Reading & Writing is a Must to Learn English

Today's digital age, where electronic devices are prevalent, presents a challenge to parents. Due to this, reading and writing skills are often overlooked. Many children face difficulties in these areas, even if they excel in other subjects. Research shows that excessive use of electronic screens can hinder children's language development, particularly in reading and writing.

The foundation of learning English or any other language is literacy. Being part of your child's literacy journey involves more than buying them books and watching them read. It's about helping them understand what they read and encouraging discussions about the content, both verbally and in writing. To support your child's success in their English learning journey, we've compiled strategies to help them master reading and writing skills.

Actively Read out the Words

For children in the early reading stage, read alongside them loudly. Literacy will take shape once they are used to seeing and hearing the words. This is the basis of learning phonics and engraving phonemic awareness.

Always encourage your child to pronounce the words. Use pictures or real-life objects that relate to the words they are trying to pronounce. If there are any words that they are struggling with, let them write those words. This would stimulate their motor skills and establish their writing technique. From there they will develop a connection to the language and use that to describe the world around them. Based on the reading material, ask questions that enable them to recall what they have just read. This would help them start conversations naturally.

Confidence in Writing is by Practicing

Practicing writing here does not simply refer to them doing writing exercises in a book. It is to let them experience and practice writing freely. Journaling is a common concept as it encourages children to compartmentalize their emotions and thoughts onto a piece of paper. There are also card-writing and letter-writing that help them write to a person.

The aim of having them practice is for them to grow more confident in their writing technique and writing out their voice. Read with them what they write and ask them to try again if some words remain unclear.

Comprehensive Learning Program

A more effective method than participating in various activities is structured learning through a program that systematically teaches reading and writing to children. It would be particularly beneficial if this program offered an integrated approach to teaching the English language. The learning environment of the program can also accelerate their learning while ensuring that they achieve full mastery.

Eye Level English is equipped with engaging booklets and teaching tools that can boost your child’s literacy in English as early as 4 years old. Flashcards, sound charts, you name it. Our literacy program is all-inclusive from phonics to reading and then writing. We offer blended learning for students to engage in online and offline materials. Lastly, we expose them to content knowledge so they would acquire broad knowledge in multiple topics like art, history and literature.

Eye Level is coming to the Malaysia Kids’ Expo in Pavillion Bukit Jalil from 30th August - 1st September where you can find out more about Eye Level programs for your child. We will have fun activities and collect an exclusive voucher for you to enroll. Come on over!

About Eye Level

Eye Level is a global educational organization that enhances children's potential through tailored math and English programs. With a focus on individualized learning, Eye Level strives to make education enjoyable and fulfilling for every student, ensuring learning that's always at your child's level. Find out more at myeyelevel.com

This post was brought to you by Eye Level Malaysia

Celebrating 20 Years of Educational Excellence: Eye Level Malaysia's Journey

This July 2024, Eye Level Malaysia is celebrating a significant milestone – 20 years of empowering young minds and fostering academic excellence across the nation. Since its establishment in 2004, Eye Level Malaysia has grown into a trusted name in the education sector, known for its innovative approach and commitment to nurturing students’ potential.

A Remarkable Journey

From its humble beginnings as a single learning center, Eye Level Malaysia has expanded nationwide and has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students. The journey has been driven by a unique educational philosophy that focuses on individualized learning paces and tailored instruction, setting Eye Level apart in a competitive landscape.

A Commitment to Individualised Learning

At the heart of Eye Level's success is its philosophy of 'Learning That’s Always at Your Child’s Level.' This guiding principle underpins Eye Level’s mission to provide comprehensive and tailored educational programs in Mathematics and English. For 2 decades, Eye Level has been committed to nurturing children's potential through individualized learning experiences. We tailored math and English programs to cater to children aged 4-15, promoting critical thinking and academic achievement in a supportive environment. By catering to the diverse needs of students, Eye Level ensures each child progresses at their own pace, mastering foundational concepts along the way.

"We are immensely proud to celebrate 20 years of Eye Level Malaysia," said Mr. Brian Kim, Country Manager of Eye Level Malaysia. "This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to educational excellence and the trust that parents and students have placed in us. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to evolving and enhancing our programs to meet the changing needs of our students."

Looking Ahead

As Eye Level Malaysia embarks on its next chapter, the organization is poised to continue its legacy of excellence in education. With plans to expand its reach and introduce new, innovative programs, Eye Level is committed to shaping the future of education in Malaysia and beyond. Last year Eye Level Malaysia launched Puzzle Challenge Pack (PCP), a puzzle toy for children to develop their mind and motor skills from the early age of 4 years old. This year Eye Level Malaysia is going to launch TuniTuni, a play gym for kids 18-60 months old. It is another brand from Korea as well and is widely considered the no 1 kids' gym over there.

Eye Level Malaysia's 20th-anniversary celebration is not just a look back at the past, but also a vision for the future – a future where every student is empowered to reach their fullest potential.

Eye Level 20th Anniversary Promotion

Enroll your child during our special 20th Anniversary Promotion from July 1-31, 2024, and receive a limited edition Eye Level Block Set. Visit myeyelevel.com for more details or Google Eye Level Malaysia. Visit any of our 100 centers in Malaysia if you prefer to walk in.

For more information about Eye Level Malaysia and the 20th-anniversary promotion, visit www.myeyelevel.com or contact one of our 100 learning centers nationwide.

This post was brought to you by Eye Level Malaysia.

About Eye Level

Eye Level is a global educational organization dedicated to enhancing children's potential through tailored math and English programs. With a focus on individualized learning, Eye Level strives to make education enjoyable and fulfilling for every student, ensuring learning that's always at your child’s level.

Gear Up for Standard 1 Registration! (2025/2026 Intake)

 

It's that exciting time again for parents – Standard 1 registration! Here's a quick guide to ensure a smooth process for enrolling your child in the 2025/2026 academic year. If you have any questions while going through the process, please proceed to our Facebook group - The Malaysia Primary School Parents on Facebook group.

Key points for Std 1 Registration (2025/2026 Intake):

Who: Children born between 2/1/2018 - 1/1/2019

When: 2/5/2024 - 30/6/2024

Where: Online at https://idme.moe.gov.my/login 

Results: 1/10/2024 - 31/10/2024

How to Register?

Here's a breakdown of the registration process:

 
Step 1: Create a Profile on idme.moe.gov.my:

New users need to register on the website. Before you start, read the User Manual and follow the step-by-step instructions with pictures provided.

Step 2: Register your Child: After creating your profile, proceed to register your child for the 2025/2026 intake. Follow the instructions provided by the system. Here is a good reference guide as well.

Step 3: Print and Submit Application Form: Upon online registration completion, print the application form. Visit the school and submit the form along with the required documents (see below). 

Required Documents
Please confirm with the school. Submission dates will start on 2/5/2024 to 30/6/2024 excluding weekends and public holidays, during office hours with breaks for lunch. Please check with the school for their office hours for submission.

Birth Certificate and MyKid Card
Utility bills (e.g., TNB, Water, or Electricity)
Parent/Guardian's MyKad
Parent/Guardian's Pay Slip
Marriage Certificate or Divorce/Annulment Certificate (whichever applies)
Vaccination record
OKU card (if applicable)
Stamped envelope (if requested by the school for sending hardcopy results)

This is a general list. Always double-check with the school to ensure you have all the necessary documents before submitting your application so that you can complete everything in one visit. You can view the letters of instructions from various schools here to see if your school is in the list.

Support:

Below is the contact information for support if you face technical issues during registration

Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM), Blok E8, Kompleks E, 

Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62604 Putrajaya, Malaysia. 

E-mel : supportidMe@moe.gov.my

Bonus Tip: Bookmark this guide or print a copy for easy reference as you approach the registration dates. Additionally, explore the Ministry of Education's website (https://www.moe.gov.my/) for any updates or announcements related to Standard 1 registration.

Fostering Critical Thinking in Our Children

In parenting, we always hear buzzwords like “critical thinking” or “think critically”. In this context is about nurturing our children to think critically. We often hear this term as parents due to its importance in developing our children to be the next generation's leaders.

What does critical thinking mean?

It is the ability to compare, contrast, evaluate, understand, organize and classify information. That’s a lot of words, but you get the gist. Critical thinking is mostly applied to solve problems and/or to analyze a piece of information.

It may seem a lot to ask for a child to think critically. Nevertheless, doing it early can set a foundation that should be helpful for their development and future careers. Researchers say to kickstart a child’s critical thinking skill by making logic and scientific reasoning explicit or engaging them in a debate-like situation.

Children are naturally curious yet when they ask us a question, they always expect a straightforward answer. Rephrase the question to be more thought-provoking. Ask them what they think, the ‘whys’ and the ‘hows. This would allow the children to think more deeply about the subject. Present to them some pieces of evidence and logical reasoning so that they can think about other perspectives of the answer as well.

Another great way to develop critical thinking is to open conversations about biases. Kids can still understand how emotions or feelings can affect their judgment in any given situation. The key here is to let them understand and think why they are feeling that and give their reasons why they feel that. For example, if you say to children, what you think about eating insects, they will react and answer that it is disgusting. However, we know that in some parts of the world, this is considered normal.

Eye Level Malaysia has designed its programs for children to apply their critical thinking in Math and English. This rings especially true for math for they have a module called Critical Thinking Math (CTM). The CTM module encourages students to apply the concepts they have learned in different situations for which they would cultivate their problem-solving skills.

Enroll in Eye Level now and get a free diagnostic test to determine your child’s learning level. Find out more at myeyelevel.com or Google Eye Level Malaysia. We have over 100 learning centers in Malaysia so feel free to visit any of them.

This post was brought to you by Eye Level Malaysia.

Pack Perfect Lunches: A Guide to School Food Containers

Packing school lunches is a daily ongoing battle for many parents. You want to send your child to school with healthy, delicious food that will stay fresh and warm all day. But with so many lunchbox options, choosing the right containers can be overwhelming. This guide will break down the best types of food containers for your school-aged child. Let us explore the various container options to ensure your child's school lunches stay fresh, organized, and perfectly portioned.

Image Credit: The Kawaii Yellow Duck Food Container is from here: https://shope.ee/7pW0H1oUgO

Classic Containers:

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/2LB3eOhoaY

Lunchboxes: The tried-and-true option! Insulated lunchboxes come in various sizes and styles, keeping food cool or warm (depending on the contents). Look for leakproof options with compartments for organized packing. Some even have space for ice packs!

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/B6Z4Y8y3y

Bento Boxes: These compartmentalized boxes are perfect for portion control and variety. They come in fun shapes and sizes, making lunchtime exciting for younger kids.

Available at Lazada: https://s.lazada.com.my/s.8OI3z?cc

Reusable Bags: Eco-friendly and lightweight, reusable lunch bags are a great option for older kids. Pair them with leakproof containers for a sustainable and stylish lunch solution.

Leakproof Containers:

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/20YDHB10Hn

Mini Sauce Bottle: If you are providing your child with food that contain sauces and dips, consider getting mini sauce bottles that they can use just before eating to prevent food from getting soggy. They're the perfect size for dips, sauces, or small snacks like berries.

Available at Lazada: https://s.lazada.com.my/s.8OIx8?cc

Silicone Pouches: These flexible, reusable pouches are leakproof wonders. They're great for packing simple snacks and fruits. They're also easy to store and space saving.

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/1fvMt7fP5e

Thermoses: For hot lunches that stay hot, invest in a thermos. Soups, stews, and pasta dishes stay piping hot until lunchtime, ensuring a satisfying meal.

Portion Control Containers:

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/7zpQR26ETr

Snack Containers: Small containers with tight-fitting lids are perfect for packing individual portions of fruits, veggies, or crunchy treats. This helps prevent over-snacking and keeps lunches organized.

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/30QkUL8LUY

Divided Trays: These trays with compartments are ideal for packing a variety of foods without them touching. They're great for picky eaters or kids with allergies who need to avoid certain ingredients. Do check to see if they are airtight. Do not store liquid if they're not to prevent spillage.

Available at Shopee: https://shope.ee/10fg6olWNH

Bonus Tips: 

Label everything! Use reusable name tags or write directly on containers with a permanent marker or label stickers to avoid lunchtime mix-ups.

Available at Lazada: https://s.lazada.com.my/s.8OHnN?cc

Insulated Lunch Bags: Some lunch boxes come with matching lunch bags. You can also get lunch bags separately. They are usually insulated and waterproof to keep food warm and for easy cleanups

Choosing the Right Material:

Consider the following when choosing the material of your food container. 

Glass: Eco-friendly and non-porous, glass containers are perfect for storing leftovers and non-acidic foods. However, they can be heavy and break easily, making them less ideal for younger children.

Stainless Steel: Durable and lightweight, stainless steel containers are a great all-around option. They're leakproof, shatterproof, and resist odors and stains. However, they're not microwave-safe and can dent.

Plastic: Opt for BPA-free plastic containers. These are lightweight, affordable, and come in various shapes and sizes. However, some plastics can leach chemicals over time, so choose them for short-term storage.

Silicone: These flexible and heat-resistant containers are perfect for packing snacks and freezing leftovers. They're lightweight, leakproof, and easy to clean. However, they may not be suitable for very hot or cold foods.

Choosing the Right Container For Your Child:

Consider your child's age, preferences, and the types of food they typically eat. Opt for leakproof containers for wet foods, and insulated options for hot or cold lunches. Remember, a well-packed lunch sets your child up for a successful school day, and the right container can make all the difference!