The current methods of Chinese learning are focused primarily on learning the most commonly used characters of the language. While this is highly practical, researchers and educators are exploring an alternative approach. This approach incorporates a second focus; on getting students to learn and recognise the ‘trunk’ characters that are present in complex words. By knowing 木 (wood) for example, students will be able to more intuitively recognise 森林 as forest. Or, by knowing 日 (sun, day) and 月 (month, moon), students find it easier to learn 明 (bright).

The debate rages on, and educators may get ever more creative in their teaching of Chinese.

Full article on BBC: A better way to learn Chinese?

A balanced approach that incorporates the learning of ‘trunk’ characters could be the way forward for Chinese language learning.

Jack Andraka, a 16-yr old, won at Intel’s science fair in 2012 after developing a cheap and simple cancer detection test. His brother Luke, at 18 years of age, is a MIT Think Award winner and was a finalist twice in the Intel competition.

Forbes magazine spoke to Jack and Luke’s parents to find out how they raised such intelligent children. The key lies in teaching your children to think about problems on their own and form innovative solutions. Other tenets pointed out by the parents include:

i) Encourage your children to focus on a single project: “When you focus just on a specific goal or problem and wrap your head around the goal, it opens up all kinds of creativity and problem solving,” said Mrs Andraka.

ii) Do not set too many rules: Rules can kill creativity, and it boxes up children. The Andrakas keep to a simple – “Treat people with respect, do your homework, be honest, and try to be safe.”

iii) Set expectations early: The Andrakas set the expectation with their children that they would attend university since they were at primary school.

Full story at Forbes: The Genius of Raising Brilliant Kids – A Conversation with Jack Andraka’s Parents

Jack Andraka won the Youth Award at Smithsonian Magazine’s Annual Ingenuity Awards

Children are able to translate implicit learning into explicit knowledge more effectively after sleep, according to a new study conducted by the University of Tübingen’s Institute for Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology. The reinforcement of knowledge is more efficient in children than in adults, suggesting that children benefit even more from sleep.

The research tested the implicit knowledge of children aged 8-11 and young adults. They were exposed to a series of actions, without being aware of the existence of the series itself, and were tested for knowledge of the series. A group of test subjects were tested following a night’s sleep, whereas another group of subjects were tested after a day’s rest without sleep.

Read more at Science Daily or RedOrbit

Sleep reinforces learning

In a recent study conducted by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, it was found that children who hung out with more intelligent friends experienced improvements in their academic performance. The research tracked the social network of 16 and 17 year olds over a period of 12 months, asking respondents to identify people in their social networks as acquaintances, friends or best friends. It was found that the influence of friends on subjects’ academic performance was the strongest, compared to the influence of acquaintances and best friends.

For more details, refer to the articles on Business Standard or Indianexpress

hanging out with the right crowd is important to improving academic performance

In a latest study published by University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, it was concluded that children who did not have breakfast on a regular basis had lower IQs of about 4.6 points; 5.58 points lower in the verbal component, and 2.50 points lower in the performance component. The study involved 1,269 six-year olds from China. The results are adjusted for 7 socio-demographic confounders.

Apparently, poor breakfast habits has already been associated with unhealthy behaviours such as smoking, frequent alcohol use, and infrequent exercise.

Full article: Kids Who Eat Breakfast May Have Slightly Higher IQs

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; one that is not to be skipped!

MOE has just released the cut-off points of students admitted into the secondary schools and JCs at secondary 1 level for 2013. Schools in the top 10 spots have mostly retained their positions. Movers and shakers for this year include Manjusri Secondary, Woodlands Secondary, ACS (Barker) and Edgefield Secondary. Manjusri Secondary moved up 11 places to 93rd after its cut-off point increased to 205 from 200. The cut-off point of ACS Barker jumped up by 9 points to 198, and it was the only school that did not admit non-affiliated students.

Temasek JC has entered the list as it admits its inaugural batch of Secondary 1 Integrated Programme (IP) students. Students will need a minimum of 251 in aggregate score to join the programme. St. Nicholas Girls’, Catholic High and Singapore Chinese Girls’ School have started admitting students into a joint Integrated Programme that will see their students progress directly to a new government junior college.

Top 20 most popular secondary/JCs of 2013, based on the minimum cut-off points needed for entry.

For the full article and ranking, refer to: Secondary School Ranking 2013 Based on PSLE Intake

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More hope is served up for salvaging our environment. The Formula E, an alternative to F1 in which fully electric cars are used, has been approved by motorsport’s governing body – the FIA. The first race is expected to be held in Europe in 2014. The cars involved are expected to look like those of F1, except that they may have better acceleration. Because a single battery is not expected to last an entire 60-min high speed race, either a battery change or a change of car is needed during the race. As trials for in-race battery change failed safety requirements, drivers will hop over to another car instead.

It would serve Singapore really well to host Formula E rather than Formula 1. The government may even start allowing Singaporeans to buy 2 cars each, for quick changeovers.

Full Story on BBC: Formula E – Electric Cars Enter the Fast Lane

Formula E, expected to launch its first race in 2014

In a new study which examined all established findings ever made to date, it is found that the intake of fish oil and attendance of pre-school are most effective in raising the IQ of children. Supplementing pregnant women’s and newborns’ diet with Omega-3 could boost the IQ of children by more than 3.5 points. The attendance of pre-school may raise children’s IQ by more than 4 points. The study is conducted at the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Full story on Firstpost: Diet, quality pre-school can boost kid’s IQ

According to a  study published in the International Journal of Psychology, 84 percent of parents in the US and 98 percent of parents in China lie to get their children to behave. The most common lie told by parents in both countries is the same; that the child will be left behind to his/her tantrum while parents walk away.

Another lie that is common to both countries is that parents will buy a particular toy the next time, in an indefinite future. Interestingly, experts have labelled parents’ lying to children clinically as ‘instrumental lying’.

More at BBC: Most parents ‘lie to their children’

Where should we draw the line when it comes to lying to children?