The monthly newsletter
SCOPE Issue 78 | November 2011 | www.ei-india.com
This Month’s Issue Celebrating Childhood .... 01 Children’s Day Special ..... 02 Children’s Day Special ..... 03 SMSL Quiz ...................... 04 Diwali Celebration........... 04 Rubric Way ..................... 05 Book Review .................. 06 Thoughtful Story ............. 06 Teacher’s Bite ................. 07 ASSET Photo Contest ...... 08
Photo courtesy : Anand Niketan School, Ahmedabad
Children’s Day - Celebrating Childhood “We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has
always been and will continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of humankind.” We the Children: End-decade Review of the Follow-up to the World Summit for Children - Report of the Secretary-General (2001)
The birthday of the first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Nehru is always celebrated as Children’s Day in India and the day signifies the celebration of childhood. The association of children with Nehruji stems from the story that a child pinned a red rose on his jacket and he loved it so much that he continued wearing it always. His love and affection for children was immense and it was well reciprocated too. The day, however, comes for the children around the world only on 20th November as it was the day when the UN General Assembly accepted the Declaration of Children’s Rights in 1959. It was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly, to promote mutual
exchange and understanding among children and secondly, to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children. It was also chosen as the day to celebrate childhood. But amidst all this pomp and glory, we should not lose sight of Chacha Nehru's real message. That is, to provide our
children with a safe and loving environment in which to grow as well as to give them ample and equal opportunities through which they can take great strides and contribute to the progress of the nation. This day serves as a reminder to each and every one of us, to renew our commitment to the welfare of children and teach them to live by their Chacha Nehru's standards and example. We wish everyone ‘A Very Happy Children's Day.
CHILDREN’S D Students sharing their thoughts about Children’s Day Children are the citizens, leaders, businessmen, doctors and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The National Child Day in Canada, Día Del Niño in Chile, Kindertag in Germany, Kodomo no Hi in Japan or Children’s Day in India, is a tradition that is an extremely important event worldwide. These apart, there are many countries such as Mexico, Argentina and Egypt that commemorate Children’s Day. In India we are fortunate that Children’s Day is celebrated on the 14th of November, the birthday of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. He was extremely fond of children and in his honour, this day is celebrated on his birthday. Chacha Nehru, as he was fondly called by children, is believed to have said that being with children not only relaxed his mind, but also sharpened it. Children are the citizens, leaders, businessmen, doctors and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. I feel that Children’s Day is society’s way to thank children for being their adorable selves. Children can make your day with a simple smile, and I believe this is why the whole world celebrates this day with such splendour. On this day world over, children are given gifts and are treated with extreme importance, and in some places parades are organized as a tribute to them. In fact, for children this day feels like a second birthday. They receive gifts from their teachers and parents, and are taken on fun field trips in school. Every year, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and a whole bunch of other days are celebrated, but none with as much happiness as our day. My opinion on Children’s Day is that it is extremely significant, and I am glad it is celebrated. By Aditi Ramakrishnan, Delhi Public School, Bangalore – North
It is a special day in the life of many children Children’s day is one of those days when celebrations are in the school, while life at home is just normal and routine. On the 14th of November every year, schools all over India celebrate Children’s day in memory of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and a favourite of all children so much so that they lovingly called him Chacha Nehuru. It is a special day in the life of many children in school because they are treated specially on that day. For one, we are allowed to wear civil dress. There are no classes and only games, special events and learning through fairs, puzzles shows etc. The icing on the cake is that all these events are organized by the teachers for the children. To begin with the table is turned when the early morning assembly is organized and presented by the teachers. The prayer, news, thought for the day, songs, skits, dances etc. add gaiety to the programme. The games, fairs, movie screenings etc. are fun. The party and music are mind boggling. There is a surprise gift for all of us at the end of the day. But I doubt whether urban Indian homes celebrate Children’s Day. There a few attractions and special discounts in game parks, pizza joints, burger plazas, malls etc. Also Children’s film fest is organized. But in rural Indian homes, the scenario is quite different. Even in poor urban homes, the children do not get a chance to celebrate. Can we make it possible to celebrate? Why not? Think now! By Nishtha Sinha, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans, Atmakuri Rama Rao School, Hyderabad
DAY SPECIAL Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man Children’s day is an event celebrated around the world on different days, all with the same cause; to honour children. The United Nations has declared November 20th as the Universal Children’s Day. Here in India, it is well known that Children’s Day is celebrated on November 14th, i.e. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday, as he was very fond of children. In my opinion, the idea of Children’s Day is wonderful. It is there to remind us all of the value of our childhood. It is there to tell us that children, too are citizens of the world, and they too have their opinions, and is an opportunity for them to voice them, And of course, the children love the entertainment and goodies in store for them on Children’s day. Apart from all that, I feel that Children’s day generates a sort of unity within the nation. An event celebrated nation-wide dedicated to the country’s future generation lets all the children forget their differences and enjoy this common event together. Children’s Day is like a tribute to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru who contributed immensely to the freedom of India. As Rabindranath Tagore says, “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.” By Taruni Sunder, GEAR Innovative International School, Bangalore
Children's Day with not only a happy mind, but with a happy heart as well As we all know, Children's Day is celebrated on Nehruji's birthday, a man who loved children so much, he wanted his own birthday to mark such a day. A child brings light into everyone's life, always winning the admiration of even the strictest adults. Saying a child is a treasure is an understatement of massive proportions. If this is so, then why are children being forced to work around the world, working in unclean surroundings. In this case, all work and no play makes Jack not only a dull boy, but one with a dull life, body, and mind. During Children's Day, not only should all the bright Jacks celebrate Children’s Day, all the other children should be freed from their burden of work at such a tender age. For this, we must create an awareness and ask everyone to stand up for what is right. Let us make Children's Day not a day of allowing kids to reign over, but to help other suffering children who have not even heard of such a day. Let us not stop child labour, but wipe such a thought off the face of this earth and celebrate Children's Day with not only a happy mind, but with a happy heart as well! By Rukmoni Balasubramanian, PSBB Millennium, OMR, Chennai
Children’s Day is the best day in a child’s life Children’s Day is the best day in a child’s life. This day is celebrated on the birthday of our beloved Chacha Nehru. He loved children and that’s why his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day. We celebrate so many days like Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day, Father’s day, etc. In the same way we also do celebrate Children’s Day. This is a special day in a child’s life. Children’s Day is a national festival in our country. Each and every child waits for this day. The celebration of Children’s Day is done with joy and enthusiasm in our country. This also makes a child feel that he also has some importance in the society. There are even fun fairs arranged in schools for the celebration of children’s day so that students can enjoy this special day with their friends and the school. The best part of life is childhood, so to enjoy and celebrate our childhood, Children’s Day plays an important role. It is a special day in a child’s life. Even our elders enjoy this day by remembering the sweetest memories of their childhood. The most important phase of our life i.e., our childhood is enjoyed especially on this day. Therefore, this festival is full of enjoyment, enthusiasm and is a very, very special day for a child. By Anam Uttanwala, Royal Girls’ High School, Mumbai
COLUMN: Round 2 We are sure you would be as eager to know the answers of last month’s quiz question and the winner’s Name. Last month’s answer for the quiz question is B and the winner is PRANAV RAVI ASRANI, Presidency School, RT Nagar, Bangalore.
Congratulations! This month’s question is from Maths subject.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH Shown below are 3 squares with side length 14 cm each.
7 cm 7 cm 14 cm square I
7 cm 7 cm square II
7 cm 7 cm square III
In which of these squares is the shaded area the maximum? A. square I C. square III
B. square II D. (The shaded area is equal in all the 3 squares.)
If you know the correct answer of the questions Send us a mail at assetscope@ei-india.com with the correct answer along with your name, your school’s name, city and contact number. The subjectline of the mail should be “SMSL Quiz Round 2 Answer”. Last date to send the entries is 21st December. Answer this question and get a chance to win SMSL goodies from the ASSET Team.
Diwali Celebration at Basava International School, Delhi Imagine 300 children from classes 1-5 staging up a spectacular show of Ramayana before their loving grandparents, parents and other esteemed guests and enthralling them all! Basava International School kickstarted Diwali festivities by an outstanding performance in the play ‘Bal Ramayana’ on October 20th. The Principal, Mrs. Manimala Roy in her welcome address to grandparents said, “It was not the staging of the show but the learning part that was more important to our children. The great epic teaches us the strength of relationships, the joy of self- sacrifice and renunciation and the role of truth in everyday life. This is very important for our children to know.’’ The students participated in great strength enthusiastically in the play and gave the message of victory of good over evil. A
grand festive ambience was created aptly by beautiful props and melodious chaupais sung by the school choir. Children also exhibited their paintings inspired by the Ramayana. The play was entertaining to the core as it had all the elements of music, well choreographed dance sequences and great acting and narration complimented by colourful costumes. Little actors gave a befitting performance and were true to their characters. The grandparents, to whom the show was dedicated, were mesmerized watching their grandchildren perform and become the ambassadors of our rich culture as various characters in the play. The play, ‘Ramayana’, exhibited great team work among small children of the primary wing. As for the teachers, it was yet another challenge of ensuring mass participation accomplished successfully.
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Assessment Made Simple the Rubric way - Part 2
Experts from EI introduce rubrics to teachers in schools, through workshops
Can Students Help Decide How Their Should be Evaluated? How do you make an instructional rubric? Designing an instructional rubric could be a great opportunity to involve the students. Since it is time consuming, use some class time and create the rubric with your students. Thinking and talking about the qualities of good and poor work is powerfully instructive. Your students will not only help you come up with a rubric; they will also learn a lot about the topic at hand. 1. Look at Models: Review examples of good and poor work on a project like the one your students are about to undertake. Ask students what makes the good one good and the other one weak. Record their responses on the blackboard during the discussion. 2. List Criteria: Tell students that you’re going to ask them to do a similar project and you want to think together about how you should assess it. Students will draw on the list generated during the discussion of the models. Track their ideas under the heading “Criteria”or “What Counts”. If they haven’t listed criteria that you think are important, such as thinking-centred criteria, add them yourself, and explain why they’re important. 3. Pack and Unpack Criteria: You are likely to end up with a long list of criteria, many of which may relate to one another or even overlap. After class, take time to combine criteria. Avoid creating categories that are too big, and don’t bury criteria that you want to emphasize. For example, if you are assigning a written essay and teaching students about the formatting of a paragraph, you may want to state proper formatting as a separate criterion. 4. Articulate Levels of Quality: When drawing again on students’ comments during the
Work
discussion of good and poor models, sketch out four levels of quality for each criterion. Try using those four terms as sentence stems. For example, if the criterion is “Briefly summarize the plot of the story”, the four levels might be the following: • Level 4 – “Yes, the student briefly summarized the plot.” • Level 3 – “Yes, the student summarized the plot, but also included some unnecessary details or left out key information”. • Level 2 – “No, the student didn’t summarize the plot, but did include some details from the story”. • Level 1 – “No, the student didn’t summarize the plot.” 5. Don’t Worry about Getting it Exactly Right: Just capture some of the language, describing strong work and the problems that students typically encounter. Ask students to tell you about the kinds of mistakes that they have made in the past. 6. Create a Draft Rubric: After class, draft a rubric that includes the list of criteria that you generated with your class and expands on the levels of quality. Don’t get too attached to this draft—you are likely to revise it more than once. 7. Revise the Draft: Show the draft to your students and ask for their comments. They will probably ask you to make a few revisions. After revision, the rubric is ready to use. Hand it out with the assignment and have students use it when assessing their own and their peers’ first and second drafts. It’s important that you use the rubric to assign grades.
Book Review Science Can Teach You, The Art of Living Too Author: K. D. Thomas We all learn about the laws of Science, but are there similarly laws of life – laws that help us lead a happy, healthy and balanced life?! According to this very interesting book by Mr. K. D. Thomas, not only is the answer a clear “Yes”, but many of the laws we learn in science correspond to laws we can use in our day-today life. I must say I enjoyed reading the book and also found it very insightful. I believe both students and teachers will find it invaluable. Mr. K. D. Thomas has been a science teacher at St Xavier’s School, Delhi for over 33 years. I had the opportunity to be taught by him almost 20 years ago. I remember him as a role model both for his teaching of Physics, as well as on values in life – so I cannot think of a better person than him to pen this book. Every chapter in the book examines a scientific principle first and then links this principle to a value in day-to-day life. Some of the concepts covered in the book and very nicely linked to ‘real life values’ include ‘receiving precedes giving’, ‘cooperation – the secret of success’, ‘conflict is a necessary evil’, ‘life begins with risk’, etc. As an attempt at removing the clouds surrounding the notion of stress and to bring in a certain amount of clarity, I would like to look at the issue of stress from four different perspectives. 1. Objective Stress:
ing incident, estranged relationship etc. We do not have much control over these situations and we cannot do much to prevent their occurrences and these can happen to anybody. 2. Subjective or Potential Stress: It is an emotional state or fear, anxiety, despair, anger, shame, revenge etc. that may accompany the above mentioned stresscausing situations. These emotions in themselves are neutral as they are neither good nor bad; but they have the potential to become good or bad. 3. Negative Stress: It is a state of mind where a person is incapable of accepting and coping with such emotions as mentioned above and finally succumbs to them and becomes a slave or a victim of these emotions. 4. Positive Stress: it is a state of mind where a person is capable of not only accepting and coping with these emotions but is also able to go beyond them and transform them into a positive energy of love, compassion, forgiveness, hope, courage, motivation etc.
It is a stress-causing situation-real or imagined –like death, disease, accident, financial loss, competition, failure, humiliatBy Sridhar Rajagopalan, MD, Educational Initiatives
Thoughtful Story Once, Buddha asked one of His disciples to fetch some water to drink from a nearby water body. The disciple immediately set out to bring the water. On reaching the water body, he found a man washing his clothes in the water. As he stood pondering, he saw a bullock cart treading through the waters, making it a muddy mixture. The disciple decided not to take the water for Buddha and explained to His master that the water was impure to drink. The enlightened one after a while asked the same disciple to fetch water from the same water body. This time when he reached the place, he found clear water which, he found it to be fit for his master to drink. When he handed over the water to Buddha, Buddha came up with a beautiful teaching that when one is troubled, all one had to do was to give it some time to settle. In due course, it would settle down and peace would be restored.
Teacher’s Bite Mr. Ramesh G R, Principal, BVM Global, Marg Swarnabhoomi, Chennai
Q:
Who has most influenced you to become an educator, and how did they influence you?
My father, an inspiring teacher, to tens of hundreds of people in the tiny Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, was my source of inspiration. He firmly believed, and practised, that work is worship, and devotion to duty is the highest form of worship of God. The respect he commanded as a teacher, from members of all walks of life, leave alone his students and teachers, was the motivating factor for me to venture into this noble profession, teaching.
Q:
What is your approach to classroom management and student discipline?
I always believed education to be child centric, learning to be fun, and that true learning takes place only in a non-threatening environment. My school of thought is that, once the kids like the teacher, they certainly will like his/her teaching too. Classroom management is a cakewalk when the teacher is liked by the kids, and hence first and foremost, a teacher must honestly attempt to build a sense of feeling among the kids that he/she is passionate, approachable and caring. Once the teacher creates a feeling among the kids that
he/she has something to offer which the kids are looking forward to, then there is no room for any disciplinary issues, and learning will certainly be fun. Also, if the classroom norms and expectations, and the possible consequences too, are framed in concurrence with the kids, then such norms are seldom violated. Further, for an effective classroom management, a teacher has to be firm, fair and consistent, too.
Q:
What are your views regarding the importance of teacher training and development in educating students?
Teaching is an art and certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, for those who have no passion for teaching and kids. Teachers always need to remember that they are dealing with the most precious thing in the world, the human mind. Hence the nittygritty of the art of teaching can be mastered only with suitable training which is a must for any prospective teacher, at any level.
Q:
What is your view regarding the ASSET Test?
ASSET is a Comprehensive Assessment Test which purports to test the understanding and application level of a concept, where rote learning is nullified. ASSET is certainly a boon to those kids aspiring for excellence, especially in subjects like Maths and Science. The ASSET analysis reports certainly provide an insight for the teachers, and serves as a catalyst for academic excellence.
Adbutha Suryaha - An Annual Education Project
PSBB Learning Leadership Academy, Bangalore
Every year it is customary, for the school to choose a theme and all the school activities revolve around the chosen theme. The theme for this academic year 2011-12 being the sun, the event was aptly titled ‘ADBHUTHA SURYAHA’ which means wonderful sun. It was a much awaited day, as the children looked forward to show their learning to the guests. Dr Y G Parthasarthy, Dean & Director, PSBB Group of Schools, Chennai, graced the occasion. The theme was well researched by the little ones and they had collected a wealth of information. Each department showcased the theme in different titles. Surya Vigyanam (Science) - displayed models of sun and its layers. The solar city and models that use solar energy received much appreciation. Maya Suryaha (Social Science) – explained the sun’s rotation and revolution and its effect on earth. Students performed the shadow show with great enthusiasm. Bhasha Baskaraha (Language) - The English department showcased models and stories on the sun from mythology across the world. Children recited poems which personifies the sun and explained idioms on the sun. The puppet show performed by the students was indeed crowd pulling! The Hindi, Kannada and Sanskrit department portrayed and explained the relation between the sun and the lotus.
Navagraha and the sun god with the seven horses was displayed and explained by the students. Kala Suryaha (Art, Music and Dance) - The room was made vibrant with artwork. The children sang songs and sthothras about the sun. Yogamitram (Yoga, Sports) - Students performed and explained the benefits of Surya Namaskar. Snehithaha Suryaha (Class III) - The students of Class III demonstrated how mankind uses the sun in daily life and for his survival. Suryakshetrani (Class II) - The little ones of Class II took the visitors on an exciting tour round the globe to places associated with the sun, Not to miss the Land of Rising Sun, the Land of the Midnight Sun, Konarak, the Brihadeeshwara temple and Kanyakumari! The performance of Surya Namaskara by the tiny tots of Class I and II in the formation of the sun’s rays stole the show! The event drew to a close with the Valedictory Function, presided by Chief Guest Mr. Natarajan from TATA BP SOLAR and Vishnuteerth Agnihotri and Deepali Sinha from Educational Initiatives. It was an exhilarating experience as the students glorified the Sun – our Life – Supporting spectrum of energy.
‘CELEBRATION’ THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO CONTEST
Last year, we received more than 150 contest entries submitted by students across the schools in India and abroad. Well, it's that time of year again – send us your winning shots on the theme ‘Celebration’. Please submit images that accurately reflect the captured moment in time. In other words, keep it real.
Rules of the Contest: • The photo format should be in JPG form • The size of the photo should not be more than 3MB • Only online entries will be considered for the contest • Students of classes 5 to 10 can participate • Only one entry per student will be considered
1st Prize
2nd Prize
Tiled Mug
Mindspark Clock
3rd Prize
Pencil Stand
All the photos should be mailed to assetscope@ei-india.com before the 25th of December, 2011 with Name, Class, School Name, City and Contact Number. The entries will be judged on ‘Creativity and Photographic Quality’. The winners will be declared in the coming issue of ASSETScope. Bookpost
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