Praise

While talking to Varsha's teacher about her interaction with other children, the teacher said something very interesting. She said that Varsha had shown the quality of being supportive. In her observation she had seen Varsha giving due credit to other children when they helped her out. It was a pleasant surprise and also a relief that this teacher was able to go beyond the superlatives (good, excellent etc)and also make such subtle observations.
Making the child aware when he/she uses a certain quality can help to build the child's self esteem.

Confused..

The teacher says that the child has to learn the multiplication tables from 1 to 10. She has to be thorough, before she goes to the third standard or she will find it tough. Varsha knows how to multiply, she knows the tables.. she is able to work through the multiplication by using various options. I am confused :-( why does the child have to know it by rote. Will not the child learn in time as she keeps visiting the same concept in various ways.

What scares me is the hurry we are in for children to learn. Problems arise when we are not giving them the space, time and enough opportunities to learn.

Chidambara Ashram, Tumkur Gubbi

We visited the Chidambara Ashram in Gubbi, just situated near the railway station. A home for more than sixty children learning vedas and also getting the normal education free of cost.

Why 'Hindi' ?

Varsha was having her tests and when the turn to study hindi came ... she did not want to study. Our conversation went something like this:
V : Why should I study hindi?
Me: I don't know ..you tell me
V: I am going to be a dancer, what use is hindi to me.
Me: hmm..
V : Oh! When I am teaching children if they know only hindi then what will I do?
Me: Silence.
V : I will study hindi so I can talk to the children easily.

She pulled her books and we went about our work. Once again a learning for me: her goal.. her way !

One thought: if she had decided that hindi was not useful what would I have done? Would I have left it at that or would I have found a way to get to my objective. Well! there is always a next time :-)

Letting go

Varun has his tests going on. Yesterday after coming back from school he tells me that he has an English test today. Till 7pm I did not see him with any of his books. He followed his routine of eating, watching tv, going down to play.
Even after all this he was reading other things but not English. I just had to understand this. I reminded him that he had a test and his reply was,' I know, I finished studying at school in the free period'. Well! now what?

I checked my thoughts and it struck to me that I think it is better to revise if you get time(my belief).I decided to let go of this belief and keep quiet.

In the morning he gets up and says,' I will freshen up fast and then revise for the test'. He got ready, had time to revise all on his own. (his motivation.. his ways)

My beliefs letting go.....