pencilspapernme

With re opening of schools just round the corner ...all the teachers and educators must be busy finding activities for their first day at school ..

Here’s a wonderful circle time activity which will help you to get to know your students well!!!

Welcome Back to School Song

1. Make a 'peep tube' from a rolled up poster-size cardboard.
2. Sit the children in a circle, teacher in the centre.
3. The teacher will play peek-a-boo with each child through and around the sides of the tube while singing this simple song to each child: The tune is the same as "I hear thunder"

Where is ...(child's name)? (peep at child)
Where is ...(child's name)?
Did s/he come?
Did s/he come?
Come to school today?

4. Then teach each child to reply: "Here I am, Here I am and How do you do," and they shake hands with you as they say it or sing it.

No Time Like the Present: How and Why to Give the Gift of Language Learning to Your Children

Learning a language is enriching at any age, but it is more challenging when we are adults. Children are the ones who benefit the most simply because there is a special window of opportunity for learning where everything happens in a very natural process. Children are curious about the world around them, and that curiosity is a key element in the learning process.

Children are always excited about learning, so why not give them the opportunity to learn new words and explore different sounds in a new language?

There are many reasons why children should be exposed to a new language. First, children who understand there are more than a few ways to say the same thing inherently understand a bit about the links between language and culture and are better equipped to reach across divides of race, class, and ethnicity – both at home and abroad. No matter what your politics, we can all agree that this kind of deep understanding and broad awareness is important for the future of our planet. It has also been proven that bilingual individuals, or even individuals who have been exposed for at least 4 years to a foreign language, are more likely to score higher in standardized tests. Language skills are also vital for the 21^st century workplace, with changing demographics across India, and other nations in the world economy. Learning a language is also, quite simply, powerful brain exercise, and a young child’s brain is much more malleable than those of adults.

Children are also more capable of utilizing a native like- accent in a second language: children are always mimicking what they hear and are typically very good at reproducing those sounds. Their ears are very tuned to identify different sounds that adults often cannot distinguish between. Studies have also shown that adults who had a exposure to a language during childhood are more likely to end up speaking like a native. Muscles are flexible, and their tongue can move to different positions.

What can you do if you don’t have any knowledge of the language or feel that you don’t know enough?

The fact that you are reading this means you are already doing something for your children. Your motivation will get them motivated.

· Be a role model:

Show them that you care about other cultures and languages, and share that passion with them. Even if you can’t afford the time or expense of foreign travel, there are many ways to expose them – even beyond television and books – to people of many different cultures right here in our own country.

· Make it fun and playful:

Children love to play, and playtime in a foreign language creates a natural environment to bring a new language alive.

Find time to sing a song, play a game, listen to a story in a CD, find stories they already know in English.

Remember that the primary goal is not to raise bilingual children, but to give them the opportunity to be exposed to another language and the benefits.

If you know someone who knows the language, invite them to come to your house to sing a song or read a book.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kahlil Gibran

To that end, here is an alphabetical list of 35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget.

1. Affirmation.

Sometimes one simple word of affirmation can change an entire life. So make sure your children know how much you appreciate them. And then, remind them every chance you get.

2. Art.

With the advent of the Internet, everyone who wants to create… can. The world just needs more people who want to…

3. Challenge.

Encourage your child to dream big dreams. In turn, they will accomplish more than they thought possible… and probably even more than you thought possible.

4. Compassion/Justice.

Life isn’t fair. It never will be – there are just too many variables. But when a wrong has been committed or a playing field can be leveled, I want my child to be active in helping to level it.

5. Contentment.

The need for more is contagious. Therefore, one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is an appreciation for being content with what they have… but not with who they are.

6. Curiosity.

Teach your children to ask questions about who, what, where, how, why, and why not. “Stop asking so many questions” are words that should never leave a parents’ mouth.

7. Determination.

One of the greatest determining factors in one’s success is the size of their will. How can you help grow your child’s today?

8. Discipline.

Children need to learn everything from the ground-up including appropriate behaviors, how to get along with others, how to get results, and how to achieve their dreams. Discipline should not be avoided or withheld. Instead, it should be consistent and positive.

9. Encouragement.

Words are powerful. They can create or they can destroy. The simple words that you choose to speak today can offer encouragement and positive thoughts to another child. Or your words can send them further into despair. So choose them carefully.

10. Faithfulness to your Spouse.

Faithfulness in marriage includes more than just our bodies. It also includes our eyes, mind, heart, and soul. Guard your sexuality daily and devote it entirely to your spouse. Your children will absolutely take notice.

11. Finding Beauty.

Help your children find beauty in everything they see… and in everyone they meet.

12. Generosity.

Teach your children to be generous with your stuff so that they will become generous with theirs.

13. Honesty/Integrity.

Children who learn the value and importance of honesty at a young age have a far greater opportunity to become honest adults. And honest adults who deal truthfully with others tend to feel better about themselves, enjoy their lives more, and sleep better at night.

14. Hope.

Hope is knowing and believing that things will get better and improve. It creates strength, endurance, and resolve. And in the desperately difficult times of life, it calls us to press onward.

15. Hugs and Kisses.

I once heard the story of a man who told his 7-year old son that he had grown too old for kisses. I tear up every time I think of it. Know that your children are never too old to receive physical affirmation of your love for them.

16. Imagination.

If we’ve learned anything over the past 20 years, it’s that life is changing faster and faster with every passing day. The world tomorrow looks nothing like the world today. And the people with imagination are the ones not just living it, they are creating it.

17. Intentionality.

I believe strongly in intentional living and intentional parenting. Slow down, consider who you are, where you are going, and how to get there. And do the same for each of your children.

18. Your Lap.

It’s the best place in the entire world for a book, story, or conversation. And it’s been right in front of you the whole time.

19. Lifelong Learning.

A passion for learning is different from just studying to earn a grade or please teachers. It begins in the home. So read, ask questions, analyze, and expose. In other words, learn to love learning yourself.

20. Love.

…but the greatest of these is love.

21. Meals Together.

Meals provide unparalleled opportunity for relationship, the likes of which can not be found anywhere else. So much so, that a family that does not eat together does not grow together.

22. Nature.

Children who learn to appreciate the world around them take care of the world around them. As a parent, I am frequently asking my kids to keep their rooms inside the house neat, clean, and orderly. Shouldn’t we also be teaching them to keep their world outside neat, clean, and orderly?

23. Opportunity.

Kids need opportunities to experience new things so they can find out what they enjoy and what they are good at. And contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t have to require much money.

24. Optimism.

Pessimists don’t change the world. Optimists do.

25. Peace.

On a worldwide scale, you may think this is out of our hands. But in relation to the people around you, this is completely within your hands… and that’s a darn good place to start.

26. Pride.

Celebrate the little things in life. After all, it is the little accomplishments in life that become the big accomplishments.

27. Room to Make mistakes.

Kids are kids. That’s what makes them so much fun… and so desperately in need of your patience. Give them room to experiment, explore, and make mistakes.

28. Self-Esteem.

People who learn to value themselves are more likely to have self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. As a result, they are more likely to become adults who respect their values and stick to them… even when no one else is.

29. Sense of Humor.

Laugh with your children everyday… for your sake and theirs.

30. Spirituality.

Faith elevates our view of the universe, our world, and our lives. We would be wise to instill into our kids that they are more than just flesh and blood taking up space. They are also made of mind, heart, soul, and will. And decisions in their life should be based on more than just what everyone else with flesh and blood is doing.

31. Stability.

A stable home becomes the foundation on which children build the rest of their lives. They need to know their place in the family, who they can trust, and who is going to be there for them. Don’t keep changing those things.

32. Time.

The gift of time is the one gift you can never get back or take back. So think carefully about who (or what) is getting yours.

33. Undivided Attention.

Maybe this imagery will be helpful: Disconnect to Connect.

34. Uniqueness.

What makes us different is what makes us special. Uniqueness should not be hidden. It should be proudly displayed for all the world to see, appreciate, and enjoy.

35. A Welcoming Home.

To know that you can always come home is among the sweetest and most life-giving assurances in all the world. Is your home breathing life into your child?
Of course, none of these gifts are on sale at your local department store. But, I think that’s the point.

As we dash from one part of our lives to another, we need gentle reminders that we are part of a community.This is especially true for students who are actively occupied with varying activities.
As a part of our February and March unit on ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS the students had to draw self potraits using a generic body shape.
They had to ensure that their potraits were unique...once complete all the potraits were joined at hands together with speech bubbles stating their hopes and dreams for a better world.They wrote a positive word about themselves under each potrait.Cutouts of their hands were also put together to form a peace sign.

I firmly believe that pieces of prose and poetry as well as epigrams and other quotations are often an opportunity to stir the minds of the passer-by into a profitable thought.
This gave birth to -Quid for Quote.....at a staff meeting.
Here is what we did...at the start of the year in each assembly the assembly head teacher and one of the school leaders( a student)did a piece on their favourite quotation.This was followed up by the class teacher.Each student had to go home and as a home assignment share and discuss a minimum of five quotes with their families.Then on completion atleast one quotation from each student was framed and put up in the classroom,corridoors and other bullietin boards.In short just simply displayed.
"This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one;....being part of a great enterprise rather than a feverish selfish little clod of ailments complaining that the world won't devote itself to make you happy....i want to be thoroughly used up when i die, for the harder i work...the more i live....Life is no brief candle to me.It's a sort of a splendid torch which i've got hold of for the moment and i want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."-
George Bernard Shaw
The visual and aural and behavioural impact of the scholl plays an important part in the likelihood of a schools sucess.Ensuring that your schools visual environment is stimulating is always a challenge.This activity provided a simple way to create awareness on varying issues.