In this way the theme transportation was done in a fun and practical way. It enhanced their public speaking skills and self confidence.

I used Hardy’s World trip, as an opportunity to make the kids imbibe all the learning “On the go”. On our way I showed them all the road signs and different modes of transportation. To my pleasant surprise the kids sang the poem “Go, Go, Go” on transportation, which we did in the class a few days ago. Children really enjoyed and whenever they saw the road sign they told me “Mam look, look road sign like stop, zebra crossing, school ahead etc.”, it was learning by seeing.

Now these young children are all set to teach parents about “Road Signs’ and “Safety rules”

I got a very good feedback from the parents as well regarding the same.

By: Gurpreet Sandhu

 

Use of technology has revolutionized the teaching learning process. From a teacher centered approach, it has become more child centric now. Teachers are now able to speak the language of technology that the children understand easily. As a new age teacher it is my duty to make my students equipped for the future and inculcate the skill of enquiry and knowledge building in my students. It is also my duty to create an environment of blended learning where the students are using tools to create and learn about various situations. 

 I truly believe that the value of a teacher is determined not by what she knows, nor by her ability to impart what she knows, but by her ability to stimulate in learners a desire to know more. To be able to do so the teacher needs to be well organised for her class. Being an Expert Subject Teacher in my school for the Primary section, I and my form teachers have faced some hitches in the form of:

·       Completing our syllabus in time and compromising with the teaching technique.

·       All form teachers not being on the same platform in terms of using technology in their class.

·       Time management in each class of 40 minutes.

My project is based on dealing with all these issues. I thought of creating a common info graphic template which can be used confidently by all my form teachers to facilitate learning in their classes. A template where not only the teachers but students are also an equal part.

My main objective was to create an engaging and intellectually stimulating learning experience by modelling and exemplifying for students the excitement of discovery. I strived to find ways to present appropriately challenging learning activities in an enthusiastic, interesting, tech savvy and enjoyable way. My focus was to enhance student engagement and learning through effective curriculum design, pedagogy, use of technology, and assessment strategies.
I converted my Lesson Plan into customised Info graphics in order to stream line the everyday teaching and helping to create a stimulating environment where the students are better thinkers, inquirers and communicators with a balanced and open minded approach to life. Being pioneers in creating our own digitized lesson plan and now modifying it into a comprehensive day wise plan along with the info graphics has made my classroom a happy learning space.

Quoting a famous line “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned”, I would like to say that using the customized info graphics has not only made my class more organized but also a place where my children are enthusiastic for learning as they know with real life visuals shown they would be in a better position to learn and fulfil their inquisitiveness. 

Info graphics created are based on the lesson plan made for the topic. First the digitized lesson plan is prepared wherein the pedagogies, methods and activities to be used to facilitate the learning process for that lesson are finalized, then that lesson is divided into day wise plans with clear cut demarcation of how that day’s topic would be introduced, developed, summed up and then evaluated. After completing the lesson planning, the process of creating the info graphic starts. Info graphics can be in the form of a professionally made Power point presentation which includes complete videos also or it can be a well-made sway presentation using Microsoft Sway. The info graphic has slides pertaining to introduction of the topic which could include a video, an activity with clear instructions, or visuals that are to be used for introducing depending upon the lesson plan. After introduction then there are detailed slides of how the topic would be developed keeping in mind to add whatever is required to make that topic clear to the children. The aim is to make the lesson more real by adding real life media into the lesson. For evaluation stress is laid on using techniques like Flipped classroom, graffiti wall, 4 corners etc for which children require visuals to understand how it works and using info graphics in the class makes it easier for the teacher to explain that method and it also becomes easier for children to understand, grasp and present in a better way.

Invariably while teaching in the class we forget to do ongoing assessment to see whether children are understanding or not. For this also HOTS questions or open ended questions are added in between the slides so that the teacher remembers to do the assessment and reading the question from the screen helps the children to better visualize it. It is also easier to make children complete a Do It Yourself Project by showing visuals related to the project to the children in the class itself so that the children clear their doubts in the class itself rather then going home confused and troubling their parents to help.

Use of info graphics in my class has made my students more aware and has also improved their academic performance. The use of info graphics actually enhances the learning process and knowledge building of students. It has also made everything more visual because of which the understanding is better and retention power of children has become more. They not only enjoy new technology but involve themselves in the subject with great enthusiasm. They have shown marked improvement in their overall performance in the field of attendance, knowledge, awareness and class participation.
Parents have given me a positive feedback about the new changes brought about in the classroom teaching as they say children have a better understanding of not only the topic in general but also about its real life implications. A tough topic like “Pollination” in class 5 was well understood by my children because of use of customized info graphics and students performed really well when they were evaluated for the topic.

REMEMBER 38=342

THAT IS 3 BEFORE ZINC AND 8 BEFORE NITRIC ACID FOR REACTANTS

AND ON THE PRODUCT SIDE 3 BEFORE ZINC , 4 BEFORE WATER , 2 BEFORE NITRIC OXIDE

REMEMBER IT AS 38= 3 AND 4X2=8
Also
REMEMBER SRSSME FOR REFLEX ARC:

stimulus

receptor

sensory neuron

spinal cord

motor neuron

effector organ

1. Participation was mandatory.

2. Students were allowed to use puppets, props, flash cards, real objects or charts to make their story convincing.

3. Students were free to choose the genre of their choice.

4. Students were encouraged to perform action or mimic the characters.

5. Marks were given based on audience engagement, entertainment and use of aids.

6. A winner was chosen by the audience and was given the title of “The Aesop” of their class.

The outcome was a surprise! Each student came up with ideas more unique than the other, and stories more engaging. The most introvert of the lot hid behind the puppets, masks and disguises to bring their fictional characters to life. The experience was surreal and the enthusiasm was unmatched. 

     Keeping this in mind, students of Class Upvan were taken to PAU for a Field Trip on 18th October, 2018. Taking  students out of the classroom and into a new environment allows them to work as a team and build trust with other classmates. Field trips provide experiences outside the proverbial ‘boxes’ of numeracy and literacy. The approach is to facilitate hands on experience and learning that will enhance their critical thinking skills and help them to explore different realms of knowledge and imagination. 

    The Satyans of Upvan visited the PAU BOTANICAL GARDENS, The Entomology department and …..It was great experience for the little Satyans and of immense help in honing their social skills and satisfying the intellectual curiosity . It gave them the opportunity to touch, feel, and listen to what they’re learning about, which helped them gain a better understanding of topics and expose them to worlds outside their own.”
      The type of memories that Field trips create, are “episodic memories,” that helps children retain information for longer periods. It was a change from the routine of a school, which was immensely enjoyed by the little Satyans.

I read this technique, Kaizen - a Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement of working practices, personal efficiency, etc. 
As I have always been fascinated about Japanese success so got to know about this one. 

Anyone could apply to their lives. For instance, one could make a routine to follow, keep things at the right place etc to increase personal efficiency. 

I'm doing this these days and seeing the results. 

Thought you might be interested in trying it.
Kindly share your thoughts.

Monica Joshi

Young children are open minded and receptive to taking on new knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. They are the leaders of tomorrow and the change makers. The best way to create a better world is to make the young children aware about the world.
The SDG’s are universal goals for all the people, and are inherently global in nature. Developing global citizens who are passionate about caring for others and our world is essential for making the world a better place. The SDG’s help to engage students in practical goals and problem- solving. With a perspective of making the young children aware of the Sustainable Developmental Goals, I incorporated them in my lesson plan of plants.
In my kindergarten classroom, I first showed them some videos like the World’s largest lesson. This intrigued the young minds and generated curiosity. All the 17 SDG’s were listed and a poster was put up in the class. An awareness was created by talking about why we thought they are important and what they meant to us. Through their genuine and authentic curiosity about the global goals, they became aware of not only what they are, but why they are important. I connected it with the Plants topic in the curriculum and they were told how to care about plants and for keeping our Earth clean and green we need to plant more trees and not cut trees.
The Goal # 15, Life on Earth was discussed. They also made a project on Plant Parts and took it home and some discussed with their parents and friends about the SDG’s. Lot of brainstorming was done. The children also spoke about the SDG’s. They were motivated to speak with the help of video recordings. This in turn enhanced their confidence and awareness about the SDG’s.
Circle time on SDG’s with the theme poverty made them aware about this problem in the world. This sensitized them on the issue and they all came up with different ways in which they can help the poor people. This way they were told about the Goal #2, No Poverty
SDG’s have become an integral part of my classroom culture now, whatever we are doing the students try to connect it with the SDG’s. My students love learning about the world and talking about SDG’s.
Kindergarten seems like the perfect place to begin thinking about how we can collaborate globally to make the world a better place. We all need each other. The world needs all of us to care and make wishes come true for everyone.
If we are to create long term sustainable change we have to start with the young children. Then these lessons will stick and galvanize them into taking action of their own in the name of all the Goals.

 Combination of Sway, Office Lens and immersive reader is easy, quick and helpful in simplifying the lives and tasks of educators. I just really didn’t grasp the true value of this tool until I tried my hand at it myself.

·       Sway with its rather nice scrolling effects and ability to contain a great deal of written text in a pleasantly readable manner, is particularly good at telling a story on its own. The purpose of Sway is to convey concepts quickly, easily and clearly.

·       Using Learning Tools in OneNote, such as Immersive Reader, makes learning more equitable, accessible, and engaging. It’s providing many more opportunities for the students to practice and apply 21^st century skills.

·       Immersive Reader is providing a great deal of support in understanding and analyzing complex text that can be challenging for my struggling readers.  With Immersive Reader, my students have been able to listen to the text as many times as they want. This has given my struggling readers a greater chance to successfully identify the evidence they need to answer text-based questions.

·       With Immersive Reader, students seize control of words they struggle pronouncing. I have also witnessed students getting excited when they use Line Focus, which increases concentration by allowing them to focus on one or a few lines at a time. It is making a tremendous difference in helping them analyze complex text.

 

Science Power point Presentation on BIRDS using 3d Paint, e books and blabberize :

  https://blabberize.com/view/id/1776788

Children were asked to choose a picture of their favourite bird and collect some information about that bird( description, diet, habitat, present status)

The children turned their favourite birds into talking birds using the information they collected with the help of blabberize tool.  

·                          The whole presentation helped increasing student participation by      turning power point-based classes into interactive sessions.

·       Blabberize is a free online tool that allows you to quickly create talking images, providing some great opportunities to foster student engagement and collaboration. 

·       Blabberize is not a revolutionary tool, but it certainly provides an interesting way to break up your usual lesson plan, helping to focus , and improve knowledge retention.as well as foster student engagement and collaboration.

·      Some students are often self-conscious about speaking, Blabberize provides a method for dealing with this. This helps learners to battle their shyness and train their language skills through the mediation of Blabberize.

Flipgrid is the leading video discussion platform used by educators around the world. Flipgrid brings the back row to the front and helps learners of all ages find their voices, share their voices, and respect the diverse voices of others. 
 Flipgrid students build and strengthen social learning communities as they discuss their ideas and experiences with their peers.
 Flipgrid amplifies student voice and supports student development of global empathy as they immerse themselves in each other’s learning processes and perspectives. 

The students of class 4D were asked to search for some amazing facts about Carnivorous Plants as a part of their English Literature project for the chapter ‘Pitcher Plant’. Flipgrid was used as a platform to present their findings to their peers. The students participated enthusiastically in the project. 

 BUDDY SYSTEM:

A buddy system is where a child gets paired with another child. It helps to promote friendship, better support of coursework, behavioral and social needs, and can foster a greater sense of belonging. The buddy class programme gives children the opportunity to develop a range of qualities including leadership, responsibility, social skills and teaching techniques.

I have been using buddy system in my class since October(after the autumn break). I draw slips(2 at one time) in the beginning of the month and make buddies accordingly. 

Duties assigned to a buddy:

1. to make a list of missed out work in case his/her buddy is absent.

2. to help the buddy complete his/her pending work.

3. to help him/ her understand the concepts.

4. to help him/her complete other classroom chores( setting a desk, performing class duties, etc)

This practice has really helped my class in building a positive connect with each other. Most importantly the children, especially slow writers or absentees do not have to struggle to complete their pending work. Based on daily observation by the class teacher, ‘Best Buddy’ is announced and given a badge at the end of the month.

In this activity, the students were the ‘archaeologists for a day’. We created some sand pits in the play ground which had some buried objects to explain how historians use evidences in front of them to piece together facts about the past. Children were divided into groups and each group picked out an object from a sand pit, took the object to their group, brushed it off and carefully studied them to see what we can know about the past.
SCIENCE – CLASS IV

Kahoot app (online quiz) is used to ensure that the students are regular with their homework. The students are asked to read the topics done in the class as a part of their homework.  Online quiz is created on the topics covered for a particular chapter. The children are given the code for the same and they attempt the quiz. This really helps a teacher to gauge their understanding and the report suggests that whether the topic needs to be revisited or not. Most of all, the children enjoy and look forward to it.

 

Students who participate in STEAM learning: 

Instilling that passion and drive to learn is at it’s most crucial stage during the formative years. Starting STEAM education early allows children to build a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Kids exposed sooner will be far less intimidated by more complicated teachings in the future and more willing to pick up advanced studies in the subjects later on in school and life. STEAM embraces the 4 C’s identified as key 21st century skills – Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Communication. Students have the freedom to thinking critically, creatively and to innovate.

 

Young children are naturally curious. They ask a lot of questions about the world around them, and it benefits them to stimulate that inquisitiveness for problem-solving and learning. Allowing a child to explore something they’re interested in, such as a musical instrument will have questions, hypothesis, and observations flowing freely.  Steam teaching helps to incorporate fun into the lesson plan and makes it more accessible for young students. When kids are allowed to actively participate in their learning, they are more likely to enjoy it, get engaged in critical thinking and learn from experiences. 

 Students of Upvan class made a STEAM project as a part of their five senses topic.  Children explored the sense of sound with this science activity of making a crafty kazoo. A kazoo makes noise when our voice vibrates the tissue paper membrane. The sound waves from our voice get altered when they hit the tissue membrane, creating the funky humming noise we hear when we play. They enjoyed making the kazoo and had lots of fun playing it. It was a great hands on-learning experience for them.

Outcome: Hands - on and experiential learning with great science activity

Impact:  
1. Helps engaging all the students
2. Fosters their creativity
3. Helps enhancing their inquisitiveness and interest in everyday science 

 This is not only provided conceptual clarity but motivated students to get actively involved in the class. 
The students had a playful way of learning and got an opportunity to reflect on and develop their knowledge of the topic.

Geeta Bhardwaj