Educere: Issue 06-October 2013

Educere

to wild fowl trust

...bringing Values to Life

Field Trip

October 2013 | Issue 06

CIRCLE TIME: key elements tools&

LIVINGValues

EducereBringing Values to Life...


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Welcome!Dear Friend,

Welcome to our October issue! Our children are growing not only taller, but also in the values that are taught to them day in and day out. Our ‘Living Values’ section on page 8 highlights some examples that we’ve spontaneously witnessed. It is truly heart-warming to see these tiny tots expressing so much kindness, generosity and love.

Consistency and reinforcement are paramount in teaching and imparting anything to young children. A key part of our daily routine is Circle Time, during which children learn communication, social skills, new concepts, and of course, values. Read about our unique blend of techniques in the ‘Values in Action: A Values Revolution’ section on page 5.

When values are taught at home as consistently and similarly as they are done at school, the child has a seamless understanding of how to think, speak and act. To ensure that parents are well-versed in these tools and practices, we have begun our Values in Action Parenting Program. This weekly workshop has seen much success so far, with high attendance from current parents, as well as interested persons from the community. Have a look at some snapshots of these inspiring and enjoyable classes on page 8.

The highlight of our month, however, was our first ever field trip to the scenic Wild Fowl Trust (page 10). The month’s activities were designed to expose children to different aspects of nature, such as trees, birds, and fishes. They loved it! The field trip was an exceptional experience, thanks to our wonderful teachers, Parent Council and volunteers. Our deepest gratitude to all who have supported us this month, and always.

Don’t forget to keep checking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vidinternational for lots of photos and other updates.

Our warmest regards and wishes for a happy and blessed November.

‘Educere’ Explained:

Educere is a Latin word(pronounced “Edoo-kay-ray”)which means ‘to bring out’ or ‘todraw out’.

The word ‘education’ is a childof Educere, which shows thatall knowledge lies within anindividual, and the processof education should result inthe emergence of one’s innategoodness.

Educere aims to share thevarious facets of living a values-infused life. We hope that it willnot only be a means to shareour various values-initiatives,but that it also ignites a sparkwithin every reader, bringingabout positive change inthe way we live our lives asindividuals, schools, corporates,communities, and nations.

Write to us at:[email protected]

We’d love to hear from you!

Bringing Values to Life...Educere

Educere FamilyEditorial Team:Abhimanyu Kaul

& Tanushree Luthra

Design & Layout:Saffron Consulting Ltd


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CONTENTSFrom our Founder’s Pen ..................................04Words of wisdom from the Founder of Educare Philosophy

Values in Action ...............................................05A Values Revolution

Living Values .....................................................08Stories from the Classroom

Field Trip ............................................................10Photo Journey of our visit to the Wild Fowl Trust

Value Parenting Program ................................08Snapshots from our first ViA Parenting Workshop

Birthdays ............................................................18Love to our October babies!

Look who came to visit! ..................................19Our special October guests

CONTENTS



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7The student today has to cultivate nine gem-like qualities: the spirit of sacrifice, humility, the spirit of selfless service to society, friendliness, discipline, adherence to truth, non-violence, and faith in God. Only the boys and girls who have these qualities will be the nation’s treasure of virtue and ensure its future.

Every student must become a light unto himself and a light for his home, his city and his nation.

STUDENTS! Embodiments of Love! Teachers and Patrons of Education!

An educational institution is like a gigantic tree. Different subjects are like its branches and sub-branches. Virtues are like the fragrant flowers that you find on the tree. Faith is like the roots. When you water the roots of faith, you get the fruit of supreme bliss.

Students should be properly corrected and encouraged to study well. A teacher is one who teaches what is good and wholesome for students. A real student is one who respects the teacher. In the days gone by, the most pure and sacred relations existed between preceptors and pupils. Today, the talk is all about “freedom.” But, freedom should be between limits. Largeness of heart, refinement of sensibilities and purity of mind constitute real freedom. Freedom does not mean living as you please. Self-control, self-satisfaction and self-knowledge constitute together the supreme expression of freedom.

Parents should monitor the progress of their children from time to time, inculcate virtues in them and mold them into responsible citizens. They should not rest satisfied if their children get good marks. They should also observe what type of books they read at home. There is no point in merely educating the children without correcting their behavior. Parents should emulate the ideals of our forefathers who brought up their children in the most ideal way.

SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

from our founder’s pen


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At Vid International, Circle Time marks the introduction of the day’s activities and sets the

mood for the day. During this 15 to 25-minute period, children are introduced to tools and practices that stabilize their body and mind. This is a time for listening and communicating, improving concentration and attention span, and learning new concepts. It is also a great opportunity to develop social skills.

Here are some key elements for a meaningful and rewarding Circle Time experience:

Light Meditation This technique of concentration (meditation) has been given to us by our Founder, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Persons of all ages and backgrounds can use this simple method for calming and focusing the mind. Light meditation and silent sitting constitute one of the Values Education teaching methodologies.

Children sit in a circle facing a bright light (candle or lamp) kept at the center. As they focus on the light, they are guided through a process which trains them to concentrate on their positive energy.

A child’s foundation for life is set during the period of 0-5 years. To develop children’s character, parents and educators must systematically and consistently impart positive skills and human values to them. A wonderful opportunity for these interactions in the formal school setting is Circle Time.

values in action...a values revolution

Through the process of looking at the light and breathing steadily, the good vibrations they attract replace any negativity from their personalities as this exercise reinforces the goodness inherent in them. As a result, children learn to share these good feelings with everyone around them. This practice teaches them a subtle lesson of life: one can be happy only when those around us are happy.

Light meditation has been proven to be very effective in improving concentration, emotional stability, memory power, and developing a calm and strong persona.

Vid children and teachers during Light

Meditation



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Values Quote, Songs, Story It is important to start the day with an inspiring thought to encourage the blossoming of human values in the unsullied hearts of these children. Positive thoughts and ideals can be conveyed in many different ways, such as a quote, song, or story.

At Vid, the Values Quote for the Week is shared at the Assembly and discussed in detail during Circle Time. For example, a recent quote was, “When we share, we show others that we care.” Children are asked, one by one, to explain what they understand by “sharing” and “caring”. Every day, the teachers add relevant occurrences that they observe among the children, and invite them to do the same. By the end of the week, there is a bank of real-life examples related to that quote and value, and children gain a rich understanding of what those words and ideals mean. This truly allows them to develop their own understanding of values that they can practice.

Values songs/poems and stories are another way to engage children and encourage positive thoughts and sentiments. Songs and poems add creative expression to their daily experience. The accompanying actions help children learn new concepts—such as numbers and colours—and develop fine motor coordination.

Stories are a great way of conveying elements of good conduct that children can remember and replicate in a situation. Teachers usually choose stories that are aligned to the Theme of the Week, e.g. Family; Nature; etc. The best way to get the moral across is to make the story interactive.

Public Speaking/Free ExpressionChildren are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings about things that are significant or relevant in their lives. A heightened sense of self-esteem ensues as children learn that their opinions count, and that they are free to express—without external judgment—in a safe environment.

This training and exposure helps them to get over their shyness of public speaking and gives them the confidence to communicate verbally with adults and peers.

The experience is especially beneficial as children’s vocabulary and language skills rapidly expand during their formative preschool years. By observing and listening to each other children, tend to learn faster.

Asking a question or giving a scenario can spark a lively conversation; for example, “We are going on a field trip next Monday. Have you ever been on a bus?”

Circle Time ‘Show and Tell’ - Family Photos


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Reinforcement of Good Conduct During this preschool age, children need a lot of reinforcement. Consistency and repetitiveness is key to their learning. Circle Time is ideal for going over the important areas, such as the rules of the classroom, dos and don’ts, as well as manners and courtesies.

Discussing special events and occasions This is a good time to discuss upcoming special events, festivals, and activities that are not in the daily routine, e.g. school medical checkup. Most times, children are shy and reserved when faced with new persons or situations.

Circle Time is an ideal setting to prepare them to ‘face’ those situations, as they enjoy learning about new things together.

Other activities The ‘Good Morning’ song encourages children to be pleasant and wish everyone around them a good day. Reviewing the Days of the Week helps children grasp concepts of time through learning about ‘yesterday, today and tomorrow’ and which day comes when.

Appropriate values games can be included during Circle Time to develop new skills and keep things exciting.

‘Show and Tell’, during which children bring an item from home to display and describe, is another wonderful way for children to learn through observation. It is also a means of ensuring that children connect ‘home’ with ‘school’ so that learning can continue when they are with their parents and other relatives.

For a strong positive character, a strong foundation of human values is very essential. A strong foundation is the basis of a solid structure which can withstand any adversities and tests of time. At this age, children learn skills and concepts mainly through observation, repetition and consistency.

As such, Circle Time offers a prime setting for promoting good behavior, and imparting key skills for success in learning and life. Through these activities, children naturally develop healthy self-confidence and are inspired to adopt a positive and peaceful mindset. - Abhimanyu Kaul

Circle Time ‘Show and Tell’ - Family Photos

Finger puppets and rhymes



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living values stories from the classroom

It is worth capturing when our we spot our children displaying the values that we teach them throughout the day, every day.

Here are couple spontaneous moments that we were fortunate enough to witness.

Helpfulness

Kindness

Empathy

Good Manners

Love for Nature

After nap time, children eagerly help in folding their floor mats and replacing the pillows. They also willingly help their peers, voluntarily! We have spotted

instances by the wash basin as they help each other with the

soap and paper dispensers.

Parents have commented about how much more mannerly their children have become. “Please”,

“thank you” and “excuse me” are commonplace. They are also getting accustomed to forming

lines and waiting their turn!

You will often hear statements such as, “Aunty, I shared my

snack!” Sometimes, when the faster eaters finish their meals, they feed others who may be

taking longer. They also gently wake up other sleeping ones

when nap time is over.

If a child feels sad or upset for some reason, children will rush

to him/her and ask, “Why are you crying?” Then they try to soothe and hug until the child is better.

One teacher spotted a child patting another one on the head

and saying, “Good girl”!The children recently did a

number of activites relating to nature. They have now become

little gardeners, planting their own seedlings, and reminding

their teachers that they have to water their plants so they can

grow well.


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9for lots more photos!Facebook.com/vidinternational



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Vid International journeyed on its first field trip to the Wild Fowl Trust in Pointe-a-Pierre, a wonderfully scenic wildlife sanctuary.

In the weeks leading up, the teachers planned their weekly themes around the field trip: birds, animals and fishes. All the children were happily engaged in activities that were not only educational, but creative and fun!

The children listened to stories about animals, built bird nests, made bird sandwiches and bird puppets, painted fishes, and even made an ‘aquarium’.

Thanks to our Parent Council and volunteers, everything was beautifully organised on the day of the field trip. For many children, it was also the first time they had been on a bus!

At the Wild Fowl Trust, the little ones went on a nature trail, observing the trees, birds and fishes. Then there was a lovely picnic also attended by some special guests - peacocks! Enjoy the photos.

Field Trip!WILD FOWL TRUST


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Vid children fully engaged in nature-themed activities in the weeks leading up to the ir first ever field trip!



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Photography: Priya Ramlochan


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Facebook.com/vidinternational

for lots more photos!



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Class

Discussions

Laughter Therapy!

Welcome to Values in Action

Parenting Program!


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Case Studies & Role Plays

Laughter Therapy!

Our first Values in Action Parenting Program began in early September 2013, and continues.

We have had enjoyable, thought-provoking sessions with parents of our current students, along with participants from the wider Vid family and community.

Level 1 comes to an end in November and Level 2 will resume in January 2014.



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Love and best wishes to our precious ones who celebrated birthdays in

August & September!

Arianne, 3

Hrisikesa, 4


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Hrisikesa, 4 Aunty Priya

Raghunanan

Uncle Jonathon

Storer

look who came to visit!



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Vid Family Photo28th October, 2013

Wild Fowl Trust, Pointe-a-Pierre


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Vid Family Photo28th October, 2013

Wild Fowl Trust, Pointe-a-Pierre

Values in Action Foundation#21 Back Street, TacariguaTrinidad & Tobago, West Indies868-640-9172facebook.com/[email protected]


Educere...bringing Values to Life

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Educere: Issue 06-October 2013