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Ekya / March 06, 2018 Posted by : administrator

Our series so far has explored reading tips for Infants, Toddlers, and Kindergarteners. In this blog piece, we visit the age group that’s one step higher where reading plays a vital role in every aspect of learning – First Graders. We have compiled eleven reading tips for first graders that offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Remember, give your child lots of opportunities to read aloud. Inspire your young reader to practice every day.

  • Don’t leave home without it: Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait, such as at a doctor’s office. Always try to fit in reading!
  • Once is not enough: Encourage your child to re-read favourite books and poems. Re-reading helps kids read more quickly and accurately.
  • Dig deeper into the story: Ask your child questions about the story you’ve just read. Say something like, “Why do you think Clifford did that?”
  • Take control of the television: It’s difficult for reading to compete with TV and video games. Encourage reading as a free-time activity.
  • Be patient: When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word.
  • Pick books that are at the right level: Help your child pick books that are not too difficult. The aim is to give your child lots of successful reading experiences.
  • Play word games: Have your child sound out the word as you change it from mat to fat to sat; from sat to sag to sap, and from sap to sip.
  • I read to you, you read to me: Take turns reading aloud at bedtime. Kids enjoy this special time with their parents.
  • Gently correct your young reader: When your child makes a mistake, gently point out the letters he or she overlooked or read incorrectly. Many beginning readers will guess wildly at a word based on its first letter.
  • Talk, Talk, Talk! Talk with your child every day about school and things going on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words into the conversation, and build on words you’ve talked about in the past.
  • Write, Write, Write! Ask your child to help you write out the grocery list, a thank you note to Grandma, or to keep a journal of special things that happen at home. When writing, encourage your child to use the letter and sound patterns he is learning at school.

Parents, we recommend you to try a new reading tip each week and see what works best for your child.

For more reading tips, click the following links:

Infants
Toddlers
Kindergarteners

Explore more

Ekya / March 26, 2024

The Hot Garlic Soup Inspired by ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry

Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat on the third storey of an old house.
Johnsy fell ill in November. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. She would lie in her bed, gazing out of the window. Sue sent for the doctor. The doctor said to Sue, “Johnsy’s condition is not so serious yet. It seems she is unable to recover because she has lost the will to live.”
Sue became extremely worried for Johnsy’s well-being and mental health. She tried to make Johnsy interested in the things around her, but Johnsy never replied with more than a noncommittal hum.
One day, Sue was painting when she heard Johnsy counting backwards. Sue looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing on the brick wall. The ivy was shedding its leaves in the strong gust of the wind.
“They are falling faster now,” whispered Johnsy. “Three days ago there were so many leaves. Only five are left now.”
“It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
“When the last leaf falls, I will die” said Johnsy with finality. “I have felt this for the last three days.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “Why do you believe your fate is tied to those old ivy leaves?”
“Human life is fleeting, just like those ivy leaves,” said Johnsy. “I got sick just as the ivy started shedding its leaves. It must be an omen. The last leaf will fall, and I will slip into slumber forever.”
Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. Plenty of people fall sick in autumn, and they recover soon enough. Do you want some soup?”
“I don’t want any soup. My time is almost up, I’m sure of it,” murmured Johnsy.
Sue decided to change tactics. She was not going to give up on Johnsy.
“It is true that human life is somewhat fleeting, but that’s exactly what makes life valuable. Do you not want to see what life has to offer before you slip into slumber? Will you not miss the cool breeze waking you up, the warm embrace of sunlight? Do you want to give up the feeling of the paintbrush gliding over the canvas?” Sue quavered.
“Look beyond the ivy to that tree over there,” Sue continued. “Even that tree is shedding its leaves, but it is also growing new leaves. It is going to live for many more years, just like you.”
Johnsy contemplated for a while. Then, she looked out of the window and smiled.
“Perhaps I will have some hot garlic soup. You made me realise that life is worth living after all.”
Written by Aahana,
from grade 9A

Ekya / March 22, 2024

Importance of Literature in a Classroom.

"Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity" - P.T.Barnum

We as humans are social beings. We can't imagine our lives to be solitary. Literature facilitates us to understand and communicate with one another in society. It helps us explore the world around us and is a medium to express our views and experiences. So it is of vital importance that the students are introduced to literature at a young age.

Literature is necessary for students as it helps them to develop imagination, improves vocabulary and language skills and even enhances creativity. Literature helps them understand the world outside their home and school.

It is disheartening to see that literature is often not put on the same pedestal as other technical subjects like Math or Science. where it shouldn't be the case.

Literature includes different types of texts like stories and fables, myths

and legends, poetry and drama or even informational texts that help them explore other subjects. It prepares students to read and understand the real world.

There are one too many benefits of including literature at a young age. It is like an exercise for the brain, keeping an individual mentally active and stimulated.

Exposure to cultures from different countries brings in a sense of respect and tolerance, a feat possible through literature. It motivates one to appreciate different lives and their ways and also to graciously disagree with something that may not be right. The different characters the students are introduced to become a source of inspiration. They start to imagine themselves in varied situations. they learn different solutions to problems they come across.

More importantly, reading is fun and literature develops an inclination toward reading and makes them self-learners.

It can be concluded that literature is a gateway to nurturing a child’s life skills more than any assignment or task

can ever do.

Written By:

Shruthi Prakash

English Educator - Primary

Ekya Schools BTM Layout

Ekya / March 22, 2024

A Day to Remember: Juniors Bid Goodbye to Seniors with a Spectacular Farewell Party.

As the academic year draws to a close, emotions run high at our beloved school. The time has come for the juniors to express their gratitude, love, and affection for their departing seniors.

And what better way to do this than by throwing an unforgettable farewell party?

The air was buzzing with excitement as the juniors meticulously planned every detail to make it a night that their seniors would cherish forever.

The audio-visual room was transformed into a place of nostalgia and celebration, adorned with decorations to welcome the seniors. Each performance was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. Each video played, spoke volumes about the memories shared and the bonds formed throughout their academic journey, blanketing the atmosphere with a mix of joy, laughter, and a hint of bittersweet anticipation.

Our seniors were all dressed up to the nines for the occasion with the girls in a blue and white saree and the boys in black suits.

But how did all of this come to be? I am a grade 11 student and let me take you through behind the scenes of this event and how we prepared for this event.

  • Many girls formed a group and decided to dance to “Paint It Red” and “All Is Well”. Everyone’s efforts are to be appreciated as they come up with new steps and formations. Well-coordinated teamwork led to an amazing performance that got everyone cheering.

  • Meanwhile, my batchmate, Lara,  and a few teachers were preparing to sing songs dedicated to the seniors. Lara sang a melodious rendition of “When You Believe” and the teachers sang a medley of songs which got the seniors singing along as well!

  • The boys planned on dancing to the song “Galti Se Mistake” and their performance was full of creativity and humour. The choreography was inspired by the original music video of the song and they worked hard together and taught each other the steps. This performance got everyone giggling and cheering so loud!

  • It did not end with the students, even the teachers chose to step into this grand celebration. They danced on a variety of songs and each song made the seniors hoot louder. Even though they had a very busy schedule they would still take time and dedicate it to the dance practice during after-school hours. Huge kudos for their coordination and effort!

  • Mohana and Arshia came up with a very engaging script which had the attention of the audience. A small game was organised for the students where they had to write something good about one of their batchmates. Everybody put their hands together and made 32 crowns of appreciation for their seniors. A video of the seniors was made including photos and videos of their dearest memories. Last but not least, our teachers also prepared a video message for the seniors bidding farewell and wishing them the best for their future endeavours.

The day finally came. The 10th of February came. It was the day - the day for which we had been preparing for days. The graduation.

The place was set, the background screen was ready, the mic was ready and the sound system was ready. Our seniors came one by one and the auditorium was filled with chatter until the anchors came in and the event started.

After a few minutes, the head boy gave a heartfelt speech, followed by the chit game of affirmations then Lara’s beautiful performance.

The girls donned black kurtis and sunglasses and danced to “Paint It Red”, which got a round of applause. The seniors loved the “Galti Se Mistake” dance by the boys for its creativity and comedic execution and what made it better was the shorts with shirt and tie combination. The dance finale was to the song “All Is Well” which got the audience cheering for the dancers with lots of enthusiasm.

Then a video filled with the memories of the seniors was shown which made most of them emotional. The dance which everybody was eagerly anticipating started - it was our beloved teachers who completely rocked the stage with their amazing performance.

Then a few teachers gave a very emotional message followed by songs dedicated to their students. The event came to an end with video messages by the teachers,  a crowning ceremony and high tea.

In conclusion, the event was successful, and enjoyed by all the students - juniors, seniors and teachers. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution and teamwork. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone and a day which will never be forgotten.

Written By:

Stutee Samantray

(Grade 11, Ekya BTM)

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Fundraising for 20 Eye Surgeries – Service Learning at Ekya ITPL

Service Learning plays an important role at Ekya, as it helps students identify themselves as part of the community, develop empathy and respect for others, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. As part of the Service Learning programme, our students conduct several fundraising activities at school – newspapers drives, selling handmade scented candles and body scrubs to name a few, with the funds directed to charity. This month Grade 9 and 10 students of Ekya School ITPL successfully raised an impressive amount of Rs. 29,500/- with the aim of bringing a difference to the lives of those who eagerly hope a change. The children decided to use the funds to sponsor 20 eye surgeries, approaching Sankara Nethralaya in Kundalahalli, Bengaluru to help facilitate them. When contacted, Mr. Vikram Chaudhary, Unit Head at Sankara Nethralaya was more than willing to oblige. Impressed with the efforts of our students, Mr Vikram visited the ITPL campus to address them, taking them through an informative and interactive session on Sankara Nethralaya, its vision and the services it provides. He invited our Grade 9 students to visit Sankara Eye Hospital, located at Kundalahalli. Buzzing from their efforts put in for this noble cause, the children were excited to pay a visit to the hospital. A cheque of Rs 30,000/- was handed over to Mr. Vikram on behalf of the hospital. In addition to this, our students interacted with doctors on duty, understanding the various procedures undertaken at an eye hospital. They also got to witness a live eye surgery conducted at the operation theatre; a thrilling experience that sparked curious questions in their heads, each of which was answered by the staff who accompanied them. This was a wonderful learning curve for our young mind. In the words of Leo Tolstoy, “the sole meaning of life is to serve humanity”, we at Ekya Schools, look forward to being part of so many such activities in the coming years.

Women of Ekya – Celebrating International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is annually observed on 8th March - a day of recognizing and celebrating women around the globe, the values they bring as individuals and as part of a community, highlighting the challenges and struggles each one of them has faced, to pave way for others.
A mother, wife, daughter, friend, but importantly an individual. A woman of substance. A woman with a goal and a vision – who does not step away from challenges and strives to find a better way to do things. Who laughs, celebrates and lives life.
On this occasion, we celebrate the women of Ekya, who run every cogwheel of our chain of schools. Leading the vision of Ekya Schools is the dynamic Ms. Tristha Ramamurthy, supported by two stalwarts in education, Dr. Sabitha Ramamurthy, who leads the CMR Group of Institutions for over 25 years and Ms. Sharmila Choudhury, who is the Senior Director of Academics at Ekya, with three decades of teaching experience. The energetic and passionate women of Ekya Learning Centre strive to bring the best teaching methodologies and framework from across the world. The love and care of our Head of Schools and teaching staff nurture the citizens of tomorrow while the support staff ensures that everything runs smooth. The women of Ekya make “Living the Lesson” possible, working diligently to create lifelong learners. We took this opportunity to ask some of the women at Ekya for their thoughts on Women’s Day and women. The answers you see truly embody the “individual” spirit of women.

What is Women’s Day to you?

While everyone unanimously agreed that celebrating womanhood should be all day every day, rather than a dedicated annual affair, we had some interesting insights of what the day meant to each one of them. “It’s a day to reflect on how far we have come in humankind's journey for gender equality. Without struggle there can be no progress, and Women's Day is a reminder to appreciate the small and big struggles women from all walks of life have overcome to ensure that men and women today lead better lives than they did before”  Ms. Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder and Managing Director, Ekya Schools. “We need to change our mindsets from celebrating women for a day as an afterthought to providing women with equal opportunities, pay and scope all over the world.” Ms. Ahlada Sudersan, Ekya Learning Centre. “A special day to reflect and promote women's equality and women's rights. It's that time of the year when we acknowledge and celebrate the lives of ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in society. Women are feted, honoured and revered." Jyothi Menon, Head of School, Ekya School ITPL. “It is a day of remembrance, of the hardships and struggles that women face. It is a day of celebrations, of achievements of every woman. It is also a day that highlights the issues women face, bringing a collective voice against them”  Ms. Diya AnilKumar, Grade 10, Ekya JP Nagar. “Women's Day to me is a celebration of all the phases of a woman. It is a loud call for all the women in the world to stand up for each other and make their world filled with respect and dignity.” Ms. Poornima Mahesh, Headmistress, Ekya Early Years, Kanakapura Road.
"It's a very important day for women across the world to come together and make the world recognize the gender inequalities and also celebrate the achievements of women who have overcome these barriers. I would like to see women in our country enjoy personal freedom and not having to deal with sexual misconduct and harassment in personal and professional arenas. They should have right to property, better educational access, equal opportunities for jobs and equal pay. We all have to do our bit to achieve full gender equality for women all over the world."
Ms. Manisha Pandit, Ekya Learning Centre.

What is women empowerment to you?

With #PressforProgress being this year’s theme for Women’s Day, the women of Ekya had their say in what empowering women mean to them. “To me, women empowerment means to strengthen the economic, social and educational abilities of women. Education is the most important and indispensable tool for women empowerment. It enables women to respond to the challenges, confront their traditional role and brings about a positive change in their attitude.” Ayesha Sirajuddin, Head of School, Ekya School ITPL. “The ability to make choices is empowerment. I believe women empowerment is a movement when women will choose to work with confidence and dogged persistence towards achieving their ultimate goals, in whatever sphere it may be.“ Ms. Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder and Managing Director, Ekya Schools. “We all mostly associate women empowerment with having equal rights and opportunities. However, a very important aspect of the journey of successful women is the support they get from their loved ones. The encouragement and moral support from the people around them play a huge role in their empowerment. To me, that is the true meaning of women empowerment. Women are moving forward in their journeys; it’s time for the world to catch up.”  Ms. Trishikha Kiran Rao, Grade 10, Ekya School JP Nagar. "Empowering a woman is to empower the entire system that surrounds her, be it family, colleagues, and friends or just about anyone. A woman only needs support and understanding and she can conquer the world. She can stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone else, be it a man or another woman and succeed in all fields. Empowering women is not a necessity because of gender discrimination as it is because of an existing system that does not feel the need to do it actively. Empowerment comes in many ways - teach her and she will be the best there is, guide her and she will lead the way, support her and she will reach the highest pinnacle, encourage her and she will make miracles happen, acknowledge her and she will make the people around her a priority and achieve beyond imagination." Ms. Aparna Kiran Rao, Parent of Ekya.
To bring more women to the fore, we need to ensure that all girls are ensured basic school education. We need to create safe spaces for women to gather and discuss opportunities, problems and needs. Participating in a social network will encourage more women to educate themselves. We need to educate everyone at the grassroots level about the importance of treating women equally, about respecting their needs and decisions.

Who are the women you look up to?

When we asked about the women they look up to, names of mothers were on the lips of everyone. So did the names of women with inspiring stories behind them - from Indra Nooyi, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and Chandra Kocchar to Jhumpa Lahiri, Ellen Degeneres and Etta James. "Savitribai Phule, who established the first women school in India and became the first women teacher to change the social fabric. Rosa Park and  Frida Kahlo for utmost courage and determination. My mother and teachers, Dr Jyoti Dalal and Moloyashree Hashmi for their indomitable spirit and grit." Pooja Arya, Ekya Learning Centre. "Women in the Armed Forces, who have broken gender barriers. We need to salute them for the courage they possess as women excelling in a once male-dominated field. Being part of the Armed Forces is requires unwavering mental strength than physicality, which is proven by these women" Ms. Trishikha Kiran Rao. "I look at myself every day and say, 'there I am' - the woman who has grown up from a little girl to a responsible and strong human being." Ms. Baishakhi Roy, Ekya  Learning Centre.
On Educator Appreciation Day, one of our children came dressed as Savitribai Phule, the mother of Modern Girls' Rights and a social reformer. From that day, I have been inspired by her and her open-mindedness to bring about the change in the outlook of education and rights to girls. As an educationist, I would want to turn every stone to make learning reachable and meaningful. Savitribai Phule has been on my mind whenever I think of modern steps towards learning.
Ms. Poornima Mahesh, Headmistress, Ekya Early Years, Kanakapura Road.   "My first and foremost inspiration is my grandmother, Amrithavalli. She was a cancer survivor who faced many hardships and losses in her life with a smile. She was educated only until the fifth grade, but was a voracious reader, teaching herself Hindi and English using books. Her drive and willpower in fighting cancer, her compassion and encouragement towards others are qualities that I look up to. I also admire the work done by Lady Ada Lovelace and Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie is a well-known household name with her stories engrossing millions of people. At a time when women authors were confined to writing social commentaries and domestic fiction, Christie paved a new path for women authors by showing that they are no less capable in the written word. Lady Ada Lovelace is known as the world's 'first' programmer. Statistically, few women venture into the field of technology. Ada Lovelace is a reminder that girls can code and be as tech savvy as the boys." Ms. Ahlada Sudersan. For the strong women in every chapter of our lives, May we know them, May we be them, May we raise them.
Happy Women's Day!

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