Learning Never Stops

Life can become hectic for us teachers. What does a Friday feel like to you sometimes? By the end of the day, I feel like having a hot bath, switching off my mobile phone, and ignoring everyone around me. For my Masters program, the first thing we were made aware of was the intense stress teachers go through and how important it is to make time for yourself. I always felt selfish when I took out a little 'me' time. My kids would be banging on the door while I was getting a massage done at home. When I would come out after one hour, feeling happy, I would get sarcastic looks from everyone in the house! But I always knew that if I did not take out some time for myself, I would get mad! I love Hatha Yoga. Every morning I feel and enjoy the stretches; I am conscious of how I breath. I silently communicate with my body and get to know it. With a little practice, this becomes a really good habit. I love smooth pebbles! I collect them whenever I see one that intrigues me...

Today, in our PSHE lesson, the students were trying to prioritize various things such as air, water, food, shelter, mobile phones, playground, senses, etc. I was pleased to note that they immediately drew from their knowledge of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. They struggled with placing shelter and senses . Some thought that they would rather have their senses (be able to see, hear) than shelter. Others preferred shelter ( and spoke of home as a place with caring people in it) to their senses. When I pointed out that there were homeless people who were deaf and blind, there was a moment of silence in the class. The thing that surprised me most was that children would rather have a mobile phone than a playground! Well, I shouldn't be surprised. I have seen my own kids hooked to their phones. The students felt that communication was far more important than a playground. They also felt that they could play anywhere; and all phones had games. B...

While preparing a unit of inquiry, the PYP programme requires one to constantly keep the 5 essential elements (Knowledge, Concepts, Attitudes, Skills, Action) in mind. These elements have to be assessed by the end of the unit. I created this screen cast to show how I go about planning a unit.(I also feel confident enough to 'um' my way through the screencast and post it :). By talking to myself, I endevour to make connections with the various elements. In order to guide the students through the unit , it is imperative that I read up a bit about the concepts that will be addressed in the unit. (in this case, migration, change and perspective.) Reading books, watching documentaries, talking to colleagues in school , and sharing my thoughts on the blog and twitter, help me slowly build up knowledge and a passion for the unit. It is only then that I am ready to guide the learners on their journey. Along...