Learning Never Stops

A reflection: It's funny how people start addressing women as Sir in India once they do something heroic! A step by step process of my inquiry lesson. I think I'll keep updating the same post in order to keep this on one page! 23rd August My class is learning all about heroes, and I have created a short but provocative video ( I hope! ) using Animoto. What a wonderful tool :) Famous and the infamous This was my provocation. I decided not to tell the kids what they were going to inquire into. By carefully watching the video they will have to identify the characters they know. I posted a power point of the famous and infamous characters on the new class blog (The kids are absolutely thrilled and amazed to see themselves on it) so that they can go home and show their parents the ones they had trouble identifying. 24th August The following day we made a Venn diagram. A three way one. I used http://billsteachingnotes.wikispaces.com/Graphic+Organisers  to make copies ...

I did not have the luxury of meeting with the kids during the summer camp in July. I was nervous and hoped they would like my face. Bright eyed, chirpy , extremely smart kids came up to me with more confidence than I could muster. One looked at me and smiled and seemed happy that I would be her teacher. Phew! I come from Africa...that is how I was introduced. The kids looked at me in wonder and I overheard two of then talking during break time, analysing the colour of my skin and wonderiong where I fit in. These children are completely new to PYP ; they are very comfortable with their mother tongue. English does not come easily to them though they speak it loudly and with infinite confidence.I knew I had a challenge ahead of me. I have to introduce the the pyp lingo very slowly. I looked at my wall where all the attitudes, concepts, learner profiles glared beadily at me...maybe one word at a time? What is the hurry? I would love to share my first weekly planner with my ...

What an experience. Searching for an apartment in this huge city has been a challenge, but lucky for me, my colleagues did most of the ground work. So all I need to decide is which flat to take. How does one plan the next moves. What do I need to do to make my first few weeks in the place comfortable? Water, gas, an Internet connection, a bed....etc, etc. This is a sketch of the block. This is a learning experience for me and definitely needs a place in my blog. Having travelled from Singapore, to Mombasa and finally Hyderabad within a few weeks has made me appreciate how different cultures are; the cities and its people have a distinct characteristic. Our school talks a lot about pluralism and how we need to infuse this notion into the curriculum. We, as teachers need to be pluralistic...when in Singapore, i miss the naturalness of Mombasa; when in Hyderabad I miss the structure and order of Singapore and the quiet of Mombasa. However, I find myself accepting and engaging with t...

I have been lazy. That's what a good and much wanted holiday does! It makes you lazy. The stress and constant movement associated with end of third term abruptly ceases, like a roller coster ride, which I just experienced and never want to do again! I am leaving Africa. I do so with a lot of regret. Kenya is amazing. The  people are amazing.  But I have miles to go before I sleep  :). I will be teaching grade 4 yet again but in a totally different context...an Indian milieu with Indian students and parents. A different ball game altogether. The funny thing is the units of inquiry will be mostly the same. So I get to teach the same content to different learners and a different setting! I am aware that my experience as a PYP teacher at AKA,M is welcome in the sister school that I am about to join. I am eager to share my experiences with any one interested :) I start in August. I am leaving my precious children with their able and caring father and I am conf...

I love the video. I think the only reason why grading works and genuine learning is eschewed is because grading is comparatively easier! Imagine universities pouring through e-portfolios of students, trying to decide who qualifies. They'll certainly earn their salaries :)

Hmm...Is it okay for any one to say, " I am knowledgeable."? During my college days I had come across a book called The dialogues of Plato. In it Plato refers to Socrates who had said, " The only thing I know is that I don't know." I have never forgotten the sentence. I am now reading The Tao of Pooh. It's such an easy read and yet so powerful. "Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully. "Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever." "And he has Brain." "Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain." There was a long silence. "I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything." In other words, your knowledge can come in the way of your understanding of something! And another favourite quote: "But isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't? It seems fairly obvious to some of us...

Central idea: Markets are organized to enable the exchange of goods and services. This is the big idea the students will learn by the end of the 4 short weeks ahead of us. How do we help them understand the role of money? The Barter trade is a good way to start. The students will be asked to bring an item that they want to barter. And then we let them loose. Chaos! The students were mingling, negotiating, persuading, assessing, planning and communicating! They clearly understood what double coincidence (during the trade) without me having to teach them anything!