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Ekya / August 02, 2019 Posted by : administrator

Grandparents Talk for Montessori

To address some questions and curiosities of our children, we organized an interactive session with the grandparents of a student in Montessori.

Mrs. Presteena Pereira and Mr. Josy Pereira shared childhood stories about their schooling days, the fun they had playing outdoor games with friends and the excitement they had while listening to the radio (one of the very few sources of entertainment, as they mentioned).

They encouraged students to learn, experiment, and participate as much as possible in school as well as respect their teachers and fellow mates.

Our students eagerly listened to all their stories and asked them questions like how they played if they didn’t have cell phones, computers or any sort of electronic gadgets.

Our students presented a plant as a token of affection to our guests who took time off to visit the school and share their experiences with the little ones.

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Ekya / March 14, 2024

Strategies to help students focus on their studies

The famous quote by Bruce Lee, “Concentration is the root of all the higher abilities in man,” aptly describes the importance of concentration. When it comes to students, concentration plays a major role in their overall performance. From understanding the concepts in the classroom to solving advanced mathematical problems or playing their favourite sports, everything is directly related to the power of concentration. Many of them wonder how to stay focused on their studies. For them, it is advisable to take small breaks in between their study sessions. Also, students should make an effort to participate in an extracurricular of their choice, be it playing guitar or making goals in the field. Activities of their choice would not only give them a break from studies but would also boost their dopamine level.

As per American psychological society, there is a decline in student's attention for 10 to 15 minutes. However, there is a need to look out for strategies for boosting productivity and focus among students

Here are some tips to concentrate on studies and boost focus:

Prepare short summaries of the lessons:

After completing the lessons, preparing a summary of it will help students to get a good hold on the topic. Short summaries will also be useful during the revision before final exams. Sticky notes to write important points will also help

Take periodic breaks:

A small break after a study session is one of the learning tips for children given by many experts. Small breaks help students refresh their mind and focus on the topic. Students can also use the Pomodoro technique which includes 25 minutes of study and 5 minutes of break or 50 minutes of study and 10 minutes of break.

Encourage them to finish tasks faster:

Setting a time limit will help students to channel their energy in one direction. This is a good way to increase their concentration. Children should also be advised to divide the bigger tasks into smaller pieces and solve them one by one. This technique will teach students the lesson of time management and will enhance their concentration.

Try to make learning sessions fun:

It is one of the best tips for studying. As it will engage the students in the most fun manner. For this, various learning toys can be used to make them understand complex topics. Including memory games would also be a good option to increase their concentration.

Implement Ed-Tech learning:

Involving Ed-Tech learning is one of the best ways to keep the students engaged, as it captivates their attention. Ed-tech learning methods are designed in a way to not just boost the student's interest but also help improve their concentration.

Take the feedback seriously:

Always encourage the students to take the feedback given by their teachers seriously as this way they will get to know more about their weaker areas and work over them. It is a good way for students to channel their focus on the areas that demand more attention.

Understand the student's potential:

This point is very important for teachers and parents to consider. Every child is blessed in some or the other way. Comparing them with other students not just demoralises them but also lowers their confidence. So it is essential to understand the true potential of every student. This way they can excel in their desired career fields.   Ekya School is among the best schools in Bangalore, if you are seeking a school with an ICSE curriculum, this is the place for you. It is also among the CBSE schools in Bangalore, that provide students a holistic approach by innovative curriculum design based on the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework. With over 30 years of education legacy, it has excelled not only in academics but also outperformed in co-curricular activities. Ekya’s experienced teachers help students concentrate on studies through different methods of teaching, clearing doubts, and revision sessions, pedagogy method of teaching is applied for better outcomes. Moreover allowing students to take breaks, participate, and enjoy their personal activity time. Ekya promotes the importance of co-curriculum activities such as physical health, sports, school clubs, music, dance, coding, debating, and more. All these approaches help in concentration and focus, also these are elements that demand variety and quality breaks in between everything we do. Furthermore, students are offered excellent opportunities here in Ekya that help them grow in a safe and supportive environment.  

Ekya / March 04, 2024

Teachers, The Unsung Heroes

In the vast tapestry of society, there exists a group of individuals who are shaping futures, nurturing minds and instilling values but continue to remain unsung heroes. Their efforts and contributions often go unnoticed despite the indispensable role they play in society. Despite their pivotal role, teachers are most often undervalued and underappreciated. It’s crucial to recognise and acknowledge their efforts. Acceptance of their importance motivates them to continue their noble work.

Beyond the confines of books and teaching teachers play a significant role in shaping the lives of their students. They serve as mentors, confidants and role models guiding young children through challenges and opportunities. With their role comes great responsibility as they not only impart education but also nurture character, empathy, and resilience. Teachers have the power to ignite passion, unlock potential, and instil a lifelong love and learning.

The commitment of teachers transcends mere profession, it’s a lifelong dedication. Despite facing numerous challenges, from limited resources to societal pressures, they remain committed to their pursuit of providing quality education. The impact they create in the lives of individuals is unfathomable. The smile they bring to the faces of young children is something that only they are capable of and that’s what brings joy and fulfilment in their lives.

As we reflect on their profound impact, let’s celebrate and honour their invaluable role in shaping the world we live in. This tribute to teachers is a recognition of their transformative power in shaping the destiny of individuals and communities. Let’s cherish and support them in their noble endeavour to enlighten minds and build a brighter future for generations to come.

Sreepriya Unnikrishnan Head of School Ekya School, JP Nagar

Ekya / March 04, 2024

Education, the essence of life

Education is the most beautiful creation, be it in nature or human life. I choose to do the Cambridge International Diploma course to enhance my understanding of how to teach effectively. This course enabled me to accept challenges and think outside of the box. It helped me develop critical thinking in my students, motivating them to revolutionize their thought processes as they are taught “How to think?”, not “What to think?”.This course has helped me improve my teaching skills creating a better learning environment for my learners. The use of active learning strategies like think-pair-share, brainstorming, class discussion, and Socratic Questioning has helped widen their horizon, as the students develop problem-solving skills and communicating and collaborating skills. As a teacher, following my passion has been enriching and rewarding. Written by, Shalini Joshi
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Expert talk by Ms. Nandini Yadalam.

Nandini Yadalam is an art therapist who practices in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Taking a detour from her IT career, she chose to pursue Art Therapy in the UK. She is passionate about the emotional well being of all and sees it as a necessity for life. As she has practiced this, she has found art to be a powerful media and tool for the same.
  
Wikipedia - Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art materials, such as paints, chalk, and markers. Art therapy combines traditional psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological aspects of the creative process, especially the affective properties of the different art materials.
Ms. Nandini in her talk explained how art can be a representation of the state of mind. She emphasized that art is evolving as a medium in psychological healing and emotional well being. The children could understand and consider their options in that particular field. The session was very interactive as the topic of discussion triggered many new thoughts in young minds.
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Dinner Table Conversation by Ms. Shilpa Arun

"Family Time"

Family time is less common now in the era of gadgets and digital distractions. The age-old ritual of family dinners is possibly the best way to get every member of the family together. As the saying goes "A Family that eats together, stays together", but the merits of 'Family Dinner' are manifold. It provides a sense of belonging and caring among all members, promotes healthy eating habits, relieves stress, offers a 'good night's sleep', and more than anything it brings happiness and encourages family bonding. Here is an interesting blog by Ms. Shilpa Arun, parent of Anika Arun Bharadhwaj, studying in Grade-2 in Ekya School JP Nagar, on "Dinner Table Conversation," discussing the purpose, challenges and positive outcomes of reviving the 'Dinner Table Ritual.'

Dinner Table Conversation

Parenting is touted as an arduous adventure for most adults at present. All adults as parents always do their best to nurture their young ones. From pre-birthing sessions, birthing lessons, to postpartum experiences, infancy, toddlers, pre-schoolers, primary schoolers… the information flows on, till we are tired of seeking. I begin to wonder how our parents and elders managed to parent without this information flux. Or were we better children? This debate never ends. What caught my attention was Dinner table conversations. This seemingly innocent routine, which most of us followed in our homes, with our parents, is now a major bonding activity for the new age parents. It strongly reminded me, that eating together, these days is indeed a challenge. We forgot about this important time, without fully understanding its consequences, perhaps. Our evenings struggled by the hour, with phone conferences, virtual meetings, and endless office reports. We resorted to eating on time rather than choosing to wait for everyone to be home in the evening, or interrupting work, to make time for a dinner with family – has this really become a thing of the past!? It took me, close to 8 months and a lot of organizing, to finally introduce this dinner ritual in our home. Repeated attempts to create Meal-time-Rituals, Eating-Together memories in our home, were met with the blaring Television/Music, Meeting Reminders and the ever charged, ever-connected MOBILE phones. Nevertheless, we implemented eating one meal together “Dinner-time!” I would love to share our experience.
  • This Dinner time organizes my family, settles us, regularly bringing all members together, contributing to the physical, mental and social well-being. (Yes, after all the complaining from kids about switching off the TV and from adults about keeping phones away, finally ends, this really happens, we are at peace when the food is served!)
  • We now eat together from a single menu, elders and kids alike. (Well, there are days when some pickle will substitute a sabzi ‘too gooey’ for the kids or we adults down a rather bland sabzi!) 8 out of 10 days, the single menu works.
  • New dishes are welcomed. Simple traditional dishes make us share a few more stories. (Worth all the Effort)
  • All the rainbow veggies are included for dinner. We are eating more of them (Good for us parents who are growing on our sides.)
  • It is often said, we should not talk while eating, but I promise you, dinners are eaten faster during this little ritual. (we end up spending more time talking after dinner, while my ‘mother-hawk's eyes zeroed-in often at the clock, to start the bedtime routine!)
  • The kids help in setting up and cleaning the table! Good for them! (It takes half an hour more when kids do this, my legs and back rest and my throat hurts!)
  • As parents, with all our experience and wisdom (Rather limited & ancient, I have come to understand!!) we find that small window of chance to include useful life-skills into (ridiculously silly) stories and talk about them (without laughing ourselves) although many stories are met with a pair of suspicious eyes asking us “so, is this a story???” So what? I guess the ‘important bits’ of the stories are put out there! Honestly, it is the children who teach us better.
  • We learn to work together, delegate a few chores, take responsibility, to negotiate, while prepping & wrapping dinner, together. (I love delegating, though!!)
  • We plan for the weekend, distribute chores, make lists, set reminders for more to do, all while cleaning up the table. (of course, this will mean more driving and waking up early during weekends.)
  • Somehow, we learned to laugh more, be more goofy and loosen up. I am glad we are learning this well!! (We do laugh a lot!!)
  • We learn to share what did not work for us at school and at the office, and how we can do something different to work it! (Including how some dishes do not work well for them too!!)
  • About Money. It is a life skill which in my opinion must be taught to children like they understand the concepts of brushing teeth & combing hair! We all know by now, is not ‘the money-making’ that is important, rather ‘managing the money’ is the life skill kids need to master.
  • We learn to be patient and wait as everyone will finish those last few spoons! (Very important for parents!)
  • We learn to help each other at the table by suggesting to try what combinations are yummy. (yes sometimes, we adults taste Obbatu with tomato sauce & other times the kids taste vegetable salad with lemon Tahini dressing!! In the end, we finish what we have on our plates, despite the yumminess!)
  • I can vouch for this since we started the dinner ritual, we have learned to prioritize good food & family time with kids over other interesting (now ex) activities. (checking office mail, browsing news, pic, quotes on social media, silently clicking on emojis to express our opinions! Or even watching ‘The Mummy’ for the 10th time)
  • We have nearly stopped eating processed food, during that one important mealtime! (Ice-creams and chocolates are STRICTLY NOT included in the bad food list, at our home!)
While attempting to articulate the learning (even for us, parents) I understand better, how the repetition, consistency, conscious conversations, togetherness, being present and minus the gadgets, work with children. There are days when on weekends, I admit, I want to order some burgers and finish our dinner on the couch in front of the TV, but the children – I hear them assigning chores to set up the table among them, that is motivation enough, for us parents to straighten ourselves and cook-up even a simple rice and rasam to eat together, while the ice cream tub will complement it. The real icing on this piece? is that children are independently managing the table. That is a great starting point, right? I am also seeing the bright speck of light, at the end of the long tunnel – ‘Eat what is cooked, well.’ Almost. I guess I have learned more than I taught or thought. With dinner time, there are so many takeaways, despite the exhaustion!! Despite that lingering incomplete office report at the back of my mind, having managed to create a small window of time for us all, to connect with each other, sans distractions (read TV and phones for us elders), we get a glimpse into this amazing world, a multitude thought universe, all packed into the little children, who are the greatest teachers in our lives and help us, parents, attain the ever eluding spiritual and mental maturity! I am reaching for the stars, eh? Maybe. Although we start at, being happy to retain parts my sanity, while disciplining the ‘younger versions of us parents’ out of the kids, I cannot wait to continue this ritual of endless chitter-chatter, too many questions, loud arguments, strict disciplining, secret negotiations, crying, laughing our hearts out, cheering & teasing, sharing, planning a get-away, discussing weird stories, books, politics, education, food, friendships, myriad of experiences, and a thousand other random silly things. This fits great into our hearts. I pray that this ritual will go on to become a tradition of sharing, listening, caring, modeling positive relationship building and successfully managing to bring a smile on the grumpy faces who may have a had a bad day. It is important and we are loving it! Try it yourselves! There is really more that could happen while eating together.
A brief profile of Ms. Shilpa Arun:
Ms. Shilpa Arun is a Chartered Accountant, with about 15 years of work experience in corporate finance, auditing & compliance. She loves practicing yoga, listening to music, reading and spending time with my family. She strongly aspires to learn something new every few years.
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