English Classes for Indus Support staff - Week 2

On the 7th of October, we held our 2nd ENGLISH class for the support staff at Indus. Our students :-) bring with them a strong yearning to learn and enthusiasm to match. We felt humbled to be able to assist them in their personal growth.

Thank you Mohua and Ranjana for a very useful, small levelled - group oriented class, where each student was able to get individual support.

We feel a trio of teachers will be most beneficial in providing quality instruction and hope we are able to find enough volunteers. We ask teachers and parent volunteers alike to give their time.

Thanks,

PYP CAS

Local Teacher Workshop on Sept 30th, 2009

PYP CAS set the ball rolling on our mission to inform and educate the local teachers in our community through a series of workshops!

Our first teacher workshop on Sept 30th, 2009, on Classroom Management, was for the teachers of the Kallahalli Orphanage. The workshop addressed ongoing issues at the orphanage surrounding management of student behaviour. We attempted to empower Ms. Ghousia and 3 teachers, by sharing sound pedagogy and educational strategies that work. We also reiterated the importance of role modeling and creating a value based atmosphere of respect, empathy, love and discipline. These pillars of IB education are similarly valued in all cultures. Our guest teachers enagaged in a reflection Activity, to identiy which activities they would stop using, continue using or adopt hereon (Red light, Yellow light, green light). This workshop was primarily delivered in Hindi language, by Jaisree (PYP Coordinator) and myself. Ms. Jane and Ms. Debbie from PAC committee also attended the workshop and noted the strategies themselves to maintain a common teaching approach for the students of the orphanage. Our guest teachers took notes and shared their thoughts and experiences.

Personally, it was a very rewarding experience. To potentially to create a small ripple that may one day bring about a sea change in the lives of students in our community, made it a very special moment. Thank you Jaisree for your great spirit and for being a risk taker and speaking in Hindi!!

A page from my diary...

Apoorva Saini

(PYP CAS coordinator)