Self-directed learning – what comes to mind when we hear this? It sounds like a complex pedagogical concept. In simple terms, it is the process of a learner learning independently. Imagine a scenario where you choose what to learn, how to learn, when to learn and go about it without…
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Water Water everywhere “What! Is it time to drink water again? Why should I drink so much water?” Does this question sound like one your child would ask? It surely does to me. I know of many parents who need to constantly remind children to drink water throughout the day.…
View More To drink water or not to drink – that is the question
Puzzles for fun Do you play puzzles for fun? I certainly do. Sometimes I solve them successfully, sometimes I do not. In either case, it is a good exercise for the brain. It is also a good discussion topic with family. It would indeed be a great idea to have…
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I have not always had a questioning mind. As a child, I would resist the urge to ask questions more than exercise them. It is only during my adult life as a student and teacher of Science that I have learned to shed inhibitions. Over the last couple of decades,…
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Fun with words Have you ever had fun with words? Have you played word puzzles in the newspaper? Whatever the activity is, we all enjoy playing, is it not? Children like to play most of the time. For children, playing and learning are the same thing. A whole lot of…
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The Montessori method Nowadays, the Montessori method is a familiar name to parents, educators, and the public alike. The Montessori method has gained widespread application all over the world, including India. I have been reading the book, The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori, over the last few weeks. The…
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Playing and learning Two weeks ago, I was playing with my niece. Playing and learning go hand in hand in our household. While we were playing, her eyes fell on the Compound Words kit that lay on my table. She wanted to play with it. I gave the set to…
View More A spelling rule so simple that a 5-year-old can teach you
Learning from teaching Last week in Biology class, matters of the heart were the main topic of discussion. The structure and function of the human heart, I mean! I teach Biology rarely, once in 2-3 years. Every experience gives me food for thought. During our discussion, I made an erroneous…
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Two weeks ago, I wrote about the Elephant Toothpaste experiment I did with my students. A few readers who read that post were curious about how to conduct the experiment and what happens in it. Hence, this follow-up post on the Chemistry behind the experiment. Incidentally, my lesson plan for…
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Making new words Have you ever wondered about building vocabulary by making new words? It is indeed an interesting method. In an earlier article, we spoke about building vocabulary through word families. In the early stages of learning, word families provide an excellent method to build a vocabulary quickly. As…
View More Compound Words – Learning through play