Category: Focus

Working from within their world

Snehal Vadher
Most cities, these days, are very much like one another. Therefore it is only when you teach in the rural areas, the hills and places faraway that you realize the mismatch between what students study in school and what they need to know to survive in their environment. This is when you realize the importance of indigenous knowledge and why it should be a part of what we are teaching children.

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A whole-school plan to support student wellbeing

Shivani Mathur Gaiha, Sneh Verma, Yashu Kumar
A healthy mind is one of the necessary requirements for learning to take place. But this aspect is not really given the importance that it should be in schools in India. Schools are home to emotionally vulnerable adolescents and if we are to help them stay focused the entire school needs to work towards keeping our students emotionally healthy.

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Taking stock of schooling systems

Sushama Yermal

The Indian education system is in a terrible shape and unless we do something about it immediately we won’t be able to rescue our children’s future. This is by now common knowledge. But despite several attempts why aren’t we able to do anything? Here’s analyzing Lant Prichett’s, American educationist, book, Rebirth of Education, which not only identifies the problems with education systems in developing countries but also proposes possible solutions.

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An emotional safety net

Fiona Vaz

In a world that is fast becoming selfish, indifferent, and hateful of others, it is important that we bring up emotionally healthy children who understand and experience their emotions undeterred, for only then can they begin to understand the other.

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Getting students on to the career path

Lamia Bagasrawala
Students in high school are faced with life changing decisions. Many students are at the crossroads during this crucial time while trying to decide on their future course of action. Parents too, have limited awareness and are unable to guide their wards properly. How can schools facilitate the career- guidance process? If this is integrated with the school curriculum, it makes the task that much easier. The author highlights some activities and processes that can be initiated when students begin high school.

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My Nordic lessons

Anju Dhawan

We have heard a lot about the success of the Finnish education system. Here is a first hand account of why Finland is so successful with their educational institutions.

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What’s up with parent WhatsApp groups?

Pooja Birwatkar A few years back There was a time when parents would wait for their children to return from school. All that happened in school, the highlights, the challenges of the day, activities that happened, home work that was given, everything was discussed. School bags were checked and school calendars were read regularly. The scenario now Mother: So what happened in school today? Child: I am tired … See in WhatsApp Mother: Thank God, WhatsApp is there or I would never know anything. Much before the child reaches home, parents are already aware of what happened in school, the kind of homework given, etc., courtesy WhatsApp and other social networking platforms. Life in school is shred and dissected every day. While it is good to be involved with the children, too much involvement spells danger. This has led to a kind of communication breakdown between parents and children. Children are aware that the parent is already in the know and any further questions from them are simply shrugged off by saying, “Find out from WhatsApp.” This would have been acceptable if parents discussed only school work. But sample this: Parent1: My child was absent today. Can someone share the home work and what was done in school? Some parent puts pictures of the work done. Parent 1: Thanks. Oh, wow! Your child’s handwriting is so good. My child writes so shabbily. You are such a lucky parent. The parent even goes to the extent of taking pains to click pictures of the child’s shabby work and put them on the WhatsApp group for another 30-40 parents to see. Parent: My daughter won the first prize in dance competition. This is followed by a spate of likes and congratulation and comments such as Your daughter is so good. Wish my child was like her My son is so lazy My son never copies the class work She doesn’t know what was done. Her mind is always elsewhere Unknowingly, parents are creating mental images of their children in other parents’ minds. This is intruding upon the child’s privacy. No parent would like their flaws being discussed on these groups by the children, then why don’t parents realize that they are somewhere making the lives of their kids too public? Even without meeting these kids, the WhatsApp parents group has already labelled the kids in class as the lazy one, the brilliant one, the abuser, the deviant one, the good mannered child and so on. Parent1: Have

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What's up with parent WhatsApp groups?

Pooja Birwatkar A few years back There was a time when parents would wait for their children to return from school. All that happened in school, the highlights, the challenges of the day, activities that happened, home work that was given, everything was discussed. School bags were checked and school calendars were read regularly. The scenario now Mother: So what happened in school today? Child: I am tired … See in WhatsApp Mother: Thank God, WhatsApp is there or I would never know anything. Much before the child reaches home, parents are already aware of what happened in school, the kind of homework given, etc., courtesy WhatsApp and other social networking platforms. Life in school is shred and dissected every day. While it is good to be involved with the children, too much involvement spells danger. This has led to a kind of communication breakdown between parents and children. Children are aware that the parent is already in the know and any further questions from them are simply shrugged off by saying, “Find out from WhatsApp.” This would have been acceptable if parents discussed only school work. But sample this: Parent1: My child was absent today. Can someone share the home work and what was done in school? Some parent puts pictures of the work done. Parent 1: Thanks. Oh, wow! Your child’s handwriting is so good. My child writes so shabbily. You are such a lucky parent. The parent even goes to the extent of taking pains to click pictures of the child’s shabby work and put them on the WhatsApp group for another 30-40 parents to see. Parent: My daughter won the first prize in dance competition. This is followed by a spate of likes and congratulation and comments such as Your daughter is so good. Wish my child was like her My son is so lazy My son never copies the class work She doesn’t know what was done. Her mind is always elsewhere Unknowingly, parents are creating mental images of their children in other parents’ minds. This is intruding upon the child’s privacy. No parent would like their flaws being discussed on these groups by the children, then why don’t parents realize that they are somewhere making the lives of their kids too public? Even without meeting these kids, the WhatsApp parents group has already labelled the kids in class as the lazy one, the brilliant one, the abuser, the deviant one, the good mannered child and so on. Parent1: Have

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Preparing students for exams

Ruchira Ghosh Preparing students for exams takes time and dedication on a teacher’s part. Helping your students to feel confident will give them the best chance of success. Below are a few tips to ensure that your students are up to the challenge of writing an exam. Plan forward Check the most up-to-date syllabus for every subject and prepare a revision timetable for your students. Make exam formats 100% clear Brief students completely on the examination format and make sure they have clarity on the number of papers and questions, and the duration of each paper. Encourage strategic and analytical thinking Remind students that it’s important to demonstrate independent thinking. For example, when answering direct writing questions, they should use a relevant, original idea of their own, as well as the themes and ideas already present in the text. Ensuring that students understand keywords such as ‘describe’, ‘discuss’, ‘compare’ and ‘summarise’ is also essential. Use technology as an additional resource See computers as an additional revision resource, not a distraction. Do a bit of research to find relevant sites so you can guide students in the right direction to prepare for an exam. Simulate examination conditions in the classroom Try doing two or three practice exams at school before students take their actual exams, to help them with anxiety and timing issues. Use past papers and examiner reports to help your students understand what is expected of them, and the standard they need to aim to achieve a particular grade. Encourage them to do this at home as well. Take regular time-out breaks The brain needs time to recover – some more than others! If students start lagging in a lesson, give them a breather. Make sure students master the topics they like most While it is obviously important to cover the entire exam syllabus when revising, make sure students do their revision in their favourite topics also. Address issues Discuss any unpleasant past exam experiences students may have had. Analysing these experiences can stop them having a damaging effect on students’ motivation. Teacher, trainer and coach all in one! The teachers who get the best results often do more than teach. During exam time, you almost need to become their personal trainer; making sure they’re eating and sleeping well, and encouraging them when they get a bit down or stressed. Parents need preparation too You might need to counsel parents too! Make sure parents are aware that exams are coming up. If you send

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