SHARJAH // At 35, Emirati teacher Hani Khalil spends most of his days in front of a government school classroom, but this week he found himself learning alongside sixth-graders at an Australian curriculum school.
Everything about his new environment was different from Mr Khalil’s home school, Sultan Bin Saqr. The pupils spoke English, not Arabic. The open-concept classrooms were surrounded by glass walls. Pupils sat in groups around small tables as they pinched and tapped their personal iPads to complete assignments and communicate with each other and their teacher, 56-year-old Jean McDonald.
Mr Khalil took notes and nodded as Mrs McDonald instructed her pupils and demonstrated an online reading programme called myON, which tracks and promotes children’s reading comprehension.
The immersive exercise is repeated once a week for 8 weeks as part of a mentoring programme between Emirati public-school teachers and principals and their peers from the Victoria International School of Sharjah (VISS).
The idea is to promote an exchange of knowledge and practical ideas between the two vastly different academic cultures.
Mr Khalil said the regular visits to VISS had helped introduce him to new concepts as a teacher.
“I’m attending different classes, so I catch some ideas from each,” said Mr Khalil, a sixth-grade special-needs teacher who is working on developing programmes at his school aimed at improving pupils’ reading, writing and maths skills. “You know, more methods of learning, a lot of strategies and how to use the computer. We get better ideas of how to assess the students.”
When it was launched last year, more than 70 Emirati teachers and 50 principals from 50 government primary schools were mentored by VISS staff. The Sharjah Educational Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, extended the programme this year to include about 30 teachers and 20 principals from government secondary schools.
“This year, we had a record number of our teachers volunteering to take part in the programme as mentors. Everyone wants to be involved,” said Dr Roderick Crouch, principal at VISS.
Each day of the weekly programme includes classroom observations and specially designed workshops covering a range of topics, including the difference in the learning capabilities of boys and girls, student well-being, best practices and curriculum planning in English, mathematics, science and Arabic, and using technology, Dr Crouch said.
He also leads management training for the principals, where issues such as performance management, teacher appraisal, implementing technology in classrooms and time management are addressed.
An Emirati principal, Bader Al Hosany, said the workshops had introduced him to novel procedures and strategies.
“They have also more experience here,” said Mr Al Hosany, 40.
Another principal, Waleed Nasser, said it was beneficial to see how other schools operate.
“We asked for these kinds of workshops,” Mr Waleed said. “Most of our work is dependent on the zone or the council or the Ministry of Education, but here at an independent school, you have your own way of choosing, deciding, so this was very helpful for us.
“So, we will adapt it in our own way. Dealing with a weak teacher, for example, or student, this will help us. Most of what is mentioned in the programme, we do need in our school, but in a different way. It’s good experience for us to have a workshop in a private school and this was very helpful.
“We have a lot of challenges in school and having more than one point of view is better for us.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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