Workshop with Teachers

 July 2024

Capt Nandkumar, along with Vishal Khushalani motivated the teachers and exhorted them to excel in bringing up our children as model human beings. 

Vishal Khushalani walked down memory lane on how the school was started and how a group of young minds who thought alike came together and created the school to what it is today. 

Capt Nandkumar conducted a workshop on how we would like the children to be taught:

Workshop on how we teach our students...

1. Teachers enrich their self-knowledge before starting a topic through Khan Academy or similar.
2. A lesson plan is formulated and checked by Principal or coordinators during the Saturday Staff Development Programme (SDP). 
3. Children research the topic in the computer lab by themselves and make notes. TOPIC RESEARCH COMP CLASS (TRCC).
4. Teachers check the notes and initial understanding of students
5. Video on topic is played on smart board
6. Teacher's lecture / coaching. 

Team Work - Workshop

 19th Dec 2022

A workshop was conductedwith all our teachers. 

As reported by our Principal:

Our Managing Trustee addressed the school team on 19th December, Monday with lot of inputs to the team on how to build our children into a strong future pillars and good citizens of tomorrow; not only for themselves but also for the nation.  He has expressed his views with lot of illustrations on how to build a strong team and reach the goal.  

The word team has been explained that (Together Everyone Achieve More) with GROW and this stands for (Goal - Reality - Options - Way forward), the above words have carried a real energy for the team and it was well accepted by them.

He has pointed that a team should work together selflessly to achieve a common goal or aim.  

The vision of the school  was very clear that we want to bring up the children - those who are economically backwards - at par with others and our small efforts will  help them to have a better future.

He has explained about the team work as Working together is a collective responsibility, that will lead to success on our journey.

His motivation gave a special energy and active plans to bridge the learning gap due to the pandemic.  His blessing and appreciations always make the team to work efficiently towards the success.

Teacher's Field trip to Nadukuppam Forest

On 5th February 2022, Saturday, the teaching team have gone for a field trip to visit the Nadukuppam Forest Conservation Area.  

The Pichandikulam Forest Conservation - organisers arranged for the field trip.

The idea behind the field trip is to implement an Eco school project and to have hands on experience for the teachers. 

So that the teachers in turn can discuss with their students towards implementation of either Carbon Sequestration project, Sewage Water treatment or setting up of herbal garden and rain water harvest in our campus.

The organisers had planned the trip well and their hospitality was wonderful!

The activity and the awareness given by them motivated our team to enthusiastically plan and think of implementing the projects in our campus.

Teachers extended their heartfelt thanks to the organisers for the arrangements.

Workshop with Teachers - Effective Training

 25th March 2021

It was a fruitful workshop on "Effective Training" with our teachers.

The teachers huddled, discussed and came up with what elements made teaching effective. Each group decided on what was the order of importance for them!

They then presented their work with aplomb!

Effective training is where:

The trainer knows the subject:

·       The Trainer has researched the subject thoroughly ·       The Trainer can answer most questions adequately or directs to an appropriate resource ·       The Trainer has sufficient depth of knowledge to be flexible in the training

                      

The trainer is able to analyze and diagnose faults:

·       The Trainer can identify where the trainee is going wrong ·       The Trainer knows why the trainee is not performing ·       The Trainer has appropriate solutions for each fault

 

The training objectives are SMART:

·       The training objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound ·       The training objectives are agreed by the trainees ·       The Trainer is able to amend the objectives if necessary, during the training

 

The training is clear, concise and interesting:

·       The training is delivered so that it is easily understood ·       The Trainer uses a variety of tools to get the message across ·       The Trainer maintains the interest of the trainees

 

The training is responsive to how trainees like to learn:

·       Trainees are involved in the training ·       Trainees have opportunities to practice skills ·       Trainees are given time to reflect on what they have learnt ·       Trainees are able to ask questions

 

The trainer tests understanding to confirm learning:

·       The Trainer asks effective questions ·       The Trainer sets appropriate tests ·       The Trainer challenges trainees to demonstrates their learning

 

The trainer is approachable and supportive:

·       The Trainer is open and honest ·       The Trainer is relaxed, friendly and interested in trainees ·       The Trainer listens well and shows empathy to trainees ·       The Trainer asks for and is able to receive criticism well

 

The trainer is able to demonstrate well:

·       The Trainer is able to do what is being taught to a high standard ·       The Trainer is able to demonstrate clearly ·       The Trainer is also able to demonstrate how not to do it

 

The training is structured, organized and efficient:

·       It is well designed and has a logical structure ·       It is well organized ·       It runs efficiently with little waste of time, resources or use of equipment

 

There is good documentation, tools and equipment:

·       The documentation is clear, sufficient and easy to refer to ·       The tools and equipment used are relevant and in good working order ·       There is enough equipment and time for each trainee to use ·       The environment is suitable for learning

Our teacher wins the BEST STUDENT AWARD!

27 Nov 2019

Our teachers Mrs Beena and Mrs Devagi undertook a Diploma Course in "Working with Vulnerable Children" conducted by BALM (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health). 

They have both successfully completed their Diploma! And Mrs Beena won the BEST STUDENT Award for their course!

Our heartfelt congratulations to them! 

They have both done us proud!

Ed and Eli's workshops at school

28th to 30th March 2017

Edward Carlisle Hogshire and Elizabeth Hogshire spent 3 full days working with our teachers and children. 

Elizabeth is a graphic designer, children's yoga instructor and a nursery school teacher.

Edward is an English instructor at the United Arab Emirates University and a teacher trainer with the Abu Dhabi government schools. 

They live outside of Abu Dhabi. 

Impression of the school by Edward and Elizabeth:

 “We really enjoyed our experience at Gurukulam. The teachers and staff are amazing people who are collectively making a great impact on this community. We are looking forward to returning"

On the 28th  Ed worked with the 8 and 9 year olds, teaching them irregular past tense and with the 12th grade for a writing class. 

In addition, Edward worked with the English teachers and had a fruitful discussion about the need to activate background knowledge and how students should best record new vocabulary.

Elizabeth worked with the Kindergarten kids and teachers.

The 29th was a full day workshop by both Edward and Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth worked with half of the teachers while Edward worked with the other half. 

Elizabeth also discussed best practices and making organic playdough. 

While Elizabeth and the other half of the teachers were having a fun relaxing time making play dough Edward used a series of 3 videos, and Google Docs to introduce the idea of Content and and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). 

CLIL is a system used all over the world to help teachers teach language better.

 It is especially aimed at the content teachers and my main focus tomorrow will be on ways

 the non-English teachers can help the students with the new English vocabulary that their students encounter in their learning. 

The teachers finished the workshop by creating their own online vocabulary exercises that they can use with their current students.

On the 30th Ed continued his teaching of the 12th graders while Eli met again with the primary teachers and recorded a short video of the school in operation.

Click to see a video of the workshop by Elizabeth:
Workshop with the KG by Eli

Teaching Assistants from UK! by British Council and KPMG

British Council has agreed to send 4 teaching assistants from UK to our school from July to December.

KPMG is sponsoring the cost of this programme! Thank you once again KPMG :-)

The teaching assistants are Olivia Ball, Amy Meadows, Rebecca Neill and Christopher Roberts. 

More about this, once they start in July.

Brief Outline of activities that will be undertaken by the Teaching Assistants:

1.       Contribute towards better English at school - both spoken and written.

2.       Share and explore cultural differences and similarities of UK and India with students.

3.       Explore areas to make learning more interesting at the primary level.

4.       Check and explore improvements on teaching aids used.

5.       Mutual Sharing of teaching strategies.

6.       Share each other's cultural values (manners and etiquettes).

7.       Contribute to teachers', by improving and improvising on current lesson plans.


8.       Contribute to Literary Club's Theater Workshop.