The 12 Best Graphic Novels for Your Kids

If your child enjoys reading and looking at illustrations, it’s a great way to introduce the fun of reading children’s graphic novels or comics. Below are twelve of the best in the genre that your child might love.

1. The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2006)
Even without text, the illustrations tell a heartwarming story of an immigrant’s struggles in an imaginary world. The comics aims to portray the difficult life of immigrants in a way that children will understand.

2. El Deafo by Cece Bell (2014)
Cece moves into a new class where all her classmates are curious about her unusual hearing aid. The story will introduce your child to the struggles of children with disabilities.

3. Poppies of Iraq by Brigitte Findakly (2017)
See Iraq in a different light before the devastating conflicts of recent times has placed the country in a bad light. The comics shows a different side of Iraq and introduces its rich history.

4. Little Robot by Ben Hatke
Explore life as a robot in this heartwarming story of Little Robot and his friends. Kids younger than 5 years will also enjoy this volume because it’s easy to read.

5. Flight, Edited by Kazu Kibushi
This comic anthology features several different stories in a total of eight volumes. Your child might love the beautiful illustrations in this series.

6. Hereville 2: How Mirka Met a Meteorite by Barry Deutsch (2012)
This sequel to the Mirka series features a delightful story of Mirka and a meteor that has been turned into her twin because of an evil witch.

7. Laika by Nick Abadzis (2007)
Inspired by the real-life dog named Laika that was the first canine to be sent to space, the story is told from different points of view, including that of the dog herself before she was chosen by the scientists.

8. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen (2006)
Made up of three different stories, it features the tales of Sun Wukong, Jin Wang, and Danny. Jin Wang and Danny’s cousin both experience the difficult transition of having to live in America.

9. The Adventures of Tintin by Herge (1929)
This acclaimed series introduces the Belgian reporter Tintin and his dog Snowy, who went on to experience fantastic adventures and meet different people along the way.

10. Clan Apis by Jay Hosler (2000)
Written by a biologist, it tells the story of the honey bee Nyuki in a five-volume comic series.

11. Sleepless Knight by James Sturm, Alexis Frederick-Frost, and Andrew Arnold (2015)
The Knight is about to leave for an adventure, but to her surprise, her precious Teddy is missing. She then went searching for it in the woods.

12. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware (2000)
Published as a serial in a newspaper, this comic series introduces Jimmy Corrigan and his long-lost father whom he met for the first time in 36 years.

The Numbers Battle: Dyscalculia and Its Solutions

At some point, many of us have wondered why we need to learn it because it does not seem to have any practical use in real life. That’s because we fail to realize that the logic behind it is the name of the game. The challenge found in comprehending an algebraic expression, for example, teaches one to become more analytical and skillful in problem solving of any nature, not just mathematical, which means it actually does help us in real life—just not directly.

Difficulty in learning math is normal, but when it seems severely impossible to understand even the basic ones, it may have underlying and serious issue which may already be “Dyscalculia.” This term is understood as a brain condition where one finds it hard to get math or number concepts and usually occur to kids and some adults. The disorder has been called a “math disorder” and “math disability”; in some cases, it’s simply labeled as a subtype of dyslexia. Dyscalculia is not popularly recognized in some countries yet, in Singapore for example, there is minimal awareness about this condition alone because it is closely similar to dyslexia or ADHD. Persons with such disorder have higher chances of developing dyscalculia as it can be a co-existing condition.

Symptoms occur in varying levels and at different school ages, such as kindergarten, grade school/middle school and high school. Warning signs can be very specific to each level, but inability to understand basic mathematical concepts is its clearest indicator. Diagnosis on the other hand, require professional interventions such as attending a medical exam with pediatrician or physician, assessment with an educational professional, consulting with a psychologist, observation from teachers and putting all recommendations or observations together.

If diagnosed with dyscalculia, there are solutions that can come from professionals and at home to combat the battle of learning. These must be consistent and according to the care plan support of the child in order to receive relevant amount of progress.

Professional Help:

• Teacher or Tutor: If your love one has been identified with Dyscalculia, it is best to coordinate with the school involving their teachers to come up and implement a support plan and accommodation. This includes special attention and intervention through one on one instruction or in small groups, depending on the level of difficulty. Moreover, informal support from their teachers would be of big assistance, set up a meeting with their instructors and reach strategies that can further help and monitor the affected person’s progress.

• Psychologist: It is unavoidable that Dyscalculia can take a toll on someone’s self-esteem and perception that depression may start to kick in. It is helpful to reach a Psychologist or mental health professional to help you and your love one manage the stress it brings.

At Home

• Parents: Support starts from home and there could nothing be more valuable than getting understood by the ones they live with. Parents can reach out to some advocates who are parents themselves and get educated on how to manage Dyscalculia through strategies and parental ways that can be done at home. If strategies do not work the first time, no need to panic. There is more to learn and apply. Knowing the child or diagnosed person further is the key on how to come up with more creative and customized programs.

The takeaway is to learn more about your love one’s condition. It is as difficult but there are more available help out there to make it.

5 Study Tips to Help You Pass Every Exam

Exams are always scary for students. However, following proper study habits will help overcome and pass every test. To provide help and encourage you to do well in your next tests, here are some tips for a foolproof study habit.

1. Colour Code Your Notes

Whether it is your planner, report notes, or personal study notes, colour coding them makes everything easier to remember. For example, if you put all your deadlines and quizzes and exams schedule in a planner, have them in colours green, yellow, and blue respectively. For study notes, maybe have the must-remember math formulas in yellow, definitions in pink, and dates and references in blue.

2. Manage Your Time Well

Cramming to study a four-class worth of material the night before the test is almost impossible. While there are some who can nail it, lessons aren’t learned well because everything is simply memorized. When studying, it is important to understand everything to retain the knowledge for longer time. And the best way to achieve this is to space out your study sessions. Start studying at least three nights before an exam.

3. Highlight Important Points In Your Textbook

While not many, there are some professors who allow their students to use their textbooks during exams. If you happen to have the same exam structure, you better make sure every important point is highlighted in your book. Sticky notes and highlighting would get you to the answers quickly before the time runs out—or before your professor changes his mind.

4. Take Advantage of Practice Exams

Practice exams are God’s gift to students…so use them! If your professor gives you a practice exam, take advantage of it because your final exam will likely be close to this one. Write notes on your practice exam sheet, highlight, colour code, and use this to review our lessons.

5. Stay Away From Procrastination

Never procrastinate when studying. Sure, breaks in between studies is needed to relax the brain every once in a while, but make sure to allot a specific amount of time to relax. Once you have answered correctly your practice exams and have studied every single subject you have, you can then reward yourself that well-deserved break.

Whether it is for a small quiz or for a big final test, these study tips will serve as your guide in helping you study your lessons and passing your exams. However, remember that the most effective study habit still requires organization, customization, and full dedication.