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Ekya / September 02, 2021 Posted by : administrator

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

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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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#LeadershipBlogger: Say we are together !! – By, Madhuri.V. Iyer, CCA Coordinator, Ekya BTM

As a facilitator, any aspect of change in the teacher-student relationship impacts me deeply and leads me to transcend and reflect on my role in today’s world. We have long been proud of our traditional methods of education and the relationships like the one between the guru and the shishya have been seen as sacral.

Recently there have been many instances that portray this beautiful relationship in a new light – not always positive. Are these rare incidents or do they symbolise the deep chasm that seems to have developed between the tutor and the taught and are they a sign of the times? This has struck at the very basic root of the educational system in India and has created unease and led to soul searching. Indeed it is a wake-up call. If only we could open our eyes, look with compassion, and listen with our hearts.
More than that, we have to lend our ears to the pleas of the teaching fraternity toiling under great compulsion and struggling to enlighten the minds of the future citizens of our nation.

Education should be the one area of constant revision, change, and improvement for any country which seeks to establish itself as a power. Revolutionary progress is much needed at all levels of our education system. A complete overhauling of the system and a more open-minded approach to teaching and learning should be our call.

Much needs to be done. Constructive and effective dialogue has to be set up between the teachers, the parents, and the students. The channels of communication and facilitation should be opened and widened to allow for more awareness and understanding. Parents and teachers both have a great impact on the mind of a young child. If the home environment is conducive and children are encouraged to respect their teachers, then the school too will become a place of illumination and learning. Creating an optimistic feeling towards school and teachers will only help parents to enable their children to establish strong bonds with their alma mater and their teachers. Similarly, school staff to need to be sensitized to the pressures faced by parents and children today and be facilitated to handle them with sensitivity and sensibility. This will lead to mutual respect and acceptance and further strengthening of the teacher-student symbiotic relationship.

Let us begin this noble task. Let us make platforms that will enable our future citizens to fly high. Let us say “We Are Together”

By, Madhuri.V. Iyer, CCA Coordinator, Ekya BTM

#LeadershipBlogger: How do we approach Math @ Ekya Schools? – By, Teresa George, Math Curriculum Designer, Ekya – CMR K12 Schools

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. 

  • In the lower grades, students use manipulatives (which can be everyday objects like paper clips, popsicle sticks, toy cubes, etc) to build on their concepts.
  • Students from number bonds in their minds to perform basic addition and subtraction. 
  • Students get familiar with the bar model approach to solve multi-step word problems. This further helps them to visualize the solution in their mind. Being able to solve mentally is one of the skills a student masters.
  • Students are encouraged to write Math journals to articulate their understanding of math concepts. The use of these journals helps fill in the gaps in those understandings and supports metacognitive thinking to enhance understanding and application. 

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:

  1. Allow students to work on non-routine problems to improve their reasoning abilities
  2. Encourage students to apply a variety of strategies to solve a problem
  3. Heuristics applicable to mathematical problem solving used are:
  • Look for patterns
  • Use guess-and-check
  • Make a systematic list
  • Make suppositions
  • Draw diagrams/Use models
  • Restate the problem in another way
  • Simplify the problem
  • Solve part of the problem
  • Think of a related problem/ Think and create a problem
  • Work backward
  • Number bonds
  • Act it out
  • Use before-after concept

By, Teresa George, Math Curriculum Designer, Ekya - CMR K12 Schools

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