At Ekya Schools, we believe that what we learn depends on how we learn. Our methodology and pedagogy are student-centric and we believe that students learn best when they are an active part of the process. We structure all our programs to equip our students with 21st-century skills along with the required content knowledge.
We use the Singapore Math Approach in teaching Math at the primary and middle school level. This is a highly effective teaching methodology originally developed by Singapore’s Ministry of Education for Singapore public schools. The method has been widely adopted in various forms around the world. It is a teaching method based on the national mathematics curriculum used for kindergarten through sixth grade.
Through this approach, students can develop critical thinking and mathematical mastery of their work. At the crux of this methodology is the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract learning method (C-P-A) in which lessons are taught through scaffolding and students learn how to problem-solve with perseverance. This method also enables teachers to convey math concepts progressively from introduction to understanding to fluency. It is where content meets pedagogy.We aim to raise our student performance to the expected international levels.
How does this Approach help students?Math, for the most part, has been memorizing some steps and procedures again and again. To make it challenging, the numbers were made bigger. The bigger the numbers, the higher the challenge was the rationale given. That mindset has now changed. We now believe that this is not challenging, instead, it is just tedious. Singapore Math focuses on the Concrete – Pictorial – Abstract approach. This makes it easier to link ideas to the concepts.
We aim to equip students with sound concept development, critical thinking, and efficient problem-solving skills. What do our students learn in Math classes?Here are a few things we do in our classrooms:
By, Teresa George, Math Curriculum Designer, Ekya – CMR K12 Schools
2020, an important year for the world, one for the reason being- the beginning of a new decade and two- the onset of a worldwide pandemic - as defined by the world health organisation. Exactly 100 years from 2020, in the year 1920 a similar kind of event occurred where the disease of Spanish flu caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus, spread like wildfire ;
It's almost as if its a circle, no matter what timeline, similar events keep recurring giving a sense of deja vu, we always reach the starting point, although it might feel like it's a first-time event for millions of youth- it simply is history repeating itself, billions of ancestors would have experienced the same exact thing that we are experiencing today and encountered familiar struggles.
Currently, masses across the globe are facing a historical event and not the good kind. It is excruciating to even think about how different people are missing out on some of the most important moments of their lives and are unable to celebrate with their loved ones.
It is difficult to say which generation is suffering the most, it may be the youth who can't step foot in the first step of their life which would be the basis of their entire being - nursery, or young adults who are missing out on the supposedly “fun years” and adventures that could have become future stories they reminisce when they miss being the age they are now or others.
From the point of view of a senior about to graduate high school, everything changed so quickly I didn't get time to adjust, two minutes ago I was in 10th grade, celebrating the cancelling of board exams, and suddenly this wave of responsibility gushed over me as I near the age of 18, it is scary to think about how different of a person I’ve become, it was easier to connect and even socialise when I was younger, I would give up anything to experience the joy of being carefree and oblivious again.
By, Yukta Jhaveri, Grade 12, Ekya BTM
Did you know that there are over 400 billion Lego bricks in the world? My mother says I must have at least 10 million of those, looking at the clutter in my room!
My parents told me that my first word was “ka”, meaning “car” and that’s the start of my love for automobiles. I got my first Lego set when I was 6 months old, and started building many things with it. But what I built most of all were vehicles.
Since then, Lego and studying automobiles became my hobby. I have created trucks, boats, cars, cable cars, trains, submarines, planes, helicopters, hovercrafts, and more! I have even made animation films about my Lego creations. Now, I make better, more advanced, motorized, and programmable Lego models.
I like cars because I find the inner workings, how cars work, extremely interesting. I like watching classic car shows on TV. I understand them all because of Lego, which helps me with technical concepts I might not understand. Car shows also give me the opportunity to find some details in a real-world car that I can add to my Lego models. The history of cars is interesting, as well as the future. I can’t wait to see what automobile companies will think of next!
I like following the instructions of the Lego set as well as making my own inventions. Sometimes, when I make something with Lego before I start, I browse the web to see if I can find any images or useful information to follow. I see how others have done it, gather tips, and then make my own version of it.
During this lockdown, Lego has helped me learn to code. It has taught me about proportions when deciding the sizes of models that I make. Lego helps me concentrate and clear my mind of bad things, and instead fill it up with ideas of different engineering marvels I can make. Lego helps me with physics, engineering, and how things work - all this is perfect because I want to become an engineer when I grow up.
By, Ishan Thomas 4C Ekya BTM
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