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ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO MAKE MISTAKES

Allow Your Children to Make Mistakes

We all learn from our mistakes. Every situation is an opportunity for growth. Obviously there are certain mistakes you want to protect your kids from, such as playing on a busy road or sticking their hand on a hot burner. But in other situations,they’ll learn more if left to discover the consequences themselves.

Consider these points to help you be more patient and accepting of your children’s mistakes:

1. Children are children. Because of a child’s age, coordination, lack of judgment, or simplified thought processes, kids are not going to be able to perform a task the way a teen or adult can.

2. Children are works in progress. Because children are developing, learning and growing every day, each new day provides them with opportunities for success.

3. Sometimes when children err, they have a natural tendency to want to try again. Because this behavior shows perseverance and great effort, parents can reinforce these positive characteristics by simply allowing them to try the task again.

4. Learning from trial and error is still learning. If you observe your child trying a task over and over again without frustration, he’s probably learning something on each try.

5. There are other things more important than doing a job “right.” So what if, when your child is done making the bed, the bedspread is crooked? If you consider what matters most, you’ll come up with some characteristics your child demonstrates that you can be proud of.

6. Your child’s self-esteem depends on your reactions. How you react when your child makes a misstep shows him what you think and believe about him.

• When it comes to a child’s self-esteem, allowing him to err at something while at the same time, accepting him the way he is, sends powerful messages of unconditional acceptance and love to your child.

8. Avoid generating or expressing strong emotions related to your child’s blunder.It’s wise to remain neutral and objective when speaking to a child about his performance of a task.
Making it okay for your child to err will go a long way toward solidifying his sense of self and building his self-esteem.

If you consider and apply these ideas when parenting, you and your child will be more comfortable when they experience errors. Because of your approach, they’ll embrace life with optimism, perseverance and feelings of confidence.

Photo: Allow Your Children to Make Mistakes

COOL MATHS FACTS

Check out 6 coolest facts!!
Do you know...
Some of the most accepted symbols and numbers have amazing facts attached to them. Find out more here.

Names for 0
ZERO is the only number which is known with so many names including nought, naught, nil, zilch and zip.

Amazing PIE
PIE (The ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle) can’t be expressed as a fraction, making it an irrational number. It never repeats and never ends when written as a decimal.

What comes after a million?
Billion, Trillion, Quadrillion, Quintillion, Sextillion, Septillion, Octillion, Nonillion, Decillion and Undecillion.

What lies behind GOOGLE?
The name of the popular search engine ‘Google’ came from a misspelling of the word ‘googol’, which is a very large number (the number one followed by one hundred zeros to be exact).

Letter ‘A’
From number 0 to 1000, the letter ‘A’ only appears in 1000 (One thousand)

Dice Magic
The opposite sides of a dice always add up to seven

HOW TO DEAL WITH GENERATION GAP?

For every small child, their parents are their superheroes, whom they believe can do anything in the world. Their parents are capable of solving all their problems, punch every bad guy who comes as a villain in their lives. To be precise, parents mean the world to the kids, but when children approach parents with a different set of ideas or a different kind of behavior, parents often lose their temper as they do not wish to accept this new idea, for reasons of their own and instead of listening patiently and then trying to explain to the kids their violent reaction invokes temper tantrum in the kids and thus begins the war of difference in generations.

Children usually confide in their parents with the belief and the confidence that they will not be rebuked or punished for what they have done. This kind of emotional security is very important at times for every child in this world. However, teenagers who exhibit a very aggressive behavior face from the problem of attention seeking behavior and this is a way they portray their concern before their parents. Such kids are often unable to express and communicate their feelings, which often results in verbal fights with parents.

Adulthood pains and adjustments made to the world outside the safe cocoon of their family’s guidance, often is the fundamental cause of emotional vulnerability undergoing amongst the children. Children often try to mask their actual feelings and exhibit a strong outlook of their character.

Thus, it is the parent’s responsibility of creating and opening up the communication channel with their kid through constant communication and not pestering. Until and unless parents make an attempt to create the right environment for their children at home and help their child to express themselves, children will remain in a confused world of their own. Parents have to extend their hand of support and make the child feel safe and secured so that child feels comfortable to reach out to hold their parents hand.

MATHS JOKES

DISCIPLINE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Meetika Sharma - Vice Principal Primary Section

Discipline is one of the biggest problems that every parent faces. Each one of us has wondered sometime or the other: “Was I too harsh on my kids? or “Am I being too easy?” “Did I do right thing when I shouted at them?”

Learning to discipline children is hard work. Parents often confuse discipline with punishment. Majority think that discipline is punishing the children for wrong behaviour or wrong doing. But before we start to discipline them, let us understand the meaning of discipline and how it differs from punishment.

WHAT IS DISCIPLINE????

Discipline is......

· Helping a child to get along with family and friends.

· Teaching a child to behave in an agreeable way.

· Allowing a child to learn from the mistakes made and enabling the child to experience the consequences of the decisions made.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF DISCIPLINE???

These can be.........

·To help the child feel capable.
·To help the child learn acceptable rules of behaviour.
·To help the child learn to respect the rights of others.
·To help the child learn coping skills to use throughout life.

In a nutshell we can say that effective discipline is HELPING, TEACHING and LEARNING.

DISCIPLINE IS NOT PUNISHMENT !!!

Majority of parents think that discipline and punishment are the same. Some think discipline is getting a child to behave and teaching obedience. Some think it is something that you do when kids are naughty.

Let us understand the difference between discipline and punishment.

Whereas punishment focuses on the child, discipline targets the act.When we punish the child,we are saying-“You are loved or not loved because of the things you do.” Punishment teaches the child to be “good” as long as we are looking, but as soon as we turn our heads-WATCH OUT!!!!

Discipline conveys to the child-“You are OK even when your behaviour is NOT OK!” Love the child but reject the behaviour; that is what discipline teaches.The purpose of discipline is to raise responsible, confident children who grow up to be persons who think for themselves, care about others and who live satisfying and useful lives.

DEVELOP PUBLIC SPEAKING FROM AN EARLY AGE

Public speaking is one of the best ways to encourage your child to speak and develop self confidence. It can be as simple as reciting a poem, singing a song or describing an item or a picture or recounting a short story. Basically, all children have something to say and this gets smothered if not brought to the fore.

Teach poems to small children

Small children can learn poems fast and they can even be taught to sing the poems with suitable actions. Ask them to enact the poem in the classroom or home and give them your full attention. Encourage their attempts and make them feel confident for more.

Encourage them by speaking yourself

Role play is the best way to teach children. So, you can speak first and ask your child to follow. In this way the right diction and style can be taught to them. Also when they hear you speaking with confidence, they feel confident to speak.

Understand their fear to speak

Fear is a very common reason why children hesitate to speak in public. Start with audiences of small groups and then expose your child to bigger crowds. Stage fear is felt by even the most powerful orator and you need to be very patient in helping your child fight it.

Give each child a turn
If you are a teacher, then you should see that each child gets a chance to speak in front of the class. You could opt for group items like a play or an action song which involves four or five kids performing together.

Make it fun
When things become too serious, children lose interest. So, make it fun by demonstrating all the wrong ways of public speaking. This could include speaking too loudly, or too softly, speaking with the back to the audience, etc. So, in a fun manner you are actually teaching them all the right things to do.

Encourage the children but do not force them to speak as this will create phobia. Do not demean their efforts. If they are unwilling to speak, give them space for some time. You can try to make them speak after a few days. Have a positive approach and praise their efforts.

Asking For The Moon And Getting It Too!

The other day at the supermarket I saw a sight that has become quite common nowadays. A mother was struggling with her overloaded trolley while her small son was prostrate on the ground, wailing out loudly for a toy car that was on display. The scene went on for about 5-7 minutes with the bawling growing louder and the mother’s admonishing getting weaker by the minute. What do you think happened next? The mother grabbed the toy and put it on her stuff in the trolley and took the child’s hand and walked to the billing counter. Peace reigned but at what cost?!

Often parents give in to childhood tantrums and do not realize the deeper pit that they are helping to dig. After all where does it all end? Children know from a very early age what works and doesn’t work with their parents. They know the control knobs and use them to their advantage. All parents love their children but buying each and everything that they ask for is not wise. This is a mark of giving in and not a display of love.

As parents we know that we all have grown up with a few hitches and this has helped to bring out the best in us. Making things easy for your child is not going to make things easy in later life. What begins with a toy car may end with a real one at a premature age which he or she rams into another leading to a fatal accident. And all because the mother does not know when to say ‘No’.

A POEM FOR ALL PARENTS

There are little eyes upon you,
And they are watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly
Take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager
To do everything you do;
and a little boy who's dreaming
Of the day he'll be like you.
You're the little fellow's idol;
You're the wisest of the wise;
In his little mind, about you
No suspicions ever rise.
He believes in you devotedlly,
Holds that all you say and do,
He will say and do in your way
When he's grown up like you.
There's a wide-eyed little fellow
Who believes you're always right;
And his ears are always open,
And he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
Every day in all you do;
For the little boy who's waiting
To grow up to be just like you.

EFFECTIVE TEACHING THROUGH TRADITIONAL LECTURE METHOD

The lecture method is not considered one of the most effective methods of teaching as the students are often mere passive listeners. However, some topics do require the use of lecture method. In fact this method can be used quite effectively if a few rules are followed.

Lecture

Teaching in higher classes mostly follows the lecture method, with the convenience it offers. It is a good method for introducing a new topic.

A lecture can be used to cover a large syllabus area in a limited time. It can not only enlighten an assembly, but motivate it and even inspire it. In Computer science and technology, the information given in textbooks may be outdated. Even the latest update can be presented to the classroom through a lecture. Above all, many teachers enjoy their lectures because of their potential for aesthetic pleasure.

·In spite of these merits, we should remember that the lecture method is not considered as one of the most effective methods of teaching.

·The pupils have little involvement; they are often mere passive listeners or silent witnesses.

·Those with poor listening skills do not benefit much. If they do not take notes, they will forget most of what they have heard.

·Some lectures may be boring; this may lead to the pupils losing interest in the subject or even hating it.

·If reverse questions are not encouraged, pupils who have not followed a part may not grasp what comes later. This results in a teaching disaster.

As a solution to some of the problems indicated above,

Ø The lecture should be started enthusiastically by giving 5 minutes of technology news or any other latest news which is delivered by the students randomly. This will develop student’s interest in the subject and will also lead to the active participation of the entire class in such activity.

Ø Teachers should ensure pupils’ participation in classroom lectures.

Ø They should maintain good eye contact with the pupils, carefully watch their reactions, and confirm that they remain interested in the lesson.

Ø The teacher should pose questions and get answers that help in the development of the lesson. Further, questions from students, seeking clarifications or further explanation, should be encouraged in order to ensure their active participation.

Ø There should be appropriate gestures and cadences in the voice to avoid monotony in the lecture.

Ø The teacher has to be enthusiastic right through the lecture. Important points should be emphasized through pauses or repetition or appropriate gestures.

Ø For example: first show the wood and then point at the trees.

Ø Never speak continuously from the beginning to the end of a period. There has to be breaks for questions and interaction.

Ø The chalkboard should be used in tandem to note down the vital points.

Ø Other teaching aids may also be used, if appropriate.

Ø If a pupil makes a mistake, the teacher should correct him.

Ø There should be no sarcasm in the teacher’s words, since it would dissuade pupils from active participation.

Ø There has to be a conclusion that highlights all the essential points.

Ø The pupils should prepare notes based on the discussion.

Do You Have The Mindset For Success?

If you think you will fail, then you definitely will! Success requires a mindset to succeed. Knowledge and skills are not enough if your mind is not geared towards success. Self-regulation and direction of the mind to welcome success are absolutely necessary.

What are fixed and growth mindsets?

A person with a fixed mindset sees mistakes as failures and is of the belief that their knowledge and learning are fixed according to their intelligence levels. They do not make the extra effort as they feel effort is useless. On the other hand, people with a growth mindset treat mistakes as a feedback to put them back on track to pursue their goals. They are of the faith that their intelligence and knowledge can grow and they make extra effort to win. It has been seen that students with a fixed mindset usually opt for easier courses as they feel they cannot handle difficult ones. How others perceive them is very important to them. But those with a mindset of growth take on challenges and persist even when the going gets tough. They use their potential to the full to achieve the best. So, conversion of the fixed mindset to a growth mindset is required.

Edison’s story

Thomas Alva Edison made more than 14,000 attempts before he could successfully create the electric bulb. When he had failed for the 10,000th time a reporter asked him how he felt. According to Edison he had not failed at all but found out successfully 10,000 ways that do not create a light bulb. This is a perfect example of how a growth mindset works.

Role of teachers (and parents too!)

Standardized tests are somewhat responsible in creating a fixed mindset among students who gauge their success or failure through their marks in the tests. This hampers motivation to a large extent and puts a break on learning. A lot depends on the teachers and they have to devise ways to make use of standardized tests without harming the mindset of the students. The students should not evaluate their self worth based on these scores. The CCE method of CBSE has taken this in consideration and is in accordance with creating a growth mindset among children.

Our mind is like a car. The driver decides the direction and the goal. We all have to be in the driver’s seat to decide where we are headed. In this case it is the teacher who is in the driving seat. He or she has to help the students manage their minds in a positive manner while edging them quietly towards their goals. Teachers cannot do this alone and need to be supported by parents and the students themselves. When applied correctly with the right mindset there is no saying to what pinnacles of success knowledge and skills can take a person!