Teach Middle East Magazine September 2014 Issue 1 Vol. 2 | Page 21

Featured School
National Day is celebrated with much
fanfare and is a whole school community
event, led by the school’s Arabic staff.
They create their own traditional
heritage village with animals, traditional
crafts and cookery, which takes three or
four days to be put in place. Students
then spend the morning visiting the
heritage village. A big assembly follows
where the UAE cultural dances and
other traditions are performed. Finally,
in the afternoon, the families come in
and it becomes a big picnic on the field.

excited to go as they are treated to a
wide range of reading material in both
Arabic and English.
“Reading is the most important skill
children learn when they come to
school. Without being able to read, they
are denied access to so many things in
life. We not only want our children to be
able to decode words; we want them to
develop a love of reading,” states Mr
Howsen.

There are a number of activities in
place that encourage students to read.
A few weeks ago, students made their
own books, which they then sold to
their parents. This was for them to
say ‘we are authors’. They used the
money for a charity project. This kind of
activity builds confidence and inspires
creativity amon