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BLOG NO.55                                                                                                                                                                                                 *HASTI PUBLIC SCHOOL & JR.COLLEGE,DONAICHA

TO MAKE CHILDREN LEARN INSTEAD OF TECHING THEM

It’s a  matter of common observation that in one classroom you see  students hunched over, not engaged, even frowning . The teacher looks frazzled, tired and wishing he or she were somewhere else . While in the  second classroom,  you see a room full of lively students, eager, engaged and *participating. The teacher is *ull of energy and smiling. This happens no matter what day you look through that door.

What is the second teacher doing that the first one isn’t? He or she is using creativity in that classroom. Creativity makes a huge difference. Creativity is vital for a classroom to be successful. There is a common misconception that the word “creative” has to do mostly with the arts. But being artistic is only a small part of creativity.

Creativity is innovation.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. If something isn’t working, then it’s broken and needs to be fixed. Come up with something else that will work for your students.

Creativity is thinking outside the box.

Everything doesn’t always have to be black and white. Sometimes the oddball activities are the ones that work.

Creativity is improvisation.

Things don’t always turn out the way you planned. When I’ve realized that a lesson wasn’t working midway through, I literally tossed it out and started over. I tried a different angle (in this case, incorporating a movie that my students liked), and it worked.

Creativity is professional growth.

We don’t always have all of the answers. If you can’t figure out what to do, use your coworkers as resources. You might find some really great ideas that make sense for your students. Also, look at research and see what has worked for other teachers around the world. Use resources like KS2, hubbardscupboard.org, and starfall.com for some fun engaging activities.

Creativity is being a risk taker or mold breaker.

I have had many crazy ideas for things to try in the classroom. Some have worked and some haven’t, but I found that trying was better than being stuck in the same pattern that isn’t working.

Creativity is passion.

Be passionate about what you are doing. You are there to inspire students to become lifelong learners. If you want them to love learning, you have to love what you are teaching

Suggested Activities: The Game of Learning

For the first six activities, seat your students in a circle and introduce a ball or something else they can pass easily between them.

1. ” I know a word “

You can begin this skills game by saying, “I know a word that starts with the same sound you hear at the beginning of butterfly.” Students will raise their hands, and you choose one to tell you a word the starts with “B.” Once they tell you the word, toss them the ball. They choose someone else to tell them another word that begins with that letter, passing the ball to the student who gets it right. As the game continues, change the letter every so often. Play until everyone has had a turn. You can use this game for beginning sounds, ending sounds, middle sounds etc.

2. Rhyme time

Say, “I need a word that rhymes with cat.” Pass the ball to someone once they give you a correct rhyming word. Keep changing the starting word and continue the game until all kids have gone.

3. Practice counting

You can have your class practice counting by twos, fives and tens. Pass the ball clockwise or counterclockwise, with the student who receives it saying the number that comes next. For example, you say, “We are going to count by fives. Five!” The person next to you says “ten,” the next one says “fifteen,” and so on.

4. Spelling review

For older kids, you can pass the ball and go through your spelling words one letter at a time. For example, you say, “We’re going to spell the word their, as in ‘This is their ball.'” The first person says “T,” the second person says “H,” the third person says “E,” and so on. If one says the wrong letter, the next person says correct letter and fixes the mistake.

5. ” I need a synonym “

This is a great vocabulary building exercise. You can use the ball or a pair of flyswatters, depending on the age of your students. You say, “I need a synonym for mad.” Choose someone to give you another word that means the same thing, such as angry, furious and enraged. For older kids, you can put a list of synonyms on the board and divide the class into two teams. Have one person from each team come up and compete. Whoever slaps the board with the flyswatter and says the correct synonym wins a point for their team. In the end all of your students win a better vocabulary.

6. Reinforce other skills

What other subjects are you teaching? You could adapt these games to fit pretty much anything. “I need a name of an explorer.” “I need you to name one of the phases of matter.” “I need to know one of the reasons for the Civil War.” Be creative!

7. Roll dice to have your students answer story questions.

“What is the plot of the story?” you might ask them. “What is the setting?” You can introduce more reflective questions such as, “Why did this character do what he or she did?” and “What was the author’s purpose?” You can write these questions on cards or purchase them from reallygoodstuff.com.

8. Sight Word Slap Game

Write your sight words on the board. Separate your class into two random teams. Let one person from each team step forward and hold a fly swatter. Call out one of the sight words. The first one to slap the correct sight word gets a point for their team. Continue until everyone has gone. This is great for helping sight word recognition.

Suggested Activities: The Artsy Side of Creative

9. Use different voices or accents when reading stories to the class.

10. Dress in costumes of storybook characters to leave a lasting impression, or let students dress up as characters to retell stories.

11. Turn your room into the environment of what you are learning about.When the class is learning about fairy tales, turn your classroom into a castle. When you’re learning about animals, turn your classroom into a jungle.

12. *Create class songs * about topics they need to know, or use the music of singers like Hap Palmer and Jack Hartman. You might also borrow songs and games from coworkers. Songs are catchy, and children learn quickly from them.

Creative Science

13. When teaching about the properties of friction use KS2 for interactive projects you can do in small groups or as a class using a smart board. You might ask your students slide down the hallway first in their socks, then barefoot, and have them journal about the different amounts of friction.

14. When teaching phases of matter, drop some food coloring into beakers of cold and warm water and note the difference. Then pour the contents of one beaker in a bag and put it in the freezer. The next day, compare the liquid bag with the solid chunk of ice and note differences.

15. Use the ice from the above activity and talk about gravity. Stand on a chair and discuss what will happen if you drop the ice, and if it matters which way you drop it. Let your students predict the possible outcomes.

TRY IMPLEMENTING,  AND *SEE THE MAGIC OF CREATIVITY , MORE ON THIS ,  IN NEXT BLOG.

BLOG NO.52                                                                                                                                                                                                                 After 10th results are out, there is one common question that strikes in every student’s mind  What next after 10th & 12th* ”? Science, Commerce or Arts? This is a common confusion which most of the students face. Every field has a lot of career opportunities but choosing the right stream which students are interested should be the main concern.

Sachin Tendulkar failed in 10th. But he was very clear what he wanted from his life.

But are we? Few students are very clear about what they want in their life. But there are many students who are confused about their career path. Class 10th is the most important and confusing crossroad of your career. A right decision can help you blossom in your career. And if you make the wrong choice, you will have to face the consequences for the rest of your life.

So how do you decide what to do after 10th?

Should you go for the standard science stream?

Should you go for commerce?

Or should you take up the non-conventional arts stream?

Which board to opt for ?

A lot of options but choosing the right career after 10th is very crucial.

Career counseling and career guidance for 10th class is the need of the hour.

Mistakes  students make while choosing their career after 10th

1. Following the crowd/friends –

2. Parental/Societal pressure –

3. Lack of knowledge –

Career Options After 10th

1.Science  –

* Science is the most popular and favourite career option for the majority of the parents and students.  

* Science stream offers many lucrative career options such as engineering, medical, IT and you can even opt for research roles.

* The best advantage of taking science stream is, it keeps your options open. You might switch from science to commerce or science to arts. But it is not possible to do the other way around.

* Taking science stream equips you with excellent problem-solving abilities.

* Science and math offer a flexible foundation which enables students to accomplish highly respected and well-paid jobs.

* Science is fun, amazing and fascinating. As Edward Teller rightly said

“The science of today is the technology of tomorrow.”

Who should take science after 10th?

If technology fascinates you and you have a flair for numbers, then taking science after 10th would be a wise option. You can opt for Physics, Chemistry, Maths (PCM).

If you want to make a mark for yourself in the medical field, you can opt for Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology (PCM-B).Now there are many students who don’t like Maths. Either they are afraid of Maths or Maths doesn’t interest them. Don’t worry, if you want to become a doctor, then knowing Maths is not necessary. You can easily opt for Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB).

There are multiple career options available for science stream after 10th class. If you have any doubts regarding what after 10th you can visit http://www.edumilestones.com and get your career counselling done. Their career assessment test gives 92% accurate results.

It will really help you in choosing the right career stream.

2. Commerce  –

* Commerce is the second most popular career option after science. If you love numbers, finances, economics etc., then finance is the best option for you.

* It offers a wider variety of career options such as Chartered Accountants, MBA, investment in banking sectors etc.

* You acquire commercial knowledge which is very important for the business.

* You have to be familiar with the subjects such as Accountancy, Finance, Economics etc.

* You must be good with numbers, data and have a curiosity in Finance, economics.

* Commerce as a subject is gaining popularity in India and many students are studying and making a living out of it.

Who should take commerce after 10th?

If you have an affinity for numbers, business, economics then commerce is the stream for you. If you want to shape your career in economics and business world, then commerce is the right career for you.

There are a number of options available for commerce stream after 10th class.

3. Arts/Humanities  –

* Nowadays arts/humanities are very high in demand and more and more students are opting for it.

* Arts is now emerging as a sought after career choice. It provides students with an array of career opportunities.

* It offers many lucrative career options such as Journalism, languages, history, psychology etc.

* Design, Language Arts, Performing arts, Humanities are well-paid career options.

* Arts subject encourage creativity and self-expression.

* Students who take up art stream develop critical thinking. It also helps you increase your leadership qualities.

Art teaches you to deal with the world around you.

Who should take Arts after 10th ?

If you are a student who is creative and wants to dive deep into humanity, then arts is the stream for you.

There are multiple options available for Arts stream after 10th class. If you have any confusion you can get your career counselling done. A career counsellor will provide you with proper career guidance and guide you in the right direction.

These are the few good career options which you can choose after 10th class.

What are the career options after 10th class?

Picking the right career option after 10th is probably the most important decision of your life and should not be taken in a hurry. Let us see how you can choose the right career path after 10th:

* Intermediate (2years) – After 10th class, the student can select subject groups like PCM, PCB, PCMB, Commerce with Maths, Commerce without Maths. Post completion of 12th class, one can do graduation in multiple disciplines based on the subject selection.

* Polytechnic – After 10th class, students can do polytechnic courses like Mechanical, Civil, Chemicals, Computer, Automobile. Polytechnic colleges offer diploma courses for a duration of 3 years, 2 years and also 1 year.

* ITI (Industrial Training Institutes) – After 10th class, students can do ITI courses for employment like Mechanical, electrician, electrical.

* Paramedical – After 10th class, students can do paramedic courses like DMLT (Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology), DOA(Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant), DOT (Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant).

* Short term courses – After 10th class, students can do short term courses like Tally, DTP, Graphics.

What is important is you should know  your strength, passion and interest. Based on that you can determine your most suitable career path. Effective can do wonders for your future.

BLOG NO.51

Children need a chance to develop their capability to cope with the pressure and hardships gradually.  As responsible adults, do we allow them to? In most cases, adults, blanketed under their own matters, have very little time for children to actually help them through their turmoil. *Very often we land up removing the threat of danger to keep our children safe but along with it goes all the other experiences needed for development of a healthy approach towards life itself.

We expect them to meet our requirements and fulfill our dreams; but we forget that children have dreams of their own. The result being headlines like this- Student suicides: The silent epidemic claims very large number . Should we hold ourselves responsible for their irrational behaviour or should we pass the buck on the more generic terms such as peer pressure?

Can you say you are truly happy? There is nothing in your life you don’t want to change , even if it’s just a wee bit- a bigger house, higher income, more fame or power. The non- acceptance of our present self or the desire to be someone else, to get something else propels us to get into the rat race and most of the time we land up dragging our children into it too .

Teaching our children to *focus on marks , only to gain admissions in the desired institutes does nothing better than satisfy our egoist need to boast before friends and colleagues of goals reached and targets achieved. To quote Einstein, “An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future.”

If we really want our children to stand the test of time, we have to lead them to look within  for solutions.

For this to happen we must first shift our focus from the outside world to the inner world.

We must accept our self for what we are rather than what we want to be . No matter what roles we play in the lives of children around us, as responsible members of the society, we must be aware of our own self and stop hiding behind the facades we put up to shield ourselves from the world. Awareness brings acceptance. * With acceptance, no failure can harm or no pressure can destroy a precious life* .

Instead of taking obstacles out of our children’s way, let’s help them see every obstacle as an opportunity to grow . Let them find their own solution you promise them that you are there if needed.

Let’s keep in mind that the 21stcentury offices require not those who in the name of learning catalogue objects but those who not only think critically but also communicate effectively as problem solvers in this global village.

Our Hasti school therefore organises variety of activities and competitions to explore the critical thinkling ability , communication skill, collaborative attitude and creativity.

BLOG NO.51

HASTI PUBLIC SCHOOL & JUNIOR COLLEGE

COMPETITION

Children need a chance to develop their capability to cope with the pressure and hardships gradually.  As responsible adults, do we allow them to? In most cases, adults, blanketed under their own matters, have very little time for children to actually help them through their turmoil. *Very often we land up removing the threat of danger to keep our children safe but along with it goes all the other experiences needed for development of a healthy approach towards life itself.

We expect them to meet our requirements and fulfill our dreams; but we forget that children have dreams of their own. The result being headlines like this- Student suicides: The silent epidemic claims very large number . Should we hold ourselves responsible for their irrational behaviour or should we pass the buck on the more generic terms such as peer pressure?

Can you say you are truly happy? There is nothing in your life you don’t want to change , even if it’s just a wee bit- a bigger house, higher income, more fame or power. The non- acceptance of our present self or the desire to be someone else, to get something else propels us to get into the rat race and most of the time we land up dragging our children into it too .

Teaching our children to *focus on marks , only to gain admissions in the desired institutes does nothing better than satisfy our egoist need to boast before friends and colleagues of goals reached and targets achieved. To quote Einstein, “An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future.”

If we really want our children to stand the test of time, we have to lead them to look within  for solutions.

For this to happen we must first shift our focus from the outside world to the inner world.

We must accept our self for what we are rather than what we want to be . No matter what roles we play in the lives of children around us, as responsible members of the society, we must be aware of our own self and stop hiding behind the facades we put up to shield ourselves from the world. Awareness brings acceptance. * With acceptance, no failure can harm or no pressure can destroy a precious life* .

Instead of taking obstacles out of our children’s way, let’s help them see every obstacle as an opportunity to grow . Let them find their own solution you promise them that you are there if needed.

Let’s keep in mind that the 21stcentury offices require not those who in the name of learning catalogue objects but those who not only think critically but also communicate effectively as problem solvers in this global village.

Our Hasti school therefore organises variety of activities and competitions to explore the critical thinkling ability , communication skill, collaborative attitude and creativity.

BLOG NO.50

Our Hasti public  school strongly believes in maintaining  strong , viable , and  result oriented partnership with parents and expects  same from parents as well* .Let us discuss the importance of partnership beween teacher  and parents and what teacher  should do to foster the same and  then what parents should  do to foster the strong partnership with teacher/s of their ward.

School has scheduled calss wise meeting of parents with teachers in addition to  the regular meeting with the PTA of our school.

Positive & constructive relationship between Teachers to parents and Parents to teachers

Our Hasti Public school believes in having sustainable vibrant and live bonding with the parents school has planned calendar of meeting with parents regularly.    Research shows that when a partnership approach between parents and teachers is evident, children’s work habits, attitudes about school and grades improve . They( children  demonstrate better *social skills, fewer behavioral problems  and a greater ability  to adapt to situations and get along*. And parents and teachers benefit, too. When working together as partners, it’s been found that parents and teachers communicate more effectively, develop stronger relationships with one another and develop skills to support children’s behaviors and learning.

“Building partnerships between families and schools is an effective strategy to address opportunity gaps, especially for those who have been historically underserved,” “Strong partnerships support children’s learning and ability to develop lifelong skills and networks, while also strengthening parents’ capacity to be engaged in their child’s school experience.”

Here is an info graphic along with some tips on how to foster relationships with the parents of your students.

First Impressions

We  want our  encounters with parents to be warm and gracious. Try sharing bit  about yourself. Most parents want to know how their child is doing so it’s important to communicate often and through various channels. You could use the* standard email or phone call*. You could also use apps like Remind, a platform where teachers can schedule and send reminders, assignments or homework*. There are many more apps External link  you could use in your classroom. It’s important to declare your intentions. Discuss goals each of  you have for the child for the school year. Try* providing weekly updates on what’s going on in the classroom* . For many parents, a phone call about their child is their worst nightmare . A positive call home letting them know how well their child is doing would be greatly appreciated.

Learn from Parents

Just as parents can learn from teachers; teachers can learn from parents. Listen to parents when they’re talking about their child. They may give you insights about the child that you were unaware of . As children get older, parents are not often asked how they can contribute or don’t know what to do. Let parents know how they can help you. Provide ways they can help at home and in the classroom. Try getting to know what skills, passions, and interests a parent has. Invite them to share their knowledge with the class.

Be Resourceful

When parents come with questions, point them in the right direction where they can find help. If you share a concern, be prepared to suggest resources. Another thing you can do is create a resource. Create a website with basic information  External link  such contact information; policies, supplies needed, and expectations that you have for students and parents for a successful year . Great platforms for building websites include WordPress, Wix and Weebly. If families do not have internet access, prepare a pamphlet or a newsletter and distribute them to parents.

Explain Decisions and Invite Input

Take the time to explain any instructional or any other decisions regarding the child. Many parents may not understand certain aspects of the educational system (i.e. standardized testing, curriculum choices, proper protocols). Educating parents who are unfamiliar with the education system makes it easier for them to understand External link   what you’re doing and why . Also, invite parents to have inputs in decision making. Give them the information needed to form an opinion and listen to their solutions. Two heads are better than one and the parent may have knowledge you’re unaware of or come up with a solution that you may not have thought of.

Here is an info graphic along with some tips on how to foster relationships with the teachers  of your ward  Partnerships are most powerful when they include three main components , represented as the

* 3 C’s *  COMMUNICATION, CONSISTENCY  AND COLLABORATION.

 The first is communication between home and school. Like any relationship in life, communication between you and your child’s teacher is key.* Communicate with your child’s teacher early on and throughout the school year* . Start by letting him/her know that you want to play your part in your child’s education. Discuss with your child’s teacher the best ways to communicate The best kind of communication is *open , clear , constructive  and timely . Frequent, two-way communication is important to stay apprised of what is happening at school. ,

The second component of an effective partnership is *consistency. This involves opportunities and experiences you provide at home to support your child’s learning .Ask about and suggest ways you can work with your child at home to encourage their learning for a successful school year. Creating routines for homework, such as establishing a time and quiet place, is important. Providing learning

 This kind of partnership sends a consistent message to your child and lets him know that you and his teacher together support his learning.

The third component of partnering is collaboration. Collaboration will be easier if communication is frequent, and you consistently create opportunities for your child’s learning. A collaborative, cooperative partnership focuses on specific, positive strategies to help your child achieve to the best of his or her potential . Planning and problem-solving are forms of collaboration, and will be especially important when your child needs extra support to reach a goal*.

Collaborative planning with your child’s teacher involves acknowledging the need to work together to address a concern, staying focused on finding a solution  (not placing blame), making plans that involve support and responsibility at both home and school, following through on plans and checking back to make sure progress is being made.

 Remember that the parent and teacher relationship should be a partnership . When parents and teachers can successfully work together to ensure a child’s success . It’s a win-win situation Our Hasti school welcomes and invite and involve   parents in the holistic progress of the wards of the parent members ,

Our Hasti public  school makes  all out efforts to invite, and involve  parents in  real  and virtual meet regularly and periodically for the better all round progress of their wards and our students

BLOG NO.49

While  Some other schools where thinking of doing away with the music as a subject  Our  Hasti public school  realized  its importance  and appointed an additional music teacher . our school  believed  in the power and ability of Music and music education in the holistic development of children, At our Hasti school there  is established a  Gandharv  club to give sufficient exposure to the musical talent of children School

.It is well known fact that When children first enter any sort of formal educational setting they are met with songs, music, and rhyme, and that’s no accident: preschool and kindergarten teachers are well versed in just how important it is to expose students to regular rhythmic language play and prioritize the development of a sense of beat and timing

.

The benefits of music education are immense and highly beneficial to students. Music positively impacts a child’s academic performance, assists in developing social skills, and provides an outlet for creativity that is crucial to a child’s development. Music education catapults a child’s learning to new heights, and because of this, it should always be considered a pivotal part of a child’s educational process.

Music education improves and develops language skills in children. Music stimulates the brain, and with its varied sounds and lyrics, students are exposed to a large amount of vocabulary in a short amount of time. Music also provides exposure to other languages, which creates a foundation for the student’s ability to understand and communicate in a different language.

Music is a vehicle for excellent memory skills . Have you ever listened to a song for the first time in a long time and still remember the lyrics?

*students must memorize all aspects of music when preparing for a performance. Students must recall rhythms, pitches, dynamics, and several other elements all at once. Students can then transfer those memory skills to the academic classroom and employ those skills in their studies.

The mental benefits of music education are extremely advantageous to students in schools; however, the social benefits are just as wonderful! Music education requires teamwork and collaboration. While playing instruments together, students develop listening skills.

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Music education promotes improved coordination, specifically hand-eye coordination Musicians must multitask ! They must do multiple things all at once, all of which improves coordination* &further develops the brain*.

Because music education is an outlet for creativity, it can be a source of stress relief. Unfortunately, there are many stressors present for children at school and at home (pressure to pass the test, make the grade, make the team, exceed expectations, and so on). Music education booster allows students to relax .

Music education supports a wide range of other essential skills and contribute to students excelling in other subject areas such as:

•           Language Arts and Foreign Languages

•           Math

•           Self Esteem

•           Fine Motor Control

•           Emotional Intelligence

Learning how to play an instrument, sing and understand musicality for the sake of making beautiful music alone is a worthwhile and life-enhancing activity but it can also result in better grades, higher IQ’s and greater creativity benefits of music education, including greater attainment in these areas:

Math : Students who are immersed in music also are able to recognize patterns which can help with math skills, reasoning,

Self Esteem : Performing for an audience can be nerve-wracking but it’s an experience unparalleled in its ability to encourage students to practice, improve and then take pride in their work,

Fine Motor Control: Students who play musical instruments develop excellent and precise fine motor control which can help with correct pencil control and aid in the correct use of a range of tools.

Emotional Intelligence: Children who practice, play and enjoy music tend to understand emotions and can empathize with others.

Albert Einstein even directly credited his musical education External link  in helping him to develop theories that changed the world: * “The theory of relativity  he is reported to have said I quote It occurred to me by intuition, and music is the driving force behind this intuition. My parents had me study the violin  from the time I was six.

To summarize the importance of Music education  I can say that music education is a must for every child  for

1.         .A mastery of memorization

2.         . Students learn to improve their work

3.         . Increased coordination

4.         . A sense of achievement

5.         .  Kids stay engaged in school 

6.         . Success in society

7.         . Emotional development

8.         . Students learn pattern recognition

9.         . Fine-tuned auditory skills

10.       . Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity

11.       . Music can be relaxing

12.       . Musical instruments can teach discipline .

13.       . Preparation for the creative economy

14.       . Development in creative thinking

15.       . Music can develop spatial intelligence

16.       . Kids can learn teamwork

17.       . Responsible risk-taking

18.       . Better self-confidence

As a  after school programme ,there is established HASTI SANGEET VIDYALAYA   to give exposure to the musical talent of parents and budding talent of children of the society  .In Hasti Sangeet Vidyalaya any one can learn the vocal  and or Instrument playing as well .

BLOG NO.48

Each student is unique, and Hasti Public School  not only recognizes this, we celebrate it. Students are the core of what we do. We prepare them for life beyond the classroom and help them to innovate and make positive impacts on the world.

Learning styles are more than just a preference for one type of learning.  When a teacher  taps into them, they are the key to engaging with material and truly learning it. When our teachers work with our students, they are cued in to what students want. Through building personal relationships with each student teachers and administrators alike grow to understand what truly motivates each students.

This knowledge is the core of how we teach. It informs the activities that we prepare for students and how we present them.

We encourage exploration, self-reflection, and close scrutiny in every class . We encourage students to be involved in the learning process, in self-growth. When students are aware of how they learn best and recognize that they are learning in a way that speaks to their individual learning styles , they are more likely to be engaged with lesson content and to take more personal responsibility for their learning.

The very ways we teach, in general, speak to many students’ dominant learning styles. We encourage active participation in all lessons, avoid lecturing too much, and provide students with ample opportunities to apply what they have learned  in ways relevant to their lives and to evaluate what they learn with a critical eye through activities that get them talking, moving, visualizing, and hearing.

There is no one way that each lesson is presented. Overall, students are exposed to lesson material in more than one way, and that provides multiple opportunities for them to learn in ways that are best for them.

We also strive to improve students’ awareness of different learning strategies and help them to develop both sides of their brains so that they think analytically, listen better, and have improved concentration  We try to find out which learning style  is preferred by students

1*kinesthetic learning  style* .

2*Auditory Learning style* 

3*visual learning style*

by making child complete the informal inventory

Learning Styles Self-Assessment

1.         In order to memorize information, such as the spelling of a difficult word or locker combination, you :

1.         Practice over and over again.

2.         Recite the word or numbers out loud.

3.         Visualize the word or numbers in your head.

2.         When you want to learn new song lyrics, you :

1.         Dance around and play air guitar to the beat.

2.         Sing along to the radio.

3.         Download the lyrics and read them.

3.         While you study, you like to :

1.         Walk around and review your notes.

2.         Discuss the material with your parents or friends.

3.         Read your notes or textbook independently.

4.         When preparing to go somewhere new, you prefer to :

1.         Walk, drive, or bike the route ahead of time.

2.         Listen to someone tell you how to get there.

3.         Look at a map.

5.         When you get a new gadget that needs to be assembled, you :

1.         Just start putting it together.

2.         Ask someone to read you the directions.

3.         Read all of the steps before you begin.

6.         If you have to work on a project with others, you would rather :

1.         Help to build and construct a model.

2.         Participate in group discussions and brainstorm ideas.

3.         Draw graphs or scribe group notes.

7.         You tend to like classes that include:

1.         Hands-on experiments.

2.         Lots of lectures.

3.         Reading assignments.

8.         When studying a play in English class, you prefer to :

1.         Act it out.

2.         Listen to the play read by others.

3.         Read the play silently to yourself.

9.         When you are able to choose a project and present it to your class, you’d rather :

1.         Create a working replica.

2.         Give a presentation.

3.         Create a poster.

10.       When you are distracted, you most often find yourself :

1.         Fidgeting or playing with your pencil.

2.         Listening to or participating in conversations.

3.         Doodling on your notebook paper.

11.       When you work at solving a challenging problem, do you :

1.         Make a model of the problem or walk through all of the steps in your mind?

2.         Call a few friends or talk to an expert for advice?

3.         Create a list of the steps you need to take and check them off as they’re done?

Once you have finished, add up the number of a’s, b’s, and c’s. Tally your answers and here you have a snapshot of how a child  learn best! If you answered mostly “a”, you are primarily a kinesthetic learner. If you answered mostly “b”, *you are an auditory learner, and if you answered mostly “c”, you are largely a visual learner.

Once  the learing  style  of children is  known,  we use strategies for each style as under ;

Visual Strategies

•           Utilize graphic organizers such as charts, graphs, and diagrams.

•           Redraw your pages from memory.

•           Replace important words with symbols or initials.

•           Highlight important key terms in corresponding colors.

Aural Strategies

•           Record your summarized notes and listen to them on tape.

•           Talk it out. Have a discussion with others to expand upon your understanding of a topic.

•           Reread your notes and/or assignment out loud.

•           Explain your notes to your peers/fellow “aural” learners.

Read/Write Strategies

•           Write, write and rewrite your words and notes.

•           Reword main ideas and principles to gain a deeper understanding.

•           Organize diagrams, charts, and graphic organizers into statements.

Kinesthetic Strategies

•           Use real life examples, applications and case studies in your summary to help with abstract concepts.

•           Redo lab experiments or projects.

•           Utilize pictures and photographs that illustrate your idea.

At Hasti Public School  we enter into individual relationships with our students and strive to ensure that their individual learning needs are met and exceeded.

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BLOG NO.47

                                            

The activities of the mind are related to patterns of brain activity. Different mental activities, such as reading a book, painting a picture, or talking to a loved one, each involve different patterns of interaction between networks of nerve cells in the brain The networks involved in one activity are often different from those involved in another activity.

Networks can also be linked together in different patterns. If we looked into the brain, we would see shifting patterns in the activity of networks and in their connections with each other as the mind moves from one task to another. For a while, one pattern predominates, then a shift occurs, so brain networks that previously interacted in one pattern now do so in a different configuration.

Limited number of core patterns of brain activity and interaction seem to crop up as recurring features in a wide variety of different mental activities. These core patterns reflect some basic “modes of mind  namely THINKING MODE  & DOING MODE

For maximum period of time  I am in thinking  mode  than in doing mode

I spend a lot of time dreaming about things — incredible adventures I want to go on, self-improvement projects, all those books I plan on reading  And I THINK  there’s nothing wrong with that. Dreaming is wonderful.

What I’ve noticed, though, is that sometimes *I get stuck in the thinking and dreaming mode , and don’t actually take action.

When I realize this, it’s good for me to make this distinction: am I in the mode of thinking about it, or actually doing it? Both are fine! But at some point, it helps to make the switch: from thinking about it … to Doing.

This is the point where we make a commitment.

We can think of these modes of mind as loosely *analogous to the gears of a car*. Just as each gear has a particular use (starting, accelerating, cruising, etc.), so each mode of mind has its own particular characteristics and functions .

Over the course of a day, as the mind switches from one kind of activity to another, the underlying mode of mind changes—a little like the way that a car, driven through a busy city, there will be a continuous series of changes from one gear to another . And in much the same way *a car can only be in one gear at a time, when the mind is in certain modes, it will not be in other modes at the same time.

Our continued dwelling on how we are not as we would like to be just makes us feel worse, taking us even further from our desired goal. This, in turn only serves to confirm our view that we are not the kind of person we feel we need to be in order to be happy.

Here are four suggestions on how to take charge  from thinking mode to doing mode that is how to shift modes:

1.         Check up on your mode of thinking frequently. The great personal development trainer and speaker Zig Ziglar used to recommend “a checkup from the neck up.” The most important dialogue you’ll have today is with yourself. As you drive home from work, ask yourself: What mode of thinking have I been operating in today ? In recent days? What’s my self-talk been and why

2.         Take action on an idea. Take a look at your “things to do” list. Pick one out and make it happen! Action calms fear, cures inertia, and can alter a negative mindset The satisfaction of accomplishing even a little task or eliminating an irritant, can lead to further action, feeding on itself in a virtuous cycle . There’s nothing more fun than striking through a task on the proverbial “to do” list and here’s why: it shifts your mental mode from Defeatist/Sustainer to Dreamer/Opportunity.

3.         Count to ten and win. To shift out of Defeatist Mode, literally count your blessings. List all the things in your life you have going for you: your friends, job, faith in a higher power, etc. After you’ve proven to yourself that you can do this, consider how you might help others jumpstart their thinking and shift into performance enhancing modes.

4.         Let your Dreamer Mode come out to play. One of my favorite techniques is called WIBGI, which stands for “ wouldn’t it be great if… ?” To help yourself or your colleagues shift to a more visionary state of mind, invite people to weigh in with statements starting with: “wouldn’t it be great if” and vocalize whatever comes to mind.

It’s very easy to fall into one of the less productive thinking modes without even being aware of it . It’s an inescapable part of human existence to sometimes operate from the Defeatist or Sustainer Modes .

The “Doing” Mode

The ruminative state of mind is actually a variant of a much more general mode of mind that has been called the “doing” mode. The job of this mode of mind is to get things done —to achieve particular goals that the mind has set. These goals could relate to the external world—to make a meal, build a house, or travel to the moon—or to the internal world of self—to feel happy,  not make mistakes, never be depressed again , or be a good person . The basic strategy to achieve such goals involves something we call the “discrepancy monitor * a process that continually monitors and evaluates our current situation against a model or standard—an idea of what is desired, required, expected, or feared.

Once this discrepancy monitor is switched on, it will find mismatches between how things are and how we think they should be .

But, crucially, dwelling on how things are not as we want them to be can, naturally enough, create further negative mood.

In this way, our attempts to solve a “problem” by endlessly thinking about it can keep us locked into the state of mind from which we are doing our best to escape.

How the Discrepancy Monitor Works:

1) First we create an idea of how we want things to be, or how we think they should be.

2) Next, we compare that with our idea of how things are right now.

3) If there is a difference between how things are and how we want them to be, then we generate thoughts and actions to try to close the gap.

4) We monitor progress to see whether the gap is increasing or decreasing, and adjust our actions accordingly.

5) We know we have reached our goal when our idea of how WE WANT THEM TO BE

At our Hasti Public school more stress is given on framing questions we believe that “ *One who  answers  the question may be intelligent * but

One who ask question is wise                                                            In our Hasti Public school we have revolutionized the home work system , our teachers , instead of giving home work to bring answers , (to the questions (which they are likely to ask or copy from digest or from friends notebook) , give home work to  frame or make questions (as many as possible)  from the portion taught to them 

Our Hasti School is now creating  a wonder  wall or QUESTION WALL  in everty class room where children are allowed to write the question before and after the lesson /topic/chapter/unit discussed

Had Arjuna not asked  wise questions 

It would  not have prompted Lord Krishna to answer  to quench the thrist  of  knowledge of Arjuna..

Thus credit for the world class mythological text  GITA  goes to questions asked by ARJUNA

Such is the power and importance of questions .

We all know that the moment a child takes birth, it makes announcement of    his/her arrival with the first cry. As children grow, parents start modeling conversation skills thereby aiding the development and nurturing the communication skills of children by making them capable of expressing themselves. While growing up, children tend to ask a lot of questions and this innate desire or curiosity to know the world by asking questions acts as a **catalyst in communication.

Just like plants need the right amount of sunlight, water, clean soil, and some nutrients in the soil for food . Our learners should be taught the art of *listening,* speaking*, receiving and giving feedback* and most importantly of asking questions.

Why Is Questioning Skill Important In The Teaching And Learning Process ? child’s world is full of excitement and wonder. To strengthen the natural instinct of wondering, questioning is an important skill to be developed in learners., A good question can open minds. It is a question that often leads us to wonder, reflect, discover and challenge new ideas, uncover new meaning by taking us from the known to unknown.

Those with good questioning skills are often also very good listeners as they spend more time absorbing information Questioning is at the heart of communication, it is an expansion of critical communication skills in children.* A great question is equal to great communication* hence questioning is the key mantra to successful communication.

Promoting learner questions in class is a significant role of an Inquiry teacher.

How Can Teachers Develop A Culture Of Questioning In Their Classrooms ?

Nearly a century ago, John Dewey made a prescient observation about classroom culture and questioning that still holds true today:

No one has ever explained why children are so full of questions outside of the school ,? and the conspicuous absence of display of curiosity about the subject matter of school lessons.

The real issue is in the classroom culture, here would point out that teachers have enormous power, their behaviour will determine an impact on the climate of questioning in the classroom.

A teacher’s curiosity infects the entire classroom in a positive way,

Thomas Kuhn said “ The answers you get depend on the questions you ask

*What Can we Teachers Do to Improve Questioning Skills in Learners?

Question Cube –The question cube creates tension on the learners in framing critical thinking questions from a book you have read, as well as pictures of important things or main ideas. This strategy can be used in any subject focus.

See- Think- Wonder- Visible thinking Routine is simple yet a powerful tool to help learners generate questions. Beginning with a visual prompt, learners share their thinking at each step along the way before moving on to the next one. This facilitates the learners to build on the group’s thinking and often results in deeper and meaningful discussions.

Question Quadrant-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Teachers often struggle with getting their learners to understand and ask good open ended questions. To get them to understand the different types of questions, the Question Quadrant is a tool first devised by Philip Cam (2006) while working with students and teachers in order to *hone, sort and categorise learner questions. It is a tool which assists teachers to explicitly teach question types with the intention of using students’ questions to guide learning.                                                                                             *

Question Wall – Question wall is popularly known as a wonder wall or learning wall. A question wall is a space in the classroom where learners post their questions. In remote teaching we can design a virtual wall Teachers can incorporate this questioning strategy in their classes before, during and after a lesson. *With question walls, learners can write their burning questions enabling them to safely express their wonderings. This strategy is particularly useful as it stimulates learners to think critically, boosts active learning and participation.

The importance of communication skills in children is key to being a successful communicator, an empathic leader and a contributive global citizen.

The art of questioning is at the heart of the development of communication skills. Questions can be asked in a formal or an informal setting. Asking questions in the classroom or at home is a driving force of learning. It will always be an indispensable slice of every child’s learning. Powerful questions can create an explosion in learning. Parents and teachers must encourage young learners to ask questions and provide them with an opportunity to investigate their own learning.

BLOG NO.43

Today I came  across a wonderful thought  which reads as

शब्द मुफ्त में मिलते है

उनके चयन पर निर्भर करता है

की उनकी कीमत मिलेगी  या

चुकानी पड़ेगी 

This made me realize that  how important are words ,  tone , volume and  body language.  While you communicate  thus  .*Social skills are an important component in both a personal and a professional capacity

Having strong social skills can help you excel in your career, perform well when interviewing, help you achieve career goals and expand your professional network. There are many specific skills that fall in the social skills category..

The virtual world has not only captured our imagination but our entire being, one may wonder if these skills were applicable anymore

What would be the most important social skills in the coming decade or more?

Two very distinct instances made me ponder and aware of what mattered: one, where *a child’s unruly behaviour was disrupting a class and *another where a child wanted to play with a classmate (whom, in his own words, he had teased endlessly till a month ago) who wasn’t ready to reciprocate in a similar manner.

It just struck a chord! Both of them wanted

* acceptance*. Their ways of seeking it may have differed from the usual but both wanted to be included was the crux of their behaviour. *What is it that both exactly wanted from their peers or teacher ?

They wanted to be heard, they wanted others to listen.

They wanted to be cared for, so that sharing with them became important.

They wanted to be included, be a part of the whole.

They wanted to be respected, for who they are and what they “brought to the table”.

They wanted their past to be forgotten and they be looked at for what they have evolved into.

They wanted to be considered important enough to contribute.

And lastly but not the least they wanted to be loved, beyond their weaknesses, their follies and their failings.

Social skills are skills that promote effective communication with others. There are various social skills as well as several different ways in which we communicate on a daily basis. Social skills include written, verbal, nonverbal and visual communication used to relay a message to others. Common ways in which you exercise your social skills are:

•           The language you use

•           The tone, pitch and

    volume *  of your voice

•           Physical gestures you-

    make*

•           Your facial expressions

•           Your body language

•           Eye contact with others when communicating

While Working as a team with other employees, keeping your emotions in check in stressful situations and communicating with clients and team members are some of the situations where *social skills need to be applied when working in a professional environment.

Social skills, also referred to as soft skills or interpersonal skills, are important because they *enable you to foster and maintain meaningful relationships with  people you come across (like employers, colleagues and network contacts.) 

A few of the many ways that good social skills can *benefit your career include that they:

•           Allow you to effectively work as a team on projects

•           Let you share your own perspective in an effective manner

•           Help you expand your professional network and stay updated on new opportunities

•           Make the workplace more enjoyable

•           Let you gain valuable feedback and referrals from those who can attest to your abilities

•           Enable you to successfully communicate  with people

The following are a few of the many important social skills you should possess :

•           Observation

•           Active listening

•           Conflict resolution

•           Empathy

•           Written and verbal communication

•           Mirroring

•           Cooperation

•           Relationship management

Observation

The ability to observe serves you well in a professional setting. Though it comes naturally to some and is closely associated with people who are slightly introverted,

Active listening

Active listening is the ability to pay attention to a person when they are communicating with you without interrupting or losing focus.

Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is your ability to see a problem for what it is and devise a workable solution to solve it. For example, if there is a misunderstanding between two coworkers and they come to you for help, you should focus on the root cause of the issue and then work to solve this problem rather than get involved in the arguing.

Empathy

Closely connected to observation skills is the ability to empathies with people and situations. Empathy is the ability to identify and understand how another person is feeling in any given situation.

Written and verbal communication

Verbal and written communication is two important components of effective social skills. When you write or verbally communicate, you are expressing yourself to another person. It’s important to use clear language, as well as proper spelling and grammar,

Cooperation is another essential social skill in the workplace.It is the ability to work well with others towards a common goal.

There are several steps you can take to improve your social skills at work. These include:

•           Ask for feedback. As friends and colleagues what areas you need to improve upon in relation to social skills. Using this feedback, you can set goals to work towards improving these skills.

•           Pick up a personal development book. Read personal development books that focus on improving social skills. There are countless free resources online such as e-books and guides that can provide you with concrete steps to take to build your interpersonal skills.

•           Choose one social skill to focus on improving. Rather than try to improve several social skills at once, pick one to work on and only move on when you’re confident in your ability to effectively use that social skill.