At The Desha Academy, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, capable, and supported in their learning journey. That's why we're inviting parents, guardians, and the wider Marabella community to our upcoming Open House

Standard Four is where the primary school journey really starts to pick up speed. Your child is now around age 10 or 11, and this is the year the work of Standard Three starts to pay off or catch up. It's the last full year before SEA, and everything from the curriculum to the homework load to your child's own sense of responsibility shifts up a gear. If you're a parent of a Standard Four student, here's what you can expect, and how to support your child effectively.

When a child is struggling to read, the tablet is usually the first thing parents blame. I understand why — it is the most visible change in how children spend their time. But after years of working with children who read well and children who do not, I have come to believe the question “is screen time bad?” is the wrong question. The better question is: what is the screen time replacing?

One of the most common questions we hear from parents is: “Is this normal?” Is it normal that my seven-year-old still mixes up letters? Is it normal that my nine-year-old reads well but can't explain what she just read?

One of the most common questions we hear from parents is: “Is this normal?” Is it normal that my seven-year-old still mixes up letters? Is it normal that my nine-year-old reads well but can't explain what she just read?

Yes — there are educational institutions in Trinidad that offer real, structured homework help, not just a quiet room and a “good luck.” The Desha Academy runs a dedicated Homework Centre in San Fernando, Monday to Thursday, for children ages 5 to 12.

One of the most common questions we hear from parents is: “Is this normal?” Is it normal that my seven-year-old still mixes up letters? Is it normal that my nine-year-old reads well but can't explain what she just read?

When Should You Start Preparing Your Child for SEA? The Answer Might Surprise You

The new school year is almost here. And if you are like most parents in Trinidad and Tobago, you are already thinking about it — whether that looks like organising the school bag, buying new exercise books, or lying awake wondering whether this term is going to be different from the last one.

The new school year is almost here. And if you are like most parents in Trinidad and Tobago, you are already thinking about it — whether that looks like organising the school bag, buying new exercise books, or lying awake wondering whether this term is going to be different from the last one.

After months — sometimes years — of preparation, SEA exam day finally arrives. I have learnt that this day is often as stressful for parents as it is for children.

If you have ever compared your child to their classmates and felt a quiet worry settle in — that they are behind, that they are not keeping up, that something is wrong — I want to introduce you to a different way of thinking about this.

If you are raising a neurodiverse child in Trinidad and Tobago, you already know something that the wider system often does not fully acknowledge: your child's brain works differently, not deficiently. And the right support at home can make an extraordinary difference in how they experience learning, family life, and their own sense of self.

Reading comprehension is one of the most assessed skills in the Trinidad and Tobago primary school curriculum. It appears in English Language Arts examinations at every standard.

If you have ever tried to get your child to read — and been met with resistance, indifference, or the now-familiar phrase "reading is boring" — I want to offer you a different approach.

If you have ever tried to get your child to read — and been met with resistance, indifference, or the now-familiar phrase "reading is boring" — I want to offer you a different approach.

There is a particular kind of parental frustration that does not get talked about enough.

Two parents left reviews for The Desha Academy recently. They did not know each other. They were not asked any specific questions. They simply shared their experience — and both of them, independently, used the same word.

If you have ever sat at a kitchen table watching your child struggle with homework — frustrated, defeated, or simply switched off — and wondered whether tutoring might help, this post is for you.

The question I get asked most is: "Is my child too far behind?"