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Ekya / July 31, 2019 Posted by : administrator

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell. There is a budding leader in every child and it is our responsibility to guide them in the right direction so that they evolve as true leaders. Mr. Ankit Agrawal, parent of Avani, Mont-E5-Seniors at Ekya School JP Nagar shares this interesting blog on why leadership qualities are important for a child and how to nurture future leaders.

Nurturing future leaders — Encouraging inquiry in children

‘Leader’ is a word that has such a deep significance to it. A leader is a person who guides or shows others the way of success. A leader needs to inspire and work relentlessly to put people ahead. A leader commands when needed, guides when necessary and mentors all the time. Leadership today is missing its significance as people are self-declaring as leaders. The art of leading and inspiring others is disappearing. A leader needs to be respectful and at the same time harsh if required. A very complex combination that kids these days are required to be nurtured with.

There are four crucial characteristics of fostering a future leader.
1. Being Fearless
2. Ask Why?
3. Respect Time
4. Accountability

Being Fearless

Being Fearless meaning not to be afraid of failing. We need to make children believe that there are no failures but only learning. No matter how challenging the task is, no matter how absurd an idea is, just do it without the worry of the end result. Every situation gives something to learn, and that will make one better and tougher. If you fear the failure then you will never take risks, if you never take risks then you will not go beyond your comfort zone and if you will not go beyond your comfort limit then you will not grow. A kid needs to be encouraged to not fear failure. Parents should inspire when they do not accomplish the goal and focus on the developments to conquer the obstacle.

Ask Why?
Always ask for justification if you do not understand any decision. Ask for reasons, ask as many questions as it may take for you to get convinced or to understand a judgment. A kid should always be encouraged to ask questions and should not be repressed from questioning. This gives them a clear explanation and a wider perspective to a related subject. This will help them in making similar choices on their own in the future.

Respect Time
Respecting someone’s time is that fading tradition that needs to be fostered from childhood. Kids need to be taught the significance of time. It starts by getting up in time and being ready in time to arrive at school before doors are closed. Once cultivated you will be astonished to see the self-organizing capability they develop.

Accountability
No Blame game, kids needs to be very meticulously taught how to accept a mistake and admit to that. They need to be taught to take full responsibility for whatever they do. Whether success or failure a leader should take complete ownership of the task.

A leader is not born but conceived, it’s just right set of components that are required to be taught at the right time. Kids are very quick in picking up things, so why not teach them today to be the leader of tomorrow?

A short profile of  Mr. Ankit Agrawal:

Mr. Ankit Agrawal is the Senior Project Manager at DevOn, a software engineer by profession but a cook and reader at heart. He loves to travel and explore local cuisines of different places and he is an amateur food photographer too.

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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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Draft National Education Policy (2019)

Draft National Education Policy (2019):

Teaching, learning and evaluation aspects

The team at Ekya, examined the Draft National Education Policy to understand the government's vision of education and the possible implications of its implementation. Education policies directly affect schools, parents and most importantly, our children because they highlight (or in some cases may not highlight) critical issues that impact our students' learning and well-being. While this Draft education policy received numerous critiques, the policy nevertheless has taken into cognizance issues that face our children, teachers, and parents.
Here is an insightful look at the policy and its implications by Ms. Remy who is part of the team that is involved in conducting research and analysis for school development.
This blog piece briefly highlights key draft policy features directly related to curriculum, teaching, learning, and evaluation.
The Draft National Education Policy formulated by an expert committee was released in June, proposing several ideas for reforming the entire Indian education system. The policy is reasonably comprehensive covering pre-school education to higher education. For the purposes of this blog, only relevant features of the policy will be explored, and not in its entirety. From restructuring the current education structure and updating the focus and approach of our curriculum and pedagogy, to promoting usage of technology in education and assessments for learning – what is clear from the draft policy is that overhaul of our education system is absolutely critical for the development of capabilities of our children. Our children’s capabilities may not be fully realized if we neglect our education deficits. At the same time, it may be difficult to transition into a knowledge-based economy that relies on human capital for economic progress rather than capital or resources. In short, the rationale of the policy is to address the current human capital gaps and prepare our children for the future. Having reviewed specific aspects of the policy related to school education, we are going to outline some noteworthy aspects of the draft policy that our school and parent community should be acquainted with.   These are as follows:
  1. Restructuring the school education system from grade/standard to stages
  • The proposed structure is divided into the foundational stage (3 years of pre-primary and Grade 1-2), preparatory stage (Grades 3-5), middle (Grades 6-8) and high (Grades 9-12) stages. 
  • This new structure takes into serious consideration the cognitive development points that take place in young children. 
  • This further helps clarify the curriculum and pedagogy suitable for each stage. For example, the policy states the need for play-based, activity-based and discovery-based flexible styles of learning and interaction in the foundational stage. 
  • Similarly, in the subsequent stages, the teaching-learning processes are expected to evolve appropriate for each stage.
  1. Transitioning towards a curriculum that better prepares our children for the future
  • Skills such as scientific temper, sense of art and aesthetics, Indian languages, communication, ethical reasoning, digital literacy, knowledge of India, and knowledge of current affairs are proposed to be integrated into the design and implementation of the national curriculum.
  • Additionally, physical development and cognitive development with the aim to instil problem-solving and logical reasoning skills starting at the foundational stage (pre-primary – Grade 2) are proposed to be integrated as part of the curriculum.
  • The policy also highlights the importance of vocational exposure starting from middle stages (Grades 6-8) and above to be incorporated as part of the curriculum.  
  • Project-based learning is recommended to help uncover children’s talents, dispositions, and interests, instead of relying on one universal learning and evaluation approach
  • Promoting children’s interests and talents through topic-centered and project-based clubs, Olympiads and competitions 
  1. Enabling the use of technology for improving teaching-learning processes and outcomes
  • The scope for using technology is exhaustive. The policy highlights using technology in areas such as training and professional development of teachers, for learning and evaluation, immersive and interactive content creation.  
  • Instilling the value of lifelong learning (a skill needed to succeed in the 21st century) among teachers is also emphasized. Subject knowledge of teachers needs to be continuously upgraded. Online education is one of the suggested means for upskilling teachers’ subject knowledge.  
  1. Reducing the board exam pressure on students
  • Taking cognizance of the pressure of the board examinations on children, the policy has suggested flexibility in choice and of subjects and time whenever they feel most ready. 
  • This is a step seen among the policy designers to promote holistic development, flexible and individualized curricula, and assessment for learning. The draft policy discourages rote learning strategies and opting for coaching to prepare for the board examinations. 
  • The proposed format for board examinations will follow testing of understanding of concepts and knowledge, critical thinking, analysis and application over content.
What do these draft provisions mean for us? Clearly, the Draft National Education Policy is a vision document. The focus of this policy has been on describing that vision and to help form the basis for the development of a relevant and robust education system. It will be a monumental task to implement the recommendations; nevertheless, it serves as a guide for everyone involved in education to evolve our thinking on some of our dated education practices. Ekya is in sync with the policy’s vision specifically with regards to the proposed curriculum, pedagogy and evaluation. In fact, our journey to fulfil our vision of ‘preparing our students for a rapidly evolving future’ had started a few years ago.  All the aspects mentioned above are at the core of what we do in our schools. It is time that we give serious attention to equipping our children with knowledge and skills so that they can confidently navigate their futures and fulfil their aspirations.   About the writer: Ms. Remy has completed her masters from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex. She is passionate about topics related to girls' education and, women and work.

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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