Category: First Steps

No mantra for motivation

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Does external motivation really work? According to the authors, it rarely works and instead, they suggest internal motivation. The best way to do this is to provide an environment for children that will make them feel motivated from inside. Read on to get a few tips.

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Stay hungry … to learn

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
How can teachers encourage children to continue learning? This article suggests that children should be hungry to learn and find out things for themselves. By giving in to all their needs to know and making it easy for them, teachers and parents will only be limiting their learning .

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‘I am not your Dream Girl’

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

The biggest gift we can give our children is to just let them be. Many of us truly believe that we are good parents if we don’t pressure our children to study all the time or let them choose their own careers. But are we? Answer these questions with all honesty–Have you never wanted your child to come first in that singing competition? Have you never wanted your child to be a model of virtue? We do burden our children whatever our expectations maybe. It is time that we let go and let be.

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Training truths… and myths

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
Educators or teacher trainers today are increasingly finding it difficult to do their job. They are expected to have a magic wand to mentor teachers, mentor children and bring about change that is far reaching. This article tries to clear some misconceptions and clear the clutter surrounding teacher training methods.

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No one way

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Is there a right way or a best way to teach? No, there are no set rules that one can follow to become a good teacher. A good teacher is one who can assess situations and adapt his/her ideas or teaching methodologies accordingly.

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Go slow, life ahead

strong>Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
This article explores the concept of going slow, stopping every now and then to enjoy life and happiness. It is not about going slow per se, but about looking at education, learning and growth differently. Go slow is an alternative to the rat race, it is a together journey of life.

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Making learning no fun for children

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Is learning supposed to be fun? Of course not. Learning requries hardwork, determination and perserverance. So why disguise this fact by associating learning with fun and enjoyment?

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Five must-teach values

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
Here are five different values that one needs to inculcate in a child. These are apart from the traditional values like honesty, humility, loyalty, respect etc.

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Just let the children be

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
Successful people are in the habit of producing — dreams , ideas, work etc. It is the same with knowledge. If we receive knowledge, we may score well in tests , but if the same knowledge is used, productively, we will do well in life. Children too must be taught to produce and this requires higher order thinking skills. Let children act — they could cook, produce plays, tell stories — anything. This way they learn a lot.

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Getting in touch with feelings

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Why is it that we curb children from expressing any of the so called “negative” emotions? Feeling angry and sad is as natural as feeling happy. It is important that we feel all our emotions and not withold any.

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