Thursday, October 30, 2008

Events Of October -2008

IMPORTANT EVENTS OF NAMMA VEEDU MONTESSORI HOC – OCTOBER 2008

3O.9.08- HOC has spent 5 solid hours to set up the Navarathry Golu to celebrate the 10 days grand festival. This is the festival in India to celebrate the end of all evils as great demons who were killed by the eternal power ‘’THE DIVINE MOTHER’’.
What is golu?
Golu is the arrangement of various clay dolls on steps based on Indian mythology which clearly explains the concept of life and various concepts of spirituality. This festival lasts for 10 days during which children and adults gets the chance to express their talents and appreciate the aesthetic sense in all actions.
We have arranged dolls in 5 steps and teachers are welcoming the villagers as guests.
We are also planning for parent’s competitions, mother worship and teachers worship. Usually in India many new schools admit the beginners on the 10th day of the festival.
Today teachers performed the morning rituals to the DIVINE MOTHER and enjoyed the ‘’doll marriage’’ festival. Mean while we have also went for canvassing for new admissions. This article will be further sharing about various exciting events and incidents which is going to happen on these 10 days. Let us wait for the fun……..

2.10.08- Today we came to know that Miss.Kalaivani who has joined with us also is going to continue her higher education and she is leaving us. We are in need of good facilitators in HOC like Miss.Kalaivani and Miss.Bodhini. We are hunting for a very good person who can first show the real motherliness and care then the Montessori Method. Let us wait. I need to study really the situation of other 3 staff members. They are also good in conducting the HOC. But they need to imbibe the system soon and more. Yes! It is not easy to have a Montessori HOC in a village like this.

4.9.08- PARENTS TEACHERS MEETING. We started the meeting sharply at 9.30 A.M. There were only 8 parents representing the group. The agenda was as follows with the minutes of the meeting.

· All the teachers were there.
· Dr.Madeswaran and Mrs.Dhanam was the chair person.
· We gave a warm welcome.
· We explained why it is important to attend any meeting or occasion in a school for a parent.
· ‘’a child will neglect a mother who could not recognize the child’s work and timing’’. This was the message to all the parents.
· We were planning to have a parents committee to represent and work for the various needs of the HOC.
· ‘’The school is not an institution, but it is a social well fare unit in the tiny village for the up liftment of the people from the child hood. This has to be realized through our freedom given in HOC.’’
· The annual budget was explained especially about the source of income to SAKTHI FOUNDATION through Dr.Pradheepkumar.
· The fees income was also put before the parents.
· The need for the expense, need to realize the fees structure though it is based on charity were explained.
· Transportation facility and its cost were discussed.
· Observation for the parents was announced.
· Need for child observation was explained.
· The HOC requested the parents to approach the adults to know about the activities of their children and not to talk ill about the school outside without understanding the concept behind the system.
· HOC has welcomed parents for a next meeting to plan the annual day celebrations.
· A simple explanation was given about English teaching and home work pattern was also explained.
· The history of writing within a child was explained.
· Miss.Kalaivani and Miss.Bodhini were facilitated by all of us for their beloved and commitment.

THE SACREDMOST MOMENTS – MATHRU POOJA
After a short break we did the ‘’mathru pooja’’. We explained the need and meaning behind worshipping our parents and elders and why we are touching the feet of a person for blessing.

Children were taught how to perform the ritual to their mother. They were so excited and every child did the pooja perfectly with total concentration and love.

Many parents were in tears out of love and blessed their children with hugs and kisses. Few fathers attended the pooja and accepted the respectful moments from their children.

Then Navarathry pooja was performed by the teachers. Mrs.Shanthi chanted the 108 sacred names of Goddess Mahalaxmi and Maniamma offered the flowers. There was pin drop silence in the school. Later we relished the ‘’puliyodarai’’ dish prepared by Usha amma.

Few children left their parents but others just went to work. When the PTA meeting was happening, children went to an other room and worked for 1.5 hrs without any break.

This is the 5th day of Navarathry festival. Our HOC GOLU is so sweet to see with compact arrangement.


6.10.08- Mrs.Priya living in Sendurai village has joined for observation to become a teacher in our HOC. She is the classmate of Mr.Jeyaraman. Her husband is working as a catering technologist in Tamil Nadu hotels in Madurai. Her 1.75 year old boy is a immature child with many health problems. She has joined with us to show a good path of stress less education to her boy from this time and she is also very calm and peaceful in mind which is very essential for us.

9.10.08- first vijayadasami day in HOC: HOC has celebrated the final day of Navarathry festival with grand and spiritual sense.

· 3 new children got admitted in our HOC.
· Naveen- 1.75 years.
· Diwakar- 1.75 years.
· Darshini- 2 .75 years.[ she needs some special care to walk well]
· SPECIAL EVENTS OF THE DAY:

1. Children and trust have honored all the staff with special gifts.


2. Teachers have made children to write all the Tamil scripts and initiated the writing exercise. This is the traditional way of initiating a child on his very first day in a school on this day.


CHANCE FOR A GOOD TEACHER: From Vijayadasami day Mrs.Priya from the same village is coming for observation. She is also having a small child who is ready for the Montessori HOC.

She is observing all the activities of the HOC and also practicing all EPL activities from other staff members. The staff members are able to run the HOC with confidence in the absence of 2 experienced people. In the mean time one of the parents has talked ill about the staff for writing about the fees payment in the note book. The parent is also not happy with the system and spoke ill in the village. We are not emotional and we are asking them to come to us for any doubts, but they have never turned up even for a single meeting. The child’s father is a teacher in the government school.

We are having the PTA on Saturday and we are asking the parents to be ready for the observation week and orientation. Beyond that if they are unhappy, they will be asked to take away the child. The parent’s attitude towards the school and staff are making strong impact on the child and she is also expressing that in the school. Teachers feel very difficult to handle this particular child.


18.10.08- Toady we conducted PARENTS TEACHERS MEETING. Only 6 parents were there but they were very conscious about the PTA. The following topics were discussed as follows,

1. Parent must recognize their child actions and appreciate.
2. We have discussed about the events of Annual festival.
3. Kolam, Drawing, Story telling and Speech will be conducted.
4. Parents were asked to perform the various acts before their children so that their children will appreciate their parents’ skills.
5. Again annual budget was discussed and we have spoken of the transport expense. One of the parents was suggesting with a cheap auto. We need to wait and discuss about it.
6. Again we spoke about the CODE OF CONDUCT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND PARENTS.
7. We have requested the parents to come to the HOC for any clarification.


STAFF MEETING:
1. We spoke about the child observation and report making.
2. We have seen the discussed about the individual plans of every child.
3. Staff- parents communication.
4. Reema who has left the HOC need to collect the report.
5. Deepawali celebration and Skandha sasti celebration.
6. Grounding and independence.
7. Child’s attitude towards various issues of HOC.
8. Mrs.Priya was given the appointment letter. We are happy with her attitude towards the Montessori education. She says,
‘’ I thought that this place will be baby care centre, but now I have understood that It is the place where we care and shape a child with real love and intelligence.’’

9. Her 1.25 year old son is also very active and he too got admitted in the school. He is very much involved with the Montessori materials.


10.Mrs.Priya have the following characters which are good for HOC: She is very calm and quiet. She is also very keen in observing any thing and she clears her doubts immediately. She is also able to maintain the link between her son and other children in the HOC.

19.10.08- Today the children were on leave. We started the sessions at 9 A.M. First we spoke with Saravanan’s mother.
1. The character of the child is getting changed and he has to be guided.
2. The parents must be aware about his attitude and also about the help given by the foundation.
3. They cannot talk about the help outside of the HOC.
4. He will be helped only based on their cooperation.
5. New dress for Deepawali was given to the child with Rs.100 by my mother for Deepawali.

24.10.08- DEEPAWALI FESTIVAL.
Today we have celebrated Deepawali festival in HOC with divinity and simplicity. We are promoting the idea of traditions and culture but not the luxury. So we have made it as a point that we never spend too much of money in luxurious celebrations.

This year we are observing the RAMAYANA TRADITION. So teachers have presented the legend of SreeRama. We have shown the Ramayana cartoon movie few months back.

As usual the HOC building was decorated with flowers and mango leaves. Children and staff decorated the MARAPAACHI WOODEN DOLLS as SreeRama and Sitha Devi.

They imagined that they are welcoming back to Ayodhya and chanted the sacred name of Rama and made a small procession inside the HOC compound.

The idols were brought inside the prayer hall. They were placed on the altar and the legend was repeated. Then special rituals were done by staff and children to them.

Then the brass idol of Devi Annapoorani[ Goddess of food] was brought from the prayer altar and placed on a plate. Special sacred bath was given to idol with ghee, milk, honey, sandal paste, and saffron and turmeric water.

Then the importance of food, wastage of food was explained to the children. Big lamps were lighted and children recited the chants.

On 23rd staff and children cooked a traditional sweet and that was also offered to the Goddess. Lemon rice was cooked by Mrs.Usha and got offered to the goddess.

Later every body gathered and tasted the festival feast and greeted each other. HOC announced holidays for 5 days. But we are offering food to 3 poor children for 2 times on all days.

Now the HOC has to begin its preparation for SKANDHA SASTI FESTIVAL. This is one of the most important festivals of the state. It is to celebrate the success over the evils by Lord Murugan[native God].

Mean while the village has received heavy rains and even we announced a day holiday on 22.10.08. But I feel very proud to say that out staff conducted the HOC with children who are near to the school.

25.10.08- Mr.Ganesh’s father merged with the God today morning.HOC is praying for his soul’s peace.

29.10.08- HOC has opened after 5 days of Deepawali holidays. Children were excited to come back and they got settled soon. From today we have started preparing the HOC to celebrate the grand SKANDHA SASTI POOJA.

Every day Mrs.Shanthi is performing the poojas to Lord Murugan in our school house and dramatizing the mythology of Muruga.


Today they have gone out for a nature walk to observe the village pond filled with pure fresh water after heavy rainfall.

HOC prayed for the health and wealth of Dr.PradheepKumar, for his birthday.

Thankyou!


















Monday, October 27, 2008

Montessori approach to 6-9 years children-10

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HOW TO INSPIRE 6+ YEAR OLD CHILDREN?
Very often many of us say that what ever we do , children never listen to us, they feel boarded and never concentrate in the activities. But Dr.Montessori has discovered 6+ year old children' s mind and understood how to inspire them?
From the birth time children slowly observe the environment around them and imbibe the facts and incidents. From the age of 6 they start to abstract their ideas, experiences and feelings. Slowly they start to develop the inner knowledge.
This article will help the teachers and parents to inspire the children towards various exercises to shape out their knowledge. Knowledge is the inner thirst of every child. But the thirst for knowledge differs from child to child. Schools and parents need to accept the fact that every aspect on this planet is a source of knowledge. Children must be allowed to explore and choose their own work. But they must be insisted to have an allover view of all subjects.
Any aspect in our environment will be the source of knowledge. So we always begin any concept with a story, reading an article, showing a picture, showing an object related to the concept.
6+ year old children are very much attracted to such things. In our class rooms there is table called '' focus table''. Every day we place some thing on that table . Children when enter into the class, just see that table. They feel very happy and excited to talk about it . They also approach us and start talking about it. We also just give them some hints and encourage them to get ready for the lesson presentation.
Yesterday I have experienced a wonderful class across the school in teaching my language . Let me share that beautiful experience.
On last Sunday I got the chance to visit a coastal area in my state. That area is very famous in our history. It is the place where river Cauvery empties into Bay Of Bengal. This is the area where the ancient port town Poompuhar was located before 2000 years. It was the capital of Chola empire. But the entire city got washed away by great tsunami waves in 2nd century A.D.
When I saw the beach I was taken back to the olden days. I collected the pure silt soil deposited by river Cauvery. The waves brought many broken pieces of wood, bricks, pebbles, tiles from the sea. They are the remains of the Poompuhar city. I also collected them.
Already I have presented the history of ancient Tamil nadu from grade 3 till grade 7. On Monday I just placed them on the focus table in grade 6. We had the presentation and children were very very silent and observing the facts and just appreciated the remains and went back to olden days through their imagination. The questions asked by them were wonderful. Slowly the geography teacher entered and started talking about soil and sea currents. Then the History teacher gave the presentation about '' sources to learn history? ''
By afternoon the news spreaded to grade 5 and 7 then I was invited to give the presentation. Children who do not listen to language classes also gathered and settled in the front row and observed the presentation.
Then slowly the news went to primary classes and I gave the presentation to grade 3 and 4.
In each level the abstraction of knowledge was different. Let us see some samples of questions asked by children belong to different grades.
Grade 3: What was the king's name who ruled the city?
Grade 4: Can we dive into the sea and see the entire city even today?
Grade 5: Can we list out various jewels used by Poompuhar citizens?
Grade 6: I want to learn some of the literature connected with this city?
Grade 7: How can you prove that these remains belong only to this city?
Grade 8,9: Children just saw the remains and said thanks for showing them and left.
In primary level questions were more about the facts like king's name, how old was the city?, story about Cauvery etc.
In elementary level they explored the remains and talked more about culture and civilization.
But every child enjoyed this presentation. A Korean boy who do not know Tamil also enjoyed and said that he wants to go and see the spot in Christmas holidays.
This shows that when a child passes each phase of life the interest of knowledge changes but in all phase the need for the knowledge is the same.
For 2 days my Tamil class taught history, geology, geography, literature, science and religion. So every object can be the focusing object. We need to come out of the shell and think wide and change our view about lessons and knowledge. There is a famous Tamil proverb , '' vallavanukku pullum aayudham''. This means a wise man can use even a grass as a powerful weapon. Let us think!

Montessori approach to 6-9 years old children-7

ARE WE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AND ATTRACTIVE?
When I came to Madras, I was questioning myself, '' Why most of the city people, rich people look fair? attractive ? ''
Even in my school most of the children look fair, good looking and some thing strange from the Indian community. What made them like this? When we look into the pregnancy, the mother makes all these features. Heredity expression plays the other role.
Dr. Montessori has talked about beauty, attraction and perfection. It is very clear that all the living beings are beautiful. Nature has designed them with perfection. But as Indian mythology, epics and modern embryology say, the mother is the shaper of the child from the embryo. She is the real Goddess who makes the child beautiful, healthy and perfect in all aspects.
The two different extremes:
When the mothers from rich back ground go through the pregnancy the stress is quiet low than the mothers in villages and in poor community. The rich mother just enjoys her pregnancy in a most comfortable environment. The husband , in-laws and other relation are there to support in a peaceful way.
But in a village situation, especially in poor community the need for food, shelter and clothing are stressing the embryo. The stress from drunken husbands, rude relatives, pain of poverty changes the fate of the child. The child is stressed from the pregnancy stage. The mal nutrition is the most worst stress for these children.
The rich mother is focusing the child to languages, arts, good food, fashionable life, books from pregnancy. I need not explain the other part of the poor mother. But after the delivery there are lot changes in the life of a rich and poor children. In both cases the parents are working. A rich mother works for more materialistic status. Where as the poor mother work for the daily bread.
The rich mother leaves the child at baby care homes. Where as the poor mother takes the child to the working spot. But the poor child is exposed to many relatives like grand parents, aunts and uncles. The nature is more exposed to a poor child. But the rich child is well cared by the nurses or baby sitters. They are well pampered by the family. Relatives and friends are not often exposed to this child. The child needs to spend the days only in A. C rooms and cars. Even the nature exposed to the child is a prepared one like a zoo, park or garden.
Based on these aspects, the language , culture and behavior of the children are framed for their future. The city child looses the native tradition, culture and art. Where as the poor child looses the exposure to modern life, changes in the society and education.
Today the parents and teachers in struggling to balance these 2 matters. The teachers in the city are feeling very difficult in making the children to know about various cultures, village life even though media is there to support. The stress for a language teacher in Indian cities is very difficult to express. The Indian regional languages are different and very much complicated. Unless the children are exposed to the language it is very very hard for the child and teacher .
The threat from NRI s:
This article will help the NRI people , especially Indians who are planning to settle in India. The Indian state governments are much concerned about the regional languages. Though the central government offers foreign language programme, recently the norms are very strong that the child must do the regional state language as third language.
English is the first language. Hindhi is the second language and the regional state language is the third language till grade 8. There are various examination boards which offer regional languages as second language and Hindhi as third language. But is states like Karnataka [ South Indian state] Kannada [ regional language ] is the first language.
My school follows the ICSC board. We teach both Hindhi and Tamil [ regional language ] in equal level till grade 5. After grade 5, the child will choose either Hindhi or Tamil as second language and other as third language. The foreign children can do their languages like French, German and other languages . But they must learn either Hindhi or Tamil as third language.
If any NRI child wants to do the foreign language from where he came the formalities are very complex. There are many such NRI children who are suffering in my school to learn a new Indian language as second language. The only reason is that they are not exposed to the languages.
Most of the well educated Indians in cities and abroad are not at all talking in the mother tongue language. The child knew only English. The parents feel very proud about it. But the threat for the child is in the society. The child who do not know to talk in its mother tongue is neglected in the native community. That child looses the tradition and culture. Apart from this the threat is the language education. As a teacher I have been much stressed with such children who knew only English. It is funny to say that I am teaching Tamil through English.
At the same time the children from East Asian countries are suffering in learning through English because they do not have any English exposure. The same stress is there for our village children to learn English. English is always a night mare. I say all these are because of the parents view on '' ultra modern life'' . The globalization has made the children to face this problem. Modern English education, women employment, media are responsible for this stress upon the children. The government is also very rigid in its policy.
So we warn these parents to think about the children and the stress . There is no child who will say '' no'' to the parents for tradition and language. From birth , the child must be exposed to the mother tongue. They need not be a poet or author, just the spoken language is enough. I advice , more vocabulary skill in names and verbs alone help these children.
Example: My friend living in USA never speak in English at home. The couple always converse either in Hindhi, Tamil or Malayalam [ their mother tongue]. Today his 6 year old boy is well versed in all these languages. The child is well prepared for a transplantation at any time. The mother is spending time regularly in evenings to teach the languages and math based on Indian syllabus. The child is always ready to come to India .
Same time when one of my cousin brother came to India from USA, the family went into quarrels. The children do not know to talk in Tamil and the uneducated grand parents could not accept them . More than that the children could not mingle with them. Within 2 weeks they went to USA.
The children from abroad when come here are like the saplings ready for transplantation. The parents just become aware of culture, tradition and their future and just bring them here. The children are not machines. Even the TV , video or audio sets differ in their voltages and watts from country to country. Children will adapt to any condition, but basic preparation is a must. Other wise we are wasting our money, answer ftime and energy in schools. They are not gaining much.
Example: A child from Korea came to our school. He do not know English. He was much stressed and could not mingle with any of his class mates. For 1 year the the teachers were just spending time in settling him. The new culture, language and other features made him just to roam and play. The child has just settled and started his learning. How to or his delay in learning?
A girl came to grade 7 before 3 years from Australia. When she was interviewed she was very good in reading Tamil. She was quiet confidence in spoken language also. Soon I taught her to write. The girl stood first in Tamil exams at the end of 8th grade. Now she is in grade 10. She has blossomed as a poet in Tamil . This is because of her parents .
Montessori schools in India must concentrate specially in languages. The importance given to EPL [ essential practical life activities ] , Math and English must be given to Indian languages. The school must be very very careful in appointing the Montessori adults knowing the regional language of the locality. The children need equal drilling and practice in the Indian languages.
So the beauty is not in the body or color, it is in cherishing the school and social life. From pre primary till grade 12, the child needs to enjoy the education. For that the parents and teachers need to plan from the beginning stage .
The beauty of the child has to be designed from the embryo stage. If Montessori schools reach all the villages they can train the village mothers and poor mothers to plan their pregnancy. Both the city and village mothers need to share and balance the various aspects of the children. Sakthi foundation has researched more about this. There are proper guidance for a couple under the family way. Please refer the site www. sakthifoundation. org .
Mahathma Gandhiji has welcomed Dr. Montessori to India and requested her to expand her education into all villages. But unfortunately that has failed after some time. Now Sakthividhya is trying the best to seed Montessori education in villages. Montessori education strongly believe in educating the parents. This is to make the children more happy and comfortable with the life.
The whole Montessori environment is designed to express and enjoy the beauty and perfection of life. Each activity in the school is well planned to make children to feel for the beauty of life. The following article will talk more about it.
Thank you!!!

Montessori approach to 6-9 years old children-1



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CHARACTERS OF 6 TO 9 YEARS OLD CHILDREN
Dear teachers and parents
,
As a Montessori facilitator ,often I hear the very serious complaints from parents who are scared with the most beautiful age group of kids. They are the 6 and 6+ year old children. Are they really the greatest terrorist to us in homes and schools?
This article will give you a clear picture about that age group. After undergoing Montessori's guidance about this age group. I have realized the truth of life and beauty hidden inside this age group in past 7 years.
If anybody asks me, '' which age group of children you like ? '', my choice is always ''6 and 6+''. Because they are the raw clay in my hands to mould beautifully. They are ready before us to organize them self for a good life.
1.) The child is reasonable: From birth till 6 years, the child has gathered many seeds of knowledge from his environment. Now he is starting to find the reasons behind his abstracts and he starts asking us questions.

we need not give the answers for all questions. We can also say that you will help the child later. Sure after TV's influence they may say many ''unacceptable terms'', but we need to realize they do not know literally what it means.
Example: Often one of my 2nd grade boy started hugging his class girls and boys and started kissing and said ''I love you''. Imagine what will be the situation in a conventional school?
I saw that, many started complaining about him and teased him. I just called him and asked why he did .He said.,'' sir, often many big boys and girls in TV do this, even I want to show my love and friendship to my group like that, I too to do like that''.
I said,'' dear, it is so nice to hear that you like to hug., but there are friends who dont like touching them without their permission. They may feel stinky and sweaty. You all play under hot sun and come., please think. What ever big children do we need not do. If you want to show your love, better give handshake, or hug on shoulders, kiss your parents.''

[this happened in 2006] This child have never made another issue like this till today.
This is the beauty and divinity of 6+years old children.
We need to refine a lot. Often I say,'' my teaching is my spiritual sadhanas [ spiritual practices ] to cleanse myself, it is not my profession''.
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2.AGE OF DEVELOPING SELF CONSCIOUSNESS:
From birth the child has observed his environment and conserved many experiences. Now the child starts developing those small experiences into consciousness to build up the personality. So please give the space, opportunity, time make the child to construct the child's own feelings to strengthen the personality.
We have failed to do this in 6+age to our children, so now many personality workshops are happening in schools, colleges and corporate. If we cant construct our personality in 6+ how can we change in 3o+ ? If you have changed , I am sure it is to get good name from your boss and to add to your increment.
''aindhil walai yaa dha dahu aim bha dhil wayai yaadhu''. [If you cant get shaped out in 5 ,then how can you change at 50?]-a Tamil proverb.
Now the child needs our guidance without any dictatorship. The child is no more a feeding bottle baby to be under your hugs. The child wants to try all experiments of life, to abstract and gain the nourishment to construct his self-confidence , so that his personality will be ideal.
The child wants to explore more and more, so there raises 1000s of questions with in the child's mind. For all we cant answer. There is no harm in telling the child that you dont know, or you will tell later or allow you to rest for some time.
Try to talk to the child softly and explain why ,what ?
Example: Last year my friend's 6+kid came from America. We had a long journey to Madurai. On the way to Sendurai to see the lands for our school, after seeing the thick dense vegetation in hills, just the child asked whether there are any boars. When I said yes ,he threw more than 50 questions, when all were sleeping in car. The driver too asked him to keep quiet but I was answering with patience. Later when my answer bank became empty I just told him,
'' dear, can maamaa[uncle] rest for some time? I feel thirsty. I need to go back to library to find more about boars and I will mail to your appa or talk through skype? please try to share whatever you knew about boars to your American friends...''
The boy just gave me the water bottle and also 2 good day biscuits and he too slept on my shoulders.
So do not be egoistic before them.
Tamil proverb says,' 'God is your child''. The reason is that they make us to shed our ego.
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3.HE HAS HIS OWN WILL AND JUDGMENT:
The main worry for a parent who have a 6+ child is about the child's argumentative character. Suddenly the child who was walking by holding appa's [ father ] hands, now do not want him to touch even some times. For anything the child will argue.
Parents need not worry about this because mentally and physically the child is changing.

Till 6 years the child was a baby, the child has gathered information about various things from the environment. Now the child has started building its own world where the child put its own wills and justice. The child will become a strong person to find fault, argue and also in other hand to thank and appreciate us.
Now we are in the position to canalize his judgments, laws, ground rules not by dictating, showing our power of physic and ego. But be a role model.
The child is very keen in all happenings, trying to strengthen the emotions and laws. When we are mistaking ,actually the child is confused. There comes the rebelling mind. Please accept it, allow to talk, argue but teach him how to argue, question without using abusing words and tantrums. Indians lack the skill of questioning and commenting because of fear. Let the child learn how to question in a proper way without rudeness, and hurting others.
Example: In my school when ever children want to just bunk the sessions, try to play dramas with us. Often they will say, ''the previous teacher always used to allow us to play after sometime, why cant you too do that?''
Very often I say to my students,
'' dears, it is so nice to play . But that teacher has recorded that she made you all to work first, then to touch the ball., after comprehending 2 pages.....''
No mouth will open, but the hands will touch the study materials.
Then we need to clearly tell them that our family, class, follows certain culture, behavior and slowly teach and train them to adapt to it. It is like a daughter-in-law's fresh married life ,whenever a kid travels through various ages of life.
Parents must be the role models. Especially for boys ,from 6+fathers,uncles,cousins are expected to be at home often and live as nice role models.
Do not misguide your kid.
Example: There is a couple who got separated, the child is with the mother. In grade 2 ,I gave the names lessons of Indian family. Next day the mother send a letter saying,
'' Please do not teach my son the term FATHER''.
Let me share an another example.
There is a boy of 7 years. His note book is in a very damaged condition. I send a note to the parents 5 times. There was no reply. Then I send a cover with chart paper. For a week there was no respond. Yesterday when I checked the class work the child cried. I asked the reason. He said that he felt guilty to face me that he cant get the help of anybody to help him to cover his note book in his home even though I gave the materials to cover. Then I did the covering and rang up to his parents, they replied,
'' sorry sir, we both are always in our car traveling across the states for for business''
Why they need to marry and have a child?
There are many children who refuse to come to class. Let me share a nice example to show how we are living very very selfishly only for our comforts.
When I asked 3 graders to make an album about the farm animals, one child did not do it even after 4 reminders. The reason she said was,
'' my mother said ,we need not do all these work''.
I said.,'' explain your mom that it will help you to draw, write and name the animals easily'.'
She said,'' sir, I have already explained, but mom said she do not believe in this work'.'
Dear parents, here comes the main problem between teachers-children--parents.

Please believe your child's school. For you it is easy, boring but for the 6+ it is the first experience. You are plugging away their roots of development and interest.
Yesterday when a 4 year kid was just closing her palms, I asked what was there. She said that the teacher has asked them to bring dolls for Navarathry [ ten days festival in India at the month of October ] festival, she did not have a doll which can be brought and she picked up few pebbles from her garden and holding very carefully.
this is the order and law of the 6+ age children. For us it is very silly, but for her it is very important. It is equal to our golden jewels in the locker. So try to understand, please do not apply immediately your adult development and judge them.
If he picks up the bat and ball do not say'' haa...are you a Tendulcar. Go and study''.
He need not become a Tendulcar , but on his own he will shine.
So this age group is very very sensitive. we need to shed our ego and go along with them. Explain them the reality without bribing and when unacceptable behavior was expressed give them the consequences without hurting them. But do not withdraw away from your consequences.
Let them know the family setup, culture, reality of finance.. but do not show too much of family issues. Let the parents handle very sensitive issues in privacy.
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