Strides Newsletter Archives
- Academy of Teaching Excellence
- Counseling & Assessments
- Early Intervention
- Kaleidoscope Learning Center
- V-Excel Educational Trust
- V-Excel Remedial Center
- Satellite Centers
- Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
Academy of Teaching Excellence
From Meera Suresh's Desk
We have guided, helped and collected all the case studies to be presented to the Annamalai University for the viva voce
Myself and Bhaskaran Visited lady Sivasamy Iyer girls Higher secondary school and made a presentation to the class XII students regarding the ATE Course. We stressed the 100% placement opportunity for the deserving candidates and also about the contribution to the society through this course. We also mentioned the difference between the fee structure for weekday and the weekend batch. They were also informed about our collaboration with Annamalai University for the exams.
Mr.Jesuraj visited the ATE class on 5th of February and interacted with the candidates, stressing on the needs to fulfill the TMF expectations regarding the course. He then came and checked all the registers, the MIS entries, and all the support documents as mentioned in the TMF SOP. Mrs.Lekshmi Ramesh and Mrs.Charumathi were a part of this discussion and added valuable points.
Mr. Jegan from TMF came again to the center to address the candidates, checked the profile of the candidates, their background, ambitions and their needs for joining the course. He also laid down the need for the candidates to give their best and become a good Faculty member in the future. He shared that he may need a few of them as faculty in the near future for training other candidates and shared his mail ID and phone number. He insisted that they can contact him in the given mail ID only after the completion of the course and receiving the certificate. He also discussed with the candidates whether the course can be taken to other cities and whether it would be successful and all the candidates shared that this was an excellent course.
Mr. Jegan discussed the Placement methodology for the successful candidates and we have shared about the same much to his satisfaction.
The Second two days of the 3-month course of SLD saw 90+% attendance. The classes were handled by Lekshmi Ramesh and Kejal Bhakshi on day one. We also saw Specialists like Dr. Yayathi, Dr. Senthil, visiting us to share a few valid points on Day-2. Dr. Santhanam and Dr. Suganthi also shared valuable experiences on the topics at hand on day-2.
On Day 1, 12 children from Anandam came to the center for Review and Counselling. Dr. Santhanam along with his assistant Shruthi took care of the same. As usual Lunch was arranged for all the candidates, Faculty members and for the children of Anandam. This was supervised by us (Meera, and Bhaskaran) along with Hari Krishnan, and Jaikumar.
Mrs. Shashikala Subramaniam of KLC came and addressed the ATE candidates and requested their support in the Survey for the Tiffin Time activity to be launched at Sharada.
Soft Skill classes are also going on for the ATE candidates with Mrs. Meera taking care of the same. Two sessions on Communication and Attitude have been completed and many more to go in the coming months.
Counseling & Assessments
From Parimal Pandit's Desk
Greetings from VACC!
This month we had quite a few significant programs. We almost wrapped up the TLLLF (The Love Laugh Live Foundation) project on creating awareness in youngsters and adolescents from high schools. We covered 2,700 children from about 10 schools. Puja and I were involved in the KJI 11th batch of teacher training.
We, as in the V-Excel team lead by Vasudha, addressed a group of principals of high schools from various schools again through KJI to introduce a training program for high school teachers. This will be a program which will help support teachers in communicating, handling adolescent emotional issues, identify students at risk for depression, suicide or any other mental health issues. The principals were very happy to take on this program and felt its the need of the hour.
We had a few new clients for individual counseling and couple of consultations and one assessment this month. We had 3 reading sessions this week. I had two desks at PayPal one full and one half and met 10 employees. Suryarekha met one employee at RAMCO.
KLC: Puja met 8 students for art/music therapy, a few for communication from various grades, met teachers for curriculum guidance and was part of in-service, child study and group play therapy for 5 classes. Suryarekha met one child for individual therapy, a few classes for group therapy. I met 3 teachers, 2 German volunteers and conducted an in-service for teachers with Puja. The theme was Seeing, Thinking and Feeling in communication. We started with Eurythmy and then proceeded with drawing activity ending with how we can use the faculties of seeing, thinking and feeling and how sometimes we use seeing instead of thinking or feeling instead of thinking. This was to get more conscious of which faculty is needed when. Teachers really enjoyed the movement and drawing exercise.
VTU: Suryarekha met a few trainees and staff at VTU every week. I met three potential admission trainees at VTU for the foundation course and had a discussion with the unit head Mrs. Usha about some trainees regarding behaviour management.
VRC & BLA: Suryarekha has been meeting the VRC students individually and groups every week. The groups are settling. Mainly using play and art as therapeutic means. In BLA the groups focus mainly on socialisation, and emotional expressions. The individual students are being regularly met and many a times she has to work with their anxieties about exams and performance outcome. The two interns from BALM academy concluded their group work with parents and parents really enjoyed the group. The feedback was very positive and we plan to continue that kind of work in future.
YES: Puja met 5 trainees for art therapy and conducted two group sessions. The trainees are really moving forward in their painting and we can see an inner holding in them reflected through their landscapes. They have a choice and willing to create what they want to. They are able to say I am feeling more relaxed now after this or ask for painting a rainbow. I met Mrs. Madhu Ram to get an update about her work with two trainees and we discussed along with Divya and Charu how we can have certain strategies used in the center so that there is consistency. I also met one parent and did a consultation for one of the trainees admitted.
This is from Counseling Unit. Some of the photos from the TLLLF program and from our KLC in-service have been attached here.
Early Intervention
From Lalitha Sridhar's Desk
Developing essential skills for writing – An Intervention:
Essential skill areas for facilitating writing in young children are:
1. Core – Stability of the body,wake up the body
2. Pencil grasp and fluidity of movement – Strengthen the hand
3. Auditory attention and memory – Tune in the ears
4. Visual perception – Focus the eyes
5. Writing patterns – WRITE
Good practice: Strategies
Seating Tips
· Child should be seated with straight back
· Feet flat on the floor or supported on a box
· Right angles at the hips, knees and ankles
· Head in central position
· Clearance between top of the thigh and the table
· Tripod grip using thumb and first two fingers should be encouraged
· Pencil grips/tripod pens can be used
· Some children benefit from using a sloping writing surface
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
From Gita Bhalla's Desk
February began on a note of visitors and consultants visiting the centre and helping us gain further insights to therapeutic aspects of Curative Education in KLC. Sabine Bruess an accomplished curative educator from Germany, visited the school on two days 1and 2 of February . She observed children and teachers and later gave a talk on healthy practices in Curative Education. We are very grateful to her and thank her for adding very simple but therapeutic activities for using with our children. Earlier, Parimal, Gita and Lakshmi had spent a morning with the teachers and senior students practising and demonstrating some simple strategies learnt to harness will forces in children. A few exercises were experiential where subtle attitudes and skills were built up. Like trust, and how much help do you need to give a person , do we usually over help a child.
Another consultant who has been in touch with us is Vyjanthi Ravindran who is from Pittsburgh . She is a special educator and been working with children from ages 12-21 and has been suggesting a few strategies to help with behaviour modification specially our older children with some difficulties in holding themselves and with self regulation. We are really very grateful to our new friend who has so graciously offered to share her learnings and her time with us. We hope for a fruitful association.
The nature walks have started in Guindy National Park and classes have been going early morning walks with their teachers, enjoying an outdoor breakfast and coming back to school by 9.30 in the morning.
Planning for Tiffin Times our project went a step ahead. We have decided to conduct a survey with our neighbourhood to gauge their snack preferences, the timings, their interest in associating with us. The ATE students will be conducting this survey for us as part of their program.
It has been movie time with Grades 5 and 6 who saw Troy and Julius Caesar as part of their block plans. Using audio visual media always helps to enhance learning with our students and this was a great experience for them.
22nd Thursday AIMS Media students had their 2nd Trimester exams and they performed well according to Vignesh, their tutor.
We are very excited to welcome back in school two of our volunteers from Germany who left about six months ago. They had a break and decided to visit us again much to the pleasure of the the children and staff. Welcome back Lena and Laura!
Javate 2018 at Lady Andal School, Chetpet happened on 17 February. Chinmay and Rokith participated in singing, Rekha participated in drawing and colouring and Niharika and Chandra participated in dance competition. The students performed well. Chinmay got 2nd prize in singing, though the competition was tough, where he sang against a professionally trained non-autistic person. Rekha too came 2nd place in the drawing competition. The group dance duo also got 2nd prize, who were trained by Priya.
On Saturday, we had an in service by the Counseling Department, who talked about the thinking, feeling and willing activities in a human being. The teachers were given a picture to replicate with any art medium. Then they were asked to talk about it, as to how it made them feel and what they thought about it. This exercise was done last year too. Some beautiful drawings came out of it.
The child study for this month was Keshav Ramesh and we thank all the teachers and participants in this valuable interaction and introspective exercise.
Gracia, a student of Grade 5B, is not well and has been admitted into CMC Vellore. She has been very restless, not eating, not sleeping, and these symptoms have been there since November end. She is in the Department of Psychiatry at CMC and is under treatment.
British Council and Dr.Reddy’s Foundation arranged a talk on Breaking Barriers At Workplace - Inclusive Workforce for Persons with Disabilities, a talk delivered by Justin Jesudas, who is paralyzed chest below and who has broken all barriers and left people across countries awestruck with his amazing accomplishment. He talked about, starting at the beginning, and giving opportunities at the school level for children with disabilities, so that they grow up to be individuals being accepted into the society at all places / spheres and jobs. It was an inspiring talk.
V-Excel Educational Trust
Javate Awards
Six children from Kaleidoscope Learning Center participated in, Javate, the inter-school competition for special students organised at the Lady Andal School, Harrington Road, Chetpet, Chennai on Saturday 17th of February 2018. Chinmay won 2nd place in singing, Rekha won 2nd prize in drawing while Niharika and Chandra won 2nd prize in group dancing. The children have been winning prizes for the last 4 years in a row.
Placements in Poompuhar
Our intern Balambiga from the Youth Empowerment Services has been placed at the V-Excel kiosk in Poompuhar. She will be trained by Ms. Kantha, Consultant, in handling customers, taking orders and reporting. Balambiga will also be trained in making products. To her immense credit, Bala started interacting with customers independently and has been steadily gaining self-confidence. She said that it made her very happy to interact and promote products made by her friends at V-Excel's Adyar and Mylapore branches.
Tarang in Chennai
This month's Tarang featured a vocal concert by twin vocalists Aarathi and Archana. They were accompanied by Sayee Rakshith on the violin and by Ambur Padmanabhan on the mrudangam.
Archana & Aarathi are the great-grand-nieces of renowned composer, Gayaka Shikamani Sangita Kalanidhi Late Sri Harikesanallur Muthiah Bagavathar and great-granddaughters of the Late Supreme Court Justice (Retd) Sangita Kalanidhi Sri. T. L.Venkatarama Iyer. They have completed their Bachelor of Engineering (EIE), SRM Easwari Engineering College. They are disciples of Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. R. Vedavalli and are currently undergoing training at the Advanced School of Carnatic Music run by Music Academy, Chennai. They are recipients of a scholarship on Padam - Javali from the Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, and have won several accolades and awards
V-Excel Remedial Center
From Lekshmi Ramesh's Desk
The Remedial department saw many consultations and assessments in the month of Feb. VRC also had an in-service and Mrs. Lalitha Sridhar was invited to orient and guide the teachers about OT and handwriting, followed by session handled by teachers from NEEV and Mrs. Kejal Bakshi. It was an interactive session and the teachers gained a lot of knowledge.
Group sessions for children in grades 5 and 6, in sentence formation have been happening. The sessions included fun activities and the children participated with enthusiasm. A young boy of age 10, who faced difficulties in reading, writing and comprehension, has shown improvement by slowly overcoming his challenges. Group sessions in counselling for parents were conducted by interns from TISS. The parents thoroughly enjoyed being part of the group and thanked the interns personally for the sessions. VRC is looking forward to a more active month, with children from Malathi school visiting us for intensive remedial sessions to bridge the gap in learning.
Brief report by special educators - NEEV:
· The Circle time, exercises/movements were taught in the Teacher's Workshop to the Olcott teachers were very well received and implemented enthusiastically in the classroom.
· Weekly follow-ups of the circle time were being done.
· Harishguru is a 3rd grade student. He is a severe LD child. Earlier he could not identify alphabets. Now by changing the teaching strategy, he can write few words and read simple sentences too.
· Karishma, 4th grade girl scored high marks in English in this midterm exam. It was a coincidence that her birthday was also on the same day and we celebrated her birthday in our resource room.
· Observation of the remedial sessions by the Olcott teachers are going on but in a slow pace.
· Every Friday, the children were made to do art and craft.
· Children were taught simple exercises to do using the OT materials.
· Regrouping of the children and remedial sessions for Malathi school were taken for two days.
· A session on "Teaching Methodologies" was conducted for other Neev teachers during in-service program in V-Excel.
Bridges Learning Academy:
Every student is a unique individual. They are different in level of maturity, gender, personality, ability, aspiration, interest, learning motivation, culture, language and socioeconomic background. Their intelligence, cognitive and learning styles influence the learning traits. Therefore, in addition to a comprehensive understanding of the curriculum content and features, we have to cater for learner diversity also.
To meet the needs of students and society, it is necessary to provide lifelong learning experiences through the school curriculum. Five types of learning experiences are regarded as essential to school students for whole person development:
· intellectual development (e.g. academic studies)
· life experiences (e.g. moral education, character formation)
· work-related/vocational experiences (knowledge of links between school curriculum and job opportunities)
· contributions to community service (e.g. environmental education)
· physical and aesthetic development (e.g. recreational sports, yoga training, art activities)
· Enhancement of quality teaching and learning
· Keeping the school as the centre of student learning
The school as a social institution will remain the centre of student learning. It will organise the necessary learning situations for students. The curriculum also facilitates a linkage between formal, informal and non-formal curricula in personal, social and humanities education.
All curriculum reforms are geared towards improving the quality of teaching and learning. The effectiveness of teaching and learning has to be enhanced by focusing on the students, teaching and learning processes and their interaction, opportunities and constraints, as well as the learning outcomes.
The development of curriculum, especially communication skills, creativity and critical thinking skills, and the inculcating of positive core values and attitudes in students, can reach the major goals of the curriculum reform, and BLA have been moving towards self-directed learning. Building on the achievements of the curriculum reform, BLA can further enhance learning and teaching, adopt appropriate strategies to cater for learner diversity and help students develop self-directed learning capabilities. Still more to Achieve….
From March NIOS Exams, our schedules will be very tough. Mock tests for NIOS students will be starting from March 1st. Three students were appearing for NIOS Secondary exams on April
Satellite Centers
From Jayanthi Vishwanath's Desk
Our Nashik Special school received registration from Maharashtra Government in July 2017. Since then, we have been striving to fulfill the requirements of the Post registration process, like obtaining a U-DISE code.
U-DISE (Unified District Information System for Education): This is a database of information about schools in India. The database was developed at the National University for Educational Planning and Administration and supported by HRD Ministry. A four-digit district code is allotted to every district. This code is available with the state office and will be shared with all districts. Each district will carry a unique identification code. This code shall remain constant for all future purposes. Separate codes may become necessary after the reorganization of district boundaries or the creation of new districts. District codes once assigned should not be changed subsequently for the duration of the project. This is necessary to ensure compatibility of data. Our Nashik school has received the 11- digits UDISE code. (Photo enclosed) A school code once generated will remain constant for all data references and future use.
School Location Mapping: Now our Nashik special school is in the process of getting mapped into the Web Based School GIS application, an initiative of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resources Department, Government of India for seamless visualization of school locations across the country.
Geographic location of schools collected by the various School Education Departments of the states has been collated and mapped on GIS Platform established by National Informatics Centre. Further, these school locations have been interlinked with the school report cards based on U-DISE database, developed and hosted by National University of Educational Planning and Administration.
In this application, base map services like street maps, and high resolution satellite images are available for better understanding of the topography/ terrain of the location. This web service application comprises of administrative boundaries up to village level and location information up to habitation level along with basic GIS functionalities and measurement tools which will help to improve the quality of planning and better utilization of resources available under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
Other News:
We have some encouraging news from YES. We received monthly order for 1000 paper cups from the Dental college in Nashik to be used in the dental clinics for dispensing water during dental treatment.
Our Vocational trainees visited the Nashik flower show as a part of the monthly field visit program.
From Gopal Jahagirdar in Solapur
After the visit of Dr. Vasudha some good and new things are happening every month. Our center is growing slowly and steadily and is now well known in Solapur and Usmanbad district and some part of Vijaypur district in Karnataka. Doctors are referring special children to our center. These things are happening without any paper publicity or media publicity this was on only effect of Dr. Vasudha's visit.
The following things were done in February
1. On 16th February we all went on a field trip to Tandulwadi, 25 kms. from Solapur. In this trip children parents and staff (43) participated.
2. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanthi was celebrated in our center by students of "Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Night college Solapur". They brought a Shivaji statue and explained about him to our children. Then they sang Maharastra Geet and conducted a pooja and arati of Shivaji Maharaj and distributed sweets and snacks to our children.
3. On 24th February Parents workshop was arranged in our center. The speaker of this workshop was Sri Vishnu Kadhakade, clinical psychologist, who is our well-wisher. 32 parents and staff members participated.
From Abhyasa Kendra - Srirangam
Our Srirangam centre Production unit and Training unit has produced Areca leaf plates and Paper bag covers and our production unit trainees have produced variety of Food powders and Areca Leaf plates. It was announced by Shri U. Ve Velukkudi Krishnan Swami that all the products were made by young adults with special needs for Malayala Divya Desam Yatra.
Our product was distributed during Yatra to all the yatris. We have got very good response for the quality of products. Production for this Yatra included the following items:
1. Areca Leaf Plates = 8’ 10’ 12’ = 3,000 nos.
2. Variety of food powders : 25 kg.
3. Idly Chilli Powder
4. Angaya Podi
5. Kanchipuram Idly Mix
6. Rasa Podi
7. Yellu Milagai Podi, 25 kg.
8. Paper Bags = 130 nos.
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
From Usha Rajagopal's Desk
The VTU at Sreyes has new and interesting stories to share about February.
As a continuation of the experiential learning in the area of safety, the trainees were exposed to safety in Public Spaces like malls and movie theatres. When the trainees go out with the family, they are enveloped in the protective shell of the family and get very little chance to be independent.
Trainer Uma Swaminathan in coordination with her counterpart Radha Naganathan briefed them about it all in the classroom. At the Phoenix Mall, Velachery, our trainees were encouraged to go through the scanning process by themselves and assemble near the information centre. They were able to identify categories in the listing and some could identify and read the locations that we had planned to go that day. General safety measures taken were explained to them and most of them were able to relate the fire extinguisher with one they see at our centre. They were taught and encouraged to use the escalators and lifts and precautions to be observed. Using the public restroom facility in a upscale Mall was a learning . They went to the gaming area and were treated to Fun Time free of cost, thanks to the Floor Manager. Overall the experience was good and learning quite impressive.
The other new experience the group had was the overnight stay in the tent pitched in the rear garden of the Centre. Trainees who have not had a chance to spend overnight away from family were treated to this. There was a Boys Night followed by the Girls night. After training hours, hey had a recreation time followed by group preparation of dinner and then a Campfire with entertainment before they retired for the night to the tent. The program was very well supported by our volunteer group and trainers from YES. Thanks to the coordinated effort between staff and manager, turned out to be a special experience for all.
As part of vocational training, an automobile wash and service facility has been identified nearby. 4 of our male trainees go there everyday for on the job training. The facility provides professional water wash and wax polishing facilities for cars and two wheelers. Two trainers go in the morning and one in the afternoon. They get trained in washing the vehicles and also to handle and identify tools.
The production group at the centre has been busy with making jute/ nonwoven thambulam bags. Block printing on them, and including KLC interns in the process. Quilled frames, other craft items and bead work were done as part of regular work. paper mache work was taken up with KLC interns and VTU doing their bits. Ms Kantha has been trying out some new designs of products.
Planning activities for March and April and evaluation of unit activity as well as trainees will be the focus break the summer break. Do follow us at VTU Sreyes to be in touch with the activities of our young adults.
From Youth Empowerment Services:
From Rama Nagarajan's Desk
We are happy to welcome Mrs. Lakshmi from EI to YES unit.
· In Printing and Documentation, we have started wiro binding, as a trial 20 wiro pads were made. 10 tabletop calendars were designed and printed, 45 books for SLD courses, photocopying for counselling department, 4 printed mugs for display, one corporate gift printing and 34 ID cards for ATE smart plus project were done and delivered.
· In Baking and confectionery unit, trainees following the hygienic aspect, the trainees are able to make chocolates, cupcakes and pack them. 32 boxes of chocolates produced were sold out, 8 boxes of chocolates was given as sample to Rotary club members and 36 cupcakes were made for practice.
· Laundry unit: In spite of busy practice and Laundry services, the trainees are trained effectively in hand wash, machine wash, drying, folding, ironing, packing and delivering.
· In loom all the trainees are being involved in weaving stoles.
· Solar lamp assembling project has been started again. 89 solar lamps were assembled by the trainees with assistance within three days.
· In Kitchen activity healthy snacks are prepared and served by the trainees.
· Trainees are taken to Pazhamudir Nilayam to purchase the ingredients needed for kitchen activity so as to train them in social awareness and money handling.
· On 8th Feb, Thursday monthly guru pooja was performed in YES unit. Our trainee Krishna was able to recite many slokas during the Pooja.
· On every Wednesday, Mrs. Surya Natarajan, mother of our Managing Trustee is teaching creative craft work like paper folding, Warli painting, macramé , knitting, jewelry making etc. She is also sharing many ideas to reuse the waste materials in an artistic way.
· Therapy classes are happening regularly every Wednesday and Friday.
· Activities like gardening, Yoga and gym are done daily involving the trainees
· As per the advice and suggestion by Mrs. Lalitha Sridhar, we have placed our intern Balambiga at V-Excel kiosk in Poompuhar. Mrs. Kantha will train her to handle the customers, taking orders and reporting it to her. She will also train her in making some products.
· On Saturday 17th February, all the trainees along with staff members visited Tholkappia Poonga or Adyar Eco Park. Trainees enjoyed the walk in the natural environment.
· Mrs. Kantha is coming to YES and teaching handicraft products.
· On Thursday 22nd February all the trainees along with staff members attended "Tarang" program, a Vocal Concert by Ms. Aarathi and Ms. Archana, Ms. Sayee Rakshith – Violin and Mr. Ambur Padmanabhan – Mirudangam at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore. Trainees enjoyed the concert. All the concert photos were clicked by Gokulakrishnan.
· Trainee Deepa on Thursday 22nd Feb attended a night stay which was organised in SREYES. She participated in all the activities and enjoyed being with her friends.