grades Looking Beneath the Surface of Student Performance As educators, we've all encountered students whose academic performance doesn't tell the complete story. A child might be maintaining passing grades while struggling internally, or conversely, poor grades might mask a complex web of underlying issues that require different interventions. In today's educational landscape, particularly in the post-pandemic era, teachers face the challenge of distinguishing between various types of learning challenges: temporary learning gaps, persistent learning difficulties, and the increasingly common attention problems associated with excessive screen time. Understanding these distinctions isn't just academic—it's crucial for providing appropriate support and ensuring no child falls through the cracks. Let's explore how to identify when a student needs help and what type of support might be most effective. Spotting the...

  The Complex Dance: Realising the Value of Children's Development of Fine Motor Skills One of the most intriguing facets of childhood development is the development of fine motor skills. These tiny muscle movements, especially in the hands and fingers, set the stage for a variety of everyday tasks as well as future academic achievement. Children build neural pathways that support both physical dexterity and cognitive development as they hone these skills, from writing their name to grasping a rattle. What Are Fine Motor Skills? The coordination of tiny muscle movements in the fingers, typically in tandem with the eyes, is called fine motor skills. These abilities make it possible to perform vital tasks like: Writing and drawing Using scissors and utensils Buttoning clothing and tying shoelaces Building with blocks Handling small objects Turning pages in a book Fine motor skills necessitate accuracy and involve more intricate neural connections than gross m...

The Science of Spelling: Why Explicit Teaching of Spelling Rules Is Essential for Student Success In an era of spell-check and autocorrect, spelling rules have taken a backseat in many classrooms. But consider this crucial difference: Indian languages are phonetic, while English is not. English presents unique challenges with: Eight different spelling patterns for a single sound (long A: a, ai, a-e, ea, eigh, ay, ey, ei) Silent letters that don't exist in Indian languages Beyond improving spelling, explicit instruction enhances vocabulary growth, reading comprehension, and general literacy. Let's explore why structured spelling instruction benefits all students and discover engaging activities to make spelling both effective and enjoyable. Cracking the Code: The Science Behind Spelling Success The Reading-Spelling Connection: Two Sides of the Same Coin Spelling and reading development are intimately linked, as research consistently demonstrates. When students receive e...