From the temple rooms of Mesopotamian culture to modern libraries at international schools, libraries have been filled with wisdom throughout history. The function of libraries has evolved through the ages with state-of-art facilities. However, there are few constants in the news; educating readers to gain much more than just subjective knowledge, and revealing a whole new world of information. Learning is a dynamic process, and children should always be encouraged to read beyond their textbook libraries, something that has remained constant. Education is much more than just subjective knowledge.

As a result, international schools place a great emphasis on building libraries that cater to all the academic needs of students so that they can succeed to become better citizens of the world.

There are many ways in which a library is important in an international school, and we have provided some examples from our experience.

1. Encourage the Practice of Reading
Reading is perhaps one of the most important habits that kids can acquire, and a library at an international school affords them ample opportunities to do that. International schools have state-of-the-art libraries that have an extensive collection of books ranging from child literature to encyclopedias and subject books. As is rightly said by Margaret Fuller “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” The more a child is encouraged to read, the more will he be able to build a stronger road towards a beautiful and successful future.

2. Scope of Personal Development
A student who visits libraries is more likely to acquire a passion for exploration and to score higher on tests. there have been researches that fortify this fact. In addition, in the library, one has to observe decorum and maintain silence, which instills a sense of discipline in the student.  a library in addition not only enriches a child's mind but also help shape her personality since they have to handle the book they have issued carefully and return them within their due date.

3. Boosts Concentration
It has been proven that self-reading is much more impactful than just attending formal classes. When a child reads about something in a book in the quiet environment of the library, the information is strongly absorbed by his mind. Reading the silent library area without any distraction is bound to improve the concentration of younger minds.

4. Additional Support in School Subjects
State of the art libraries in an international school has books on class subjects. These extra books provide kids with more knowledge than they are imparted in a formal class. Hence their concepts become clearer and they gain a competitive advantage over their fellow classmates.

5. Makes kids aware of general affairs
Apart from books, international school libraries house various national and international journals, academic and current affairs magazines, newspapers, and tabloids. Not only do they serve as a source of wisdom for kids, but also keep them well informed about what is happening in their country and worldwide.

India has a unique education system with a wide range of education boards at national and state levels. In the following part of the blog, we have listed the primary education boards prevalent in India, choose the best fit curriculum for your kid to ensure a successful feature for him or her.

Existing educational boards of India

• State Boards
• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
• Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
• Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE)
• National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

In the following part of this blog, we will try to provide you with a brief insight about the above-mentioned ones and which one should you should choose for your kid.

Features of State boards

1. State Boards generally have a regionally-based program and a syllabus.
2. They generally include state languages as components and a medium of instruction.
3. State Boards can conduct primary and mid-level examinations. Many boards now keep only secondary examinations.

Features of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

1. The curriculum is rote-based
2. Is usually considered tougher than the State Boards
3. Elementary students (grades 1–5) are taught language and social skills
4. Students enrolled in secondary school (grades 6–10) study science, math, social science, literature, a second language, and IT.
5. The pedagogy additionally includes music, dance, and other art forms.
6. Two national-level board exams are conducted by CBSE, AISSE (All India Secondary School Examination) for class 10th, and AISSCE (All India Senior School Certificate Examination) for 12th standard students.
7. Currently, CBSE is conducting Continuous Comprehensive Testing (CCE) from Grades 6 to 10. This involves testing students throughout the year rather than at the end of the year.

Features of Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)

1. ICSE Board focuses on the overall development of a student.
2. The ICSE curriculum provides equal emphasis to all subjects and also provides flexibility in the selection of particular subjects.
3. ICSE also gives equal weighting to languages, arts, and humanities.
4. The mode of instruction is English.

Features of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE)

1. CISCE Board places more importance on task-based learning rather than text-based learning.
2. CISCE is more language and arts-based in comparison to CBSE.
3. CISCE offers fewer subjects than CBSE.

Features of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)

1. For Grade 10, topics are selected from two basic classes of at least five subjects and one language.
2. Open Basic Education (OBE) refers to four years of primary education, which is equivalent to classes 3 to 8.
3. For Grade 10, topics are selected from two basic classes of at least five subjects and one language.
4. The NOIS Board also conducts vocational training (commerce).
5. Students may finish their exams in five years if they wish.
6. Open Basic Education (OBE) refers to four years of primary education, which is equivalent to classes 3 to 8.

Features of State Boards International Baccalaureate (IB)

1. Mathematics, physics, languages, and natural sciences are included in PYP (ages 11-years-old)
2. Students in the MYP (ages 11–16) learn eight subjects: languages, math, physics, and art as well as architecture. Students in each cohort must receive a minimum of 50 hours of instruction.
3. IBDP has three key components:
• Theory of Knowledge, which explores the nature of knowledge
• C A S – Creativity, Activity, and Service
• The Extended Essay, which requires an Independent research work

Features of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

1. The use of instructional methods of CIE can help children to learn and develop in a specific way.
2. CIE curriculum motivates students to express their creativity and understand outside the classroom, one of its major benefits.
3. Primary and secondary students can take Cambridge exams through the Main Stage. The most important exams are IGCSE, AS and A level, which students can take at Cambridge.

Did you know that it is recommended for growing kids to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity every day and according to studies only one out of four kids is able to do that! Children love to play, however as they grow with other engagements like school and other extracurricular activities their play time drops dramatically curbing physical activities as regular part of their daily life.

In addition to health benefits, physical activities strengthen mental and behavioral health of kids which in longer run makes your child optimistic, enthusiastic and confident. Engaging in physical activities boosts academic performance of students and reduces risks of anxiety, tension and depression in future and enhances the humanitarian aspect of them.

As a parent you have an important role in encouraging and promoting physical fitness in your kid. We have listed some suggestion below:

1. It's important for your child to understand why physical activity is important. Your child's doctor can also help you and your child identify sports or activities that may be appropriate. Having your child's physician explain the importance of physical activity to your child will help your child understand the importance of physical activity. You can also have your child's physician help you determine which sports and activities might be right for your child.
2. You can help your child find a sport that she enjoys. The more fun she has, the more likely she will continue it. Engage your whole family. It is a great way to share time together.
3. Pick a sport that is developmentally appropriate for your child. Children aged 7 and up aren't ready to lift weights or run 3 miles, but soccer, bicycle riding, and swimming are all well-suited activities for them at this age.
4. Provide a safe environment for your child to play and exercise. Make sure your child's equipment and the location where they play or practice are safe. You must also ensure that their clothing is appropriate and comfortable for the activity.
5. Organize a time and place for your child to exercise. Provide then with activity encouraging toys and sports activities. Young children, in particular, need easy access to balls, jump ropes, and other active toys.
6. Children who regularly see their parents participating in sports or physical activity are more likely to do so themselves. Encourage physical activities by associating with your child in physical activities. Help them learn a new sport or physical activity. Or just have fun together with activities like cycling or hiking or swimming together.
7. Utilize your kid’s free time to encourage more physical activities. Limit the time they spend watching TV, watching videos, playing video games, or using computers.

As like any other activity, it's important to avoid overdoing it. If exercise interferes with school or other activities, your child should opt for a less strenuous activity. Exercise should not hurt. If it does, your child should slow down, or try a less strenuous activity.

Physical fitness is an important contributor for the health and well-being of children. With regular physical activities children develop healthy bones, muscles and joints. Additionally, it magnifies their immunity, helps in maintaining a healthy body mass index, reduces risk of juvenile diabetes/ blood sugar, hypertension, heart problems, respiratory disorders, cholesterol and obesity in later life. It also helps in tuning of the bio clock of your kids!

Undoubtedly, getting an education in International Schools is much more advantageous because it implements a curriculum that prepares students to fit in the modern labour market and be responsible global citizens. Here are some benefits of International Schools you must look into which aids proper mental development of your kid.

A comprehensive curriculum of all-round mental development
International schools have the necessary monitoring to help students in their after-school studies. They have a fixed timetable to complete their study and homework without and distraction. If they have any extracurricular interests, these school provides the necessary facility and care for them to pursue their interest. They get a distraction-free environment where they can concentrate on their studies and interests and be successful in future life.

The values of peer study, empathy and compassion
There is nothing better if children and adolescents get to spend time with friends, play with them. It also keeps away feelings of loneliness or depression or any behavioural disorders which they experience in case parents are not able to give them enough time. In international schools, kids co-reside with their friends, learn to share things with them, and be at home away from home. Studying with kids belonging to different origins and backgrounds develops their communication skills. International school are hence great for kids who are introverts as well.

Kids grow to become more disciplined and responsible
In an international school, kids must follow certain discipline and rules. Of course, there are teachers and wardens and house parents who take care of them, but they have to take self-care, eat their own food, and do their assigned tasks themselves. They have to follow the rules as well; in-time homework, meals on time and keep things organized. Since they inculcate these habits from childhood, they grow to be self-dependent individuals with an innate sense of discipline and responsibility.

Great communication skills
One of the major drawbacks of the existing educational system in India is the lower student-teacher ratio. But the picture is quite different in International Schools, where the student-teacher ratio remains high on average. Hence students communicate more with teachers and learn new concepts easily due to more intensive care by the teachers. The aim of this program is not to mug the textbooks, rather learn more real-life applicable concepts from the teacher.

A broader and global mindset
As already said International Schools introduce students to foreign culture providing them ample scope to learn foreign languages apart from vernacular language and English. Like in JIRS the students enrolled under IGCSE Program from Grade 8 to 10, and 9 to10 have a scope to learn three languages.
This naturally brings spontaneity in the learning process that nurtures the inquisitive nature of children. Every language has its valuable aura that broadens young minds so that they can adapt even in unfavorable conditions and be successful in life.

With such benefits would you not be interested in providing your kid a better future? With highly refined education systems, international standards, exposure to multiple languages and cultures your child will naturally have a competitive advantage over other students from the contemporary curriculum.

Every parent thinks of their new-born baby as highly talented. Every activity that babies learn while growing up like learning to kick or holding their milk bottles, uttering their first words, or learning to draw or write, parents think their kids are talented in every aspect. However, every kid is born with some innate natural talent, that needs to be nurtured to attain its full bloom.

In order to motivate the natural talents of kids, they must explore multiple activities and do things that feel interested in. With more opportunities of trying new things, your kid will naturally gravitate towards activities he/she likes or is naturally talented. Rather than forcing them into something of your choice, let your kid naturally choose activities where she is interested, you can rather help them in nurturing their talents.

To motivate talent for your kid, you recognize their talents first. Here are a few ways how you can do that:

• You can have your child attend an IQ or aptitude test. Any of these tests will help you to know in which subjects your kid is naturally capable and what subjects bore him. Based on the results you can decide what ways you can nurture his natural interests.
• Look out if your kid is interested in certain academic skills like orating or writing or painting. If so you can enrol your kid in special classes for such skills.
• Notice if your kid develops an affinity towards visual arts or performing arts. You can encourage him or her to participate in school functions or competitions. Enrol them in summer camps or dance and music and art classes if you find them interested.
• Keep knowledge about summer camps and community centres around you. These places arrange a lot of offbeat competitions and trains in out-of-the-box skills like drams, various forms of performing arts, physical activity classes, martial arts, indoor and outdoor games, or technology classes. You kid will be able to explore a lot of new opportunities and might self-realize his/her natural talents.

Once you identify your kid’s natural talent or her affinity to a certain activity, you can try the following steps to motivate them:

• Never pressurize your Kid - Never push too many activities to your kid - Parents often enroll their kids in too many extracurricular activities, for which they might feel pressured and too busy to enjoy their childhood. Too much pressure will not only hinder their talent growth but also, affect their grades and health.
• Understand the need of the generation – Your kid is of a different generation than you, so their like will also be different. They might not be interested in reading or painting or music or sports as you, they might be more enthusiastic about technology, coding, or robot. Think like the present generation and embrace their likes.
• Motivate the virtue of Grit - Grit is a positive, non-cognitive trait that denotes the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals. This buzzword of the education sector means to teach students to be resilient, win over roadblocks and never lose hope.
• Listen to your child’s ideas and desires – Since this is about your child, understand what he desires to be in life and help him/her to nurture skills to attain that dream.

Students who are thinking of selecting IGSCE in their 10th grade or IBDP for their pre-college are usually confused with the choice of subjects. For a successful academic career in the future, a student must make the right choice of subjects, hence, it is imperative to understand the structure of IBDP before one finalizes the subjects.

The course has six academic options to choose from that revolve around a central core. A student can study two modern languages one modern and one classical, one subject optional for either humanities or social science, one subject option mandatory for experimental science, mathematics, and creative arts. However, a student has to choose either two humanities subjects or two subjects from other areas. For each academic session, a student is free to choose subjects according to his or her interests or subjects that would complement their study in colleges. However, it should be remembered that not all the schools offer the subjects, so while selecting the school one should check, the availability of their preferable subjects.

IBDP has three key components:

• Theory of Knowledge, which explores the nature of knowledge
• C A S – Creativity, Activity, and Service
• The Extended Essay, which requires an Independent research work

The table below represents six groups of subjects that a student can choose from:

Following is the division of how students are expected to choose subjects

• A student must compulsorily choose six subjects, three subjects each for at the Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) respectively). These subjects must additionally represent Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS).
• As IBDP aims for a comprehensive academic journey for their students, so a student must choose one subject from the first five groups of the subject table mentioned above, this ensures that a student has an extensive learning experience from language to experimental sciences, to social studies and mathematics.
• The option of the sixth subject may be chosen from the sixth group, however, if the student is not interested in Visual Arts, he or she can choose subjects from Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) of the above list or Group 4 (Sciences)

IBDP is an arduous and comprehensive curriculum for pre-university classes, specifically for 11th and 12th-grade students in the age group of 18 to 19 years. This extensive 2-year pedagogy not only aims to make students knowledgeable and inquiring but also develop the humanitarian and compassionate aspect among students. IBDP in addition emphasizes motivating in students cultural understanding and open-mindedness about the community as a whole and develop in their attitudes for an understanding and respecting views of others.

Admissions is a tough procedure these days, from collecting forms to admission tests to final admission; it is a rat race. Here is a checklist that we have lined up to ease up the admission process to ensure your kid’s successful admission to Best International Boarding Schools of India.

• Get your Kid Mentally Ready
  The transition from home life to school life is not easy, kids will have to cope with strict routines like waking up early morning, having fixed meals, organizing their belongings, and a lot of such things. Prepare your kid mentally for a routine life and encourage them to follow it religiously, if possible be with them in their every step. Students who are engaged in regular physical exercises for residential schools believe in both mental and physical enrichment of students, so prepare your kid accordingly.
• Prepare a routine and follow it religiously
  Almost all residential schools admit students based on the results of the entrance examination, hence preparation is needed in this aspect as well. Residential schools follow a structure and syllabus in the admission tests for their admission procedure. While preparing for admission to top-ranking international residential schools you must prepare your child as per the suggested curriculum mentioned in the admission procedure. Your child should know about the subjects specific to their age and class. Admission tests in reputed International Residential School, are typically all-inclusive entrance examinations. The evaluation of the students is hence based on their arithmetic, English comprehension, and reasoning capability.
• Preparing for admission interviews
  Residential schools have a round of personal interview of their prospective students. These rounds are conducted to assess a student’s confidence and attitude. Here is a list of probable questions you can prepare your kid for:
  • Self-introduction
  • What idea do you have about hostel life?
  • What is your aim in life and how do you do so?
  • How will you manage to stay away from home?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • So you can prepare your kid by setting up mock interviews at home or talking with them boosting their confidence.
• Evaluate your Kid at every step
  Once you have completed the above steps evaluate yourself. You can arrange mock interviews for your kid, or arrange previous year admission tests paper for better performance in admission tests. These days many online platforms help students to prepare for the examination, you can take their help as well. Some schools also arrange brainstorming sessions for prospective students, if your shortlisted school is offering such classes try to attend those.
• Prepare your kid for a liberal living
  After admission to an international residential school, your kid will have to co-inhabit with other students belonging to diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, and place. Your kid must have a liberal mindset and be adaptable to the food habits, beliefs, and culture of others. Additionally, he/she will have to familiarize with new learning methods and protocols of hostel life.

Your kid will be obliviously skeptical about the new things that will come to them in hostel life. You must support them in every step and unveil to them the benefits and fun part of the hostel life. Finally, this is a journey of your kid the more develops a liberal approach, maintains personal hygiene, maintains proper relations with roommates, and is disciplined, he will have an enjoyable learning experience.