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FROM OUR DESK
Literacy skills
Literacy skills are fundamental for a child's development and have a significant impact on their overall learning and future success. Strong literacy skills translate well into independent learning and encourage consistent growth in and out of the classroom. Literacy development affects the way students communicate and problem-solve. Those with strong literacy skills usually have improved cognitive ability. Literacy encourages analytical thinking. It helps children to process information, make connections, and think critically about what they read and hear.
Literacy empowers children. It gives them the tools to seek out information, express themselves, and advocate for their needs and rights. Through reading, children encounter various scenarios and characters, which can help them develop problem-solving skills and an understanding of different perspectives. Literacy allows us to make sense of a range of written, visual and spoken texts including books, newspapers, magazines, timetables, DVDs, television and radio programs, signs, maps, conversations and instructions. In today's rapidly evolving world, strong literacy skills are essential for adapting to new technologies, accessing information, and participating fully in society.
Swapnali Medhekar
Center Head
Kanakia Kids
Nursery
English
The teacher conducted a recapitulation activity focused on letters and their corresponding sounds. During this session, learners were instructed to identify the letters and then match them with the pictures that were associated with each letter. This type of activity is commonly used to reinforce letter recognition and phonics skills in early education.
A storytelling session was held where the teacher narrated the story 'The Two Frogs' based on the 'Quality- Risk Taker' with the help of stick puppets and voice modulation. Voice modulation helps to grasp the learner's attention. The storytelling session not only entertained the learner's, but also ignited a spark of curiosity and reflection in each student.
Math
The learners had a hands-on and engaging activity centred around the number 3. They traced the number, counted three pompom balls, and then practised counting in sequence to reach a table with flashcards of numbers. The main task was to identify and place the balls on the card with the number 3. This activity not only reinforced number recognition but also involved various skills. It incorporated various aspects of numeracy, including number recognition, counting, tracing, and even physical movement.
After the centre-based activity learners were given popsicles and asked to count and place 3 popsicles against the number 3.
Theme
During the theme session, the teacher organized a recapitulation activity where the learners were tasked with identifying a community helper and speaking a few sentences about them. Additionally, a centre-based activity was carried out where the learners were given the opportunity to choose a costume representing a community helper of their choice. They then had to identify the community helper, put on the costume, and respond to a few questions posed by the teacher about that specific community helper.
Jr.Kg
English
English language learning activity where learners engaged in various exercises related to letter recognition and formation. The activity included drawing pictures corresponding to specific letters in their scrapbooks, as well as tracing the letter "u" on an art sheet. Additionally, learners practised writing the letter "o" in their notebooks to further reinforce their understanding of letter formation.
Math
The teacher had an engaging and interactive math session this week. They introduced the concept of "Before" numbers using a number line and also explained the concepts of "top" and "bottom." To reinforce these concepts, an activity was conducted to help the learners identify pictures that were located at the top and bottom. Additionally, a brain-boosting activity took place at the numeracy centre, where learners had to understand shapes on the left side and draw them on the right side of the paper to complete the picture. This hands-on approach to learning math concepts seems like an effective way to keep the learners engaged and reinforce their understanding.
Theme
A very informative and engaging theme session on the festival of Holi was conducted during the Theme session. The teacher not only explained the significance of the festival but also took the time to discuss precautionary measures for celebrating it safely. The teacher also conducted a recapitulation session for the learners to consolidate their understanding and reinforce the safety measures in their minds. This approach helped ensure that students not only enjoyed the topic festivities but also did so responsibly and with consideration for their well-being.
Sports
Drill sitting exercise- The students were seated on the floor in a comfortable position with their legs crossed. Learners were asked to place their hands on their knees and follow a series of movements led by their teacher. These movements included stretching, bending, twisting, and reaching with their hands, all while maintaining an upright sitting posture.
Yoga
Warm-up yoga exercise- Yoga provides an opportunity for children to learn about body awareness, balance, and coordination. It also helps to build strength and improve flexibility. The gentle movements and stretches enhanced their motor skills and helped to develop their muscles.
Sr.Kg
English
The learners had a well-rounded experience, incorporating both written and oral activities to enhance their language skills. Learners wrote the composition "Myself" which is a great exercise to encourage self-expression and improve writing skills. Writing about oneself helps learners articulate their thoughts and feelings.
The teacher did an introduction of Action Words with Songs, Flash Cards, and Activities: Using various teaching aids like songs and flash cards was an effective way to make learning engaging and memorable.
Oral introduction of Blends /bl/, /fl/, /gl/ was also done during the session. It helped learners recognize and pronounce words more accurately.
Literacy Centre Activity with Flash Cards and magic letter /e/ was conducted. This was an interactive and hands-on approach to reinforce reading skills. Adding the Magic Letter /e/ to a three-letter word to get a new word helps learners understand the concept of how it changes the pronunciation and meaning of a word. The use of varied teaching methods and activities keeps the learners engaged and ensures a holistic understanding of the English language.
Math
The introduction of greater and lesser numbers was done with the help of a crocodile story added an element of fun and creativity to the learning process. As a recap an activity was conducted at the Numeracy Center where the learners had to compare the numbers, identify a greater number and place the correct sign against the number. The activity of comparing numbers and placing the correct sign against them is a practical and interactive way to reinforce the concept. This hands-on approach encourages active participation and helps solidify the understanding of greater and lesser numbers.
Art
Sand doodling
During the Art session teacher held creative ways to encourage self-expression and imagination in learners through a sand doodling activity. Working with different mediums like sand and slate can provide unique sensory experiences, and using a light table adds an interesting dimension to the process.
The teacher started the session by asking each learner about their favourite objects. This not only helped them to think about what they wanted to create but also gave insight into their preferences and interests. She then demonstrated how to work with sand and the light table and showed them some techniques for creating shapes and forms. The learners were allowed to experiment freely with the materials. This fostered creativity and helped them discover different possibilities. After the activity, each learner was given a chance to share their creation and talk about why they chose that particular object. This proved a great opportunity for self-expression and communication.
Horticulture
Nature walk
During the horticulture session, a wonderful and educational nature walk focused on horticulture. The teacher provided some basic information about the different types of plants: trees, shrubs, herbs, creepers, and climbers. Learners were encouraged to actively observe and identify different types of plants in the garden. The teacher explained the concept of plant families and how plants with similar characteristics are grouped together. Examples like the mango tree (in the tree family) and hibiscus (in the shrub family).
The teacher also provided learners with the opportunity to create something using leaves, twigs, and dry leaves they found in the garden. The learners created simple craft projects like making leaf rubbings, creating a collage,
Literacy circle
Nursery
During the Literacy Circle session, "A fat cat" story was done. Learners played the role of artful artist where they drew the characters of the story on the board.
Jr.Kg
The teacher narrated the story of Ann and Mal, and then the teacher asked the learners questions to connect the story to play the role of Creative Connector. The teacher instructed the learners to be artful artists and conducted an activity of mind-mapping the story to summarize the story.
Sr.Kg
A literacy circle in preschool typically involves activities that promote the early language. This week in literacy circle reading the story 'My Lost Bear Story' was done. Learners used highlighter sticks for close reading of the text. Later teacher divided the class into different roles like Question seeker, character captain, sight word wizard, creative connector, imaginative illustrator, savvy summarizer, and punctuation where learners were asked to reflect and share their understanding and thoughts according to the roles in the group.
The goal is to create a positive and interactive environment that fosters a love for reading and language in young children and caters to all kinds of learners.
STREAM
During the STREAM session Nursery learners did a flower-pounding activity, learners made different patterns on paper by pounding the flower with a hammer and after the activity was completed they made beautiful greeting cards out of it. Our Jr.kg learners learned about wind as a form of energy, during the session, learners could identify the things that can easily move by the wind.
Sr kg learners learned about the Starry constellation. Learners made and named their own constellations using clay and toothpicks.