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Ekya / September 15, 2021 Posted by : administrator

In the year 2020, the world received a jolt in the form of Co-Vid 19. The virus which was considered to be an epidemic soon spread its reach, deciphering boundaries. While the virus has given us ample reasons to empathise with our situation, it has made us hopeful about the future of teaching-learning- a future where the process of teaching-learning will be an amalgamation of physical and virtual classrooms. While educational institutions have formerly foreseen such a possibility, we at Ekya, are constantly striving towards making the transition a smooth process.

With the gradual shift of taking our classes from physical classrooms, to the comfort of our homes, improvisation in the arenas of learning and teaching has been a necessity. Seeing the current situation, as an educator, my priority has always been to create an environment of inclusion, in my virtual classroom

Being a teacher of Social Science,  there is an ample number of tools that I rely on, which helps me to grasp the conceptual understanding of my students. Tools like Padlet, allow me to bridge the gap between students, it allows me to map the attention of the students to the assigned task. Similarly, Discussion forum, 3-2-1 approach, I used to think, but now I know- are some of the many tools which helps me to achieve my purpose of involving my students in a discussion, especially regarding certain topics which a student might hesitate while sharing his/her thoughts orally. Besides this, online teaching has even allowed me to have access to information and videos at my fingertips. Visual learning is often preferred in subjects like Geography. Therefore a graphical video of the formation of the peninsular plateau in accordance with the reading enhances the learning of the students better. Moreover, sharing asynchronous articles dealing with discussion on sensitive or controversial topics plays the role of creating a predefined space that later gets filled with the concepts taught in class. Snippets of some of my practices have been shared below.

Besides these aspects, seeing the current situation, it even becomes important to build a rapport or a feeling of interpersonal touch with the students. Being aware of the fact that students currently are learning beyond compact walls, distraction becomes inevitable for them. However, certain minute practices have allowed me to taper this. I often keep acknowledging the possibility of being distracted during the online class, making the student realise that as a teacher I think on the same lines as him/her. My acknowledgment often contains a suggestion, which I often see my students practicing. Moreover, learning never stops for a teacher. Education programs like SEE Learning allow me to have a comprehensive framework for cultivating social, economic, and ethical competencies.

I would like to conclude my article with one of the tools which I am fascinated with: 

I used to think, that online learning and teaching only deals with transforming information from one screen to another, but now, I know that the benefits of online learning and teaching methods are tremendous – it’s an arena that surprises you at every phase, an exploration which is not restricted only to a student but transmits to the teacher, as well. 

Overall, it won’t be incorrect to say that with each passing day, the current situation has given us reasons to make learning much more flexible, self-paced, global, and technical-driven.

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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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#TeacherBlogger: Nurturing Creativity Ms Shanti Shetty PPM teacher, Ekya BTM

Ken Robinson famously suggested that creativity is the heart of all successful learning experiences. Creative teaching is providing learners with rich and varied contexts for developing their subject knowledge and encouraging critical thinking. In physical schooling, we have a classroom environment that promotes creativity. Students have opportunities to converse and stimulate innovative thinking. As we moved to a virtual classroom, I faced the big challenge of transforming my virtual class into an environment that can stimulate innovative thinking. And, I found three ideas suggested by Robert.J.Sternberg to nurture creativity in the classroom and promote it as a habit to be highly useful:-  Opportunity to engage in creativity - Students need to have varied activities to engage in creativity through interactive and engaging lesson plans. So, I make sure that I plan a few hands-on activities for creative exploration; performance activities like role play and character study to develop a deeper understanding of the concept. Using tools like ‘Do Now, Think-Pair-Share, Put on your Thinking Caps’ also allows students to follow along and participate in our lessons creatively.  Encouragement to participate in the opportunity- Allowing students 5 minutes before a session for an early chat with me and with classmates has proved to be a great way to build informal connections in my class. Open discussions on any topic help students think critically. Open-ended questions help students think out of the box and come up with innovative solutions. Allowing students to make even seemingly small choices can be motivating like letting a student choose which song to play before the lesson starts.  Reward when they respond- Recognising all types of achievements not only academic but non-academic has played a vital role in tuning in. Rewarding gives students both a sense of pride and an incentive to continue doing great work.  I feel online learning and teaching might seem complicated, but they are much simpler when we use the right tools and teaching strategies. By focusing on the needs of our students and preparing our materials well in advance, we can ensure that our virtual classroom remains just as creative and as rewarding as it was before COVID-19.

#StudentBlogger: Poem on Ms. Anjana Santhosh By, Ananya Arun Grade 7C, Ekya JP Nagar

Remember the days | cried? Anormal teacher would have sighed, But you my Anjana ma’am, Consoled silly me And freed me Of every little worry Ma‘am, you are one of a kind, One like you is hard to find The admiration in your eyes, In my heart lies And in my skies it thrives Ma‘am, you are one of a kind, One like you is hard to find There have been times I've wondered, Times I have blundered On thinking ‘If you are a friend, a teacher Or a friend in disguise of a preacher’ Whatever it is ma'am You are one of a kind One like you is extra hard to find A happy happy Teachers’ Day If I may say, I love you And you deserve every bit of today And every other happy bit Of every other day Because you my dear Anjana ma'am Are one of a kind And is indeed the hardest to find

By Ananya Arun Grade 7C, Ekya School JP Nagar

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