Fluidic Thinking at Nahar,Powai

Long time since I posted

Here is a talk I liked on parenting and teaching

Parenting today: Giving our children a voice Given our cultural context, and the global world our children are competing in today, we need to empower our children to speak up more.Encouraging curiosity,...

Always loved her energy

How to raise successful kids -- without over-parenting By loading kids with high expectations and micromanaging their lives at every turn, parents aren't actually helping. At least, that's how Julie Lythcott-Haims sees it. With passion and wry humor, the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford makes the case for parents to stop defining their children's suc...

Felt like writing something today...!

For many... "Happy teachers day" is a day to remember the teachers who taught us! I agree it is very important to show gratitude.

For me.....it is also a day to reflect on the challenges of teaching a child today in school.

A Child needs freedom of play, expression, and thought to be healthy, creative and intelligent.

A Teacher too... needs "Freedom to Teach"

When I look back at the teachers whom I "admired", they taught from a place of interest in the subject (heart) and they enjoyed the free will (brings self) to teach as they wish. It was sometimes textual...it was sometimes role play.... sometimes it was a story.. sometimes a drawing on the board. They expressed themselves the way they wished by bringing themselves into it passionately. They were trusted to do so and they did. The concepts then stayed with us for life.

Today, in order to commoditize teaching; syllabus->datewise lesson plans are in place. Lesson plans tell the teachers what to teach in a particular class....how to teach.....it sometimes even gives the examples they are allowed to state. It ensures even if 1 teacher is absent...another replaces immediately and the syllabus is complete. Partly essential for secondary and higher. Agreed.

This cannot be the way fwd in "Primary education"!! (Up to Grade 5)

Teachers should have the free will to teach the way they please so that it comes from their heart...bringing self, their knowledge, and reaching the child as motivation.

Let's not kill the creativity and imagination of teachers by structuring their lesson plans so much .... thereby removing imagination.

"Let lesson plans remain only as guide books"

Teachers.... "Demand your Right to Teach!"

Sudha
Educationist/Psychologist

"I normally don’t post personal news but am making an exception this time to celebrate our younger son’s graduation from Harvard College with a cm laude in Mathematics & Computer Science. His twin is graduating from Ashoka University & heading off to Sciences’ Po, France’s premier University, for his Master’s.
Our eldest did his Master’s from Cambridge & is on to his Doctorate at Oxford. All of them together have brought us the biggest joys of life, infinitely more than any accomplishments of ours.
We often get asked about our sons’ educational attainments and our secret sauce! So, my advice, for whatever it be worth, to all those who are bringing up their children right now:
a) In nuclear families today, with little or no parental support and with working couples, bringing up children is tough. Before you take the decision to go ahead, make sure that you are prepared to put in that extra effort. Remember, the children did not ask to be born, you got them into this world. Go all in as far as parenting is concerned, no half- measures here !
b) There is nothing that children want more than your time & love. That cannot be outsourced- you have to make sure that both of you, or at least one of you,is always available with them spending quality moments. Even if you are the PM, as Jacinda Ardern said yesterday at the Harvard Commencement,you can still take time off for your kids;
c) Don’t forget that children are extremely perceptive.They soak up the atmosphere and the habits of their parents imperceptibly but surely. Make sure, therefore, that you set the right example in terms of values, ethics & integrity. Walk the talk ! ;
d) Irrespective of howsoever much you may have, make them appreciate the value of money and human dignity & labour. If they don’t value human effort and what it takes to put food on the table, they won’t ever value anything else in life.
Most importantly, teach them respect for women and how they enrich our life. As they grow older, talk to them about the importance of consent and respecting a woman’s choices. That will make them into fine, rounded individuals who will be an asset to society ;
e) Teach them to be discerning and appreciate all points of view- encourage debate & discussion. Guide them gently but let them arrive at their own decisions. They should have the confidence that whatever the issue, their parents will always be there for them without being in any way judgemental ;
f) Handle differences between you & your spouse separately, never in front of your children. They should always see their parents as a united, indivisible whole. Don’t try and score brownie points in front of your kids vis-a-vis your spouse or partner;
g) Be happy with your children’s choices- whether it be their choice of career, life partner or anything else. Remember, they are your children, not your clones.
Happy Parenting!"
-- Shared by Siddharth Sharma, Chief Sustainability Officer of Tata Group, on LinkedIn

https://www.edutopia.org/article/teachers-use-self-preschool-classroom?fbclid=IwAR1M3YxcXtkjiER_dO8A5kru6NmLXRiJ-wO8UT3PS7kBaH0H--fsFR0wCBE

A good read for all teacher ! do leave your comments.

A Teacher’s Use of Self in the Preschool Classroom The concept of the professional use of self can be a valuable tool for teachers in supporting their peers and their young students.

Now everyone is aware !! :-)

How a simple tummy-rub can change babies' lives Baby massage has been practised in South Asia for centuries. Now scientists are discovering its life-saving potential.

Interdisciplinary studies. A beginning in the right direction for Indians. From National Education Policy 2020! If you wish to know what is the change and progress being made. Pl follow them.

#NEP2020: Setting up interdisciplinary studies "Among the most exciting things of is the emphasis on interdisciplinary studies" - Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi. provides students with the opp...

Interesting...have only watched it on movies!!

Freezing Future: Inside Chang La, India's Doomsday Vault In The Himalayas Situated at an altitude of 17,500 feet , this is the world's highest terrestrial research centre!

Today I had an opportunity to listen to Dr. David J Schonfeld, Childrens Hospital LA who specializes in Crisis and Bereavement in School settings. I thank Ummeed, Mumbai for allowing me to participate.

He suggested the above platforms and content which we all can use as we begin a new academic year to explain the pandemic and the loss of a loved one.

https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/resources/covid-19-pandemic-resources/

https://grievingstudents.org/

I am aware that I spend more of my time with special children but my urge to help all children remains strong-willed.

I request teachers in my platforms to please use the above materials for educating teachers and staff in schools and also for reaching students.

I will write my notes shortly.

Home Page - Coalition to Support Grieving Students The Coalition to Support Grieving Students was convened by the New York Life Foundation, a pioneering advocate for the cause of childhood bereavement, and the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, which is led by pediatrician and childhood bereavement expert David J. Schonfeld, M.D. The...