Sparkle Multiskill English, comprising Starter A and Starter B, for Pre-primary Classes, and eight Readers and eight Activity Books, for Classes I to VIII, is an innovative package developed on a holistic approach that combines the solid grammar foundation provided by the structural approach with the impressive fluency given by the interactive approach. The books are designed to promote speech fluency among children by drawing them into interactive situations and providing them a solid base of grammar and correct usage.
Readers include a representative selection from both traditional and contemporary writing and cover a wide range of interests-adventure, folklore, humour, wit and wisdom, animal stories, comic strips, etc. While enjoyment remains the common denominator of all reading material, prose pieces are specially meant for intensive language study, poems to develop an ear for rhyme and rhythm and plays to promote interaction. All passages are age-appropriate and have been structurally graded. They are closely linked to real-life situations and by placing children in relevant social contexts should stimulate thinking, inculcate discretion and promote human values among them.
All the chapters in the series have been exhaustively exploited to evaluate reading comprehension, to broaden vocabulary base, to teach essential language structures and to develop oral and writing skills. Some chapters also have additional listening comprehension exercises, for which listening texts have been given at the end of the book.
Developing higher order thinking skills (HOTS) and cultivating life skills and values are now an integral part of school education. All these aspects have been woven into the fabric of the series. In end-chapter exercises, separate sections have been dedicated to questions based on HOTS and life skills and values for sharper focus. However, didacticism has been assiduously avoided and questions have been designed to stimulate logical thinking in the students and gently lead them to right conclusions.
Activity Books, designed to reinforce the language skills learnt through Readers, cover four important language areas-comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and structure, and writing skills. Comprehension passages prepare children to handle unfamiliar reading material in their day-to-day life. Vocabulary section broadens their vocabulary base through innovative word-building exercises. Grammar section focuses exclusively on functional grammar-terminology and definitions being included only where absolutely necessary. Writing skills are also relevant to modern contexts-writing dialogues, describing people, places and objects, narrating events, writing letters, etc. All exercises are activity based with grammar knitted into them in an informal manner.