The first day of school is full of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty. But it’s also the start of a new year and a fresh beginning. To ensure that each student in their class feels welcome and safe, teachers must be aware of how they interact with children, both in and out of the classroom. A teacher’s interactions with students can have a lasting positive effect on how their students view themselves and others. 

A teacher’s job is not just to teach the students, but also to give them a sense of self-esteem and confidence, which can be achieved only if they have the right mix of soft skills and hard skills. In addition, teachers can use soft skills to help students develop a positive relationship with learning, improve their behaviour and motivation, increase academic achievement, and enhance their lives.

Below are some of the soft skills that can help teachers make their students feel comfortable:

✏️ Strong Communication Skills

In the age of social media, it is easy to forget that a large part of school involves personal interaction between teachers and students. That’s why effective communication is so vital in the classroom. Effective communication means that teachers can effectively convey their thoughts and ideas while keeping the flow of information open and accessible.

Communicating well with parents, students, and administrators is the foundation of trust in the classroom, which allows for open dialogue about what’s going well and what needs to be improved. Moreover, teachers need to communicate with each other daily to collaborate on lesson plans, discuss student performance, and clear up any conflicts that may arise between students.

Assertive communication can also help teachers give feedback to students in a non-threatening way, allowing them to improve their performance without feeling threatened or belittled. When talking with parents about a child’s progress or difficulties with classroom material, it helps teachers gain their trust if they approach the conversation in a sensitive manner to show they care about the student as an individual while remaining professional.

✏️ Emotional Intelligence

Empathy is one of the most important qualities a teacher can possess because it helps them understand where each child is coming from and what they need from them at that moment. In addition, a student who feels understood will be less likely to react negatively to things, whether they are solving a difficult homework assignment or leading a stressful home life. 

Too often, teachers are so focused on what they want to accomplish with the lesson that they forget to consider the needs of their students. They may assume they know what’s best for everyone in their class and neglect listening to anyone else’s suggestions. Without empathy, it’s easy for teachers to become disconnected from the people they’re teaching, leading to an environment where children feel unwelcome and insecure.

✏️ Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills

A teacher must be able to deal with problems that are unrelated to the classroom but could directly impact learning outcomes. For example, teachers must know how to handle a disruptive student, make an informed decision about curriculum changes, or what to do when students are dealing with social problems at home. 

To solve these types of problems, teachers must organize their thoughts effectively and be able to apply their knowledge effectively. They must be able to assess the situation before them and then ask questions that will lead them to the best course of action for the given situation. Teachers need to be able to recognize which problems require their attention and which ones can wait until later.

Critical thinking is essential because it helps teachers make meaningful lesson plans that engage students and keep them interested in the material being presented. By thinking critically about their lesson plans, teachers can discover what works best for them and their classrooms, allowing them to create lessons that will help their students thrive.

✏️ Show Patience

Patience is an important attribute for teachers to learn because it helps them deal with the personalities and behaviours of problematic students. For example, there may be a student with a daily temper tantrum or another student who will not follow the classroom rules. Patience helps teachers deal with these students’ issues and lets them control their frustration when dealing with them. It also keeps them from appearing rude or disrespectful in the eyes of their students and co-workers.

And since teachers deal with kids, frustrations will likely arise on both sides of the teacher-student relationship. But moving past those frustrations quickly can keep a bad situation from escalating into something much worse.

By learning soft skills, teachers not only assist their students in building essential discipline, guidance and management of the classroom, but they also extend their careers by furthering their knowledge. Square Panda India empowers teachers by helping them develop soft skills and essential 21st century skills to build stronger relationships with students, leading to better learning outcomes. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.com

Our learning ability is becoming increasingly agile as technologies and methodologies improve. This agility gives us the flexibility to customize lessons, assignments and assessments in ways teachers have never before been able to. Adaptive learning is a method of delivering instruction that adapts to each student’s needs. Educators often use it to personalize learning for students and can be used in multiple settings, from K-12 classrooms to corporate training programs.

Adaptive learning is different from other teaching methods because it dynamically changes the content being presented based on how well a student masters it. This allows instructors to deliver content at an appropriate difficulty level for each student, rather than presenting material at one level for all learners.

The process of adaptive learning involves four significant components: analysis and modeling, machine learning and artificial intelligence, content optimization, and personalization. It’s based on the principle that every student has a unique set of needs and abilities, and it aims to help them reach their potential by providing instruction tailored to their specific needs. Research has shown that adaptive learning tools improve outcomes for students of all ages and subject areas. 

Advantages of Adaptive Learning

As the education landscape has changed over the past decade, so have the expectations for innovation in classrooms. Educators now have access to digital tools, from interactive whiteboards and online resources, that allow them to customize lessons and provide individualized instruction. This is especially true for early education programs, where students are often grouped by age with slight variation in ability levels or interests among classmates.

Adaptive learning can be used in any subject or grade level, but it is most commonly applied to reading and math because these subjects are taught through multiple grade levels. Adaptive learning allows teachers to tailor instruction to meet the needs of individual learners by adjusting the speed, difficulty and type of questions presented based on a student’s responses. 

The benefits of adaptive learning go beyond just increasing efficiency in the classroom. It also gives teachers more time to focus on individual students’ needs while improving student engagement through personalized learning experiences. Here are some of the advantages of adaptive learning in school:

👉 Teachers Can Personalize Learning for Each Student

Teachers can use adaptive technology to provide frequent formative assessments throughout a lesson to identify where each student needs more support or challenge. Teachers can then use this information to adjust instruction accordingly during the lesson so that each student is challenged appropriately. This ensures that no student is falling behind in class or missing out on essential concepts because they’re too far ahead of other students in their class.

👉 Students Learn at Their Own Pace

Adaptive learning allows students to move through lessons at their own pace. Students may be able to complete lessons quickly or take more time on certain concepts if they need it. This allows students to learn at an appropriate rate, rather than being required to move through material quickly or slowly based on the class average. These systems are especially effective for students who find that their understanding of the material is different from what was expected—for instance, if they don’t remember certain vocabulary or concepts from class or need extra practice on specific skills. 

👉 Increased Engagement

Students can learn at their own pace and get immediate feedback on their progress, which helps them stay engaged in the lesson. This means that students who struggle with a concept or skill will be less likely to become frustrated and disengage from the class altogether. In addition, because adaptive learning systems are based on data collection and analysis, they can tailor lesson plans differently. Likewise, if a lesson or topic interests a student, the system will expand on it to keep that student engaged.

👉 Improved Test Scores

Students who receive individualized instruction tend to score higher on standardized tests than students who receive traditional instruction. This is because they can focus on topics they need more help with instead of being forced to move through the material at a specific pace regardless of their ability level.

👉 Better Understanding of Concepts and Skills

When students receive individualized instruction, they can take time with each concept or skill until they fully understand it before moving on to the next. This means they have a better grasp of the material and can apply it more effectively in future situations outside school. There are many types of adaptive learning software programs available today. Many of these programs allow teachers to create content, assign quizzes and exams, and track student progress through the coursework. Some programs even offer analytics reports that show educators how well their students are doing in each subject area to make adjustments if needed.

Adaptive learning is not a one-size-fits-all solution. While it can support some forms of learning, it is vital that teachers avoid quickly jumping on the bandwagon without appropriately considering the pedagogical or strategic benefits and repercussions.

Square Panda’s comprehensive programs use an adaptive learning model to provide personalized learning experiences. Our programs incorporate multisensory elements, storytelling, music, and games to encourage lively, interactive lessons and develop solid foundations for lifelong learning. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Education plays a vital role in shaping the future of our country, as it helps develop a young student’s personality in a holistic manner and even significantly influences their career. 

With the development of learning technologies and the advent of e-learning, today’s teachers are responsible for not just presenting classroom content but also adapting curriculum, providing feedback, and guiding real-time discussions in their classrooms. Teachers must produce much more material than they used to, while also keeping in touch with individual students who learn outside the classroom or through remote collaboration. This is where teacher training comes in. It provides opportunities to learn new skills and improve upon existing ones through professional development activities that are aligned with the school’s instructional goals.

If a teacher feels prepared for the challenge at hand and has the resources necessary to do their job well, they are more likely to perform at their peak capacity and positively impact student performance. As such, it’s essential that teachers receive effective training during their early years in the classroom. 

Teachers who are not fully prepared to meet the needs of their students may fail to deliver quality instruction or provide support for struggling students. For example, a teacher who lacks content knowledge or teaching skills may struggle to engage all students in lessons or provide appropriate support for struggling learners. As a result, these students may lack progress towards achieving their academic goals and disengage from school altogether. In addition, schools with poorly trained teachers tend to have higher dropout rates, lower student achievement levels, and behavioural problems among students.

Why is Training Important for Teachers?

Teachers are the most valuable resources within a school system. They are responsible for developing young minds and helping children achieve their full academic potential. Teachers must be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach effectively. Teachers’ responsibilities extend beyond the classroom, too. They must counsel troubled students on professional and personal matters, enforce school rules, discipline unruly students, and participate in school events with pupils. Many issues affect children’s learning habits, such as poverty, abuse, or neglect. They should also understand how these issues can affect a child’s behaviour in school. Teachers should learn how to identify signs of emotional problems in students and how best to address them.

Teachers also play an essential role in helping students develop the social skills needed to succeed. Students learn to interact with others and share ideas and opinions with other people. Teachers must nurture these skills in their students to become good citizens who contribute to society.

To teach effectively, teachers must have a thorough knowledge of the subject they are teaching and good communication skills. They should be able to explain complex concepts clearly so that their students understand them easily. In addition, teachers must also have excellent interpersonal skills to motivate students who may find certain subjects difficult or tedious. Training teachers is an excellent way to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and improves their effectiveness to give every child a better chance at a good education. 

Embracing Technological Advancements

The increasing demand for online courses combined with the technologically-savvy student population means that teachers must be adequately trained to use new technology in the classroom. From interacting with technology and its nuances to the criticality of a positive mindset, there is no denying the importance of teacher training in understanding online resources and methodologies that help them create a more compelling online teaching environment.

With more complicated subjects and demanding students, teachers need to be more knowledgeable about their subjects than ever. Teachers in all subjects need to reevaluate their teaching practices and skills initially to respond to changes within the classroom and new teaching methods. This means that they need Continuous Professional Development throughout their careers and during their training.

Although an online program may seem like an easy way out of a physical classroom setting, it requires just as much dedication as attending classes at a brick-and-mortar college campus does — if not more! It takes hard work and determination, just like any other type of education does! Teachers trained in an online environment tend to be more confident and knowledgeable about using technology in their teaching. In addition, they can create appropriate learning environments for students who may require extra support because of the physical or emotional challenges they face.

By working together and empowering our teachers, we can help spread the joy of the pursuit of knowledge to classrooms everywhere. 

Square Panda India’s teacher training programs enable educators to teach students effectively and engage them on a personal level. We empower them to transform their classrooms into a space where students learn through personalization and collaboration. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

The parent-teacher relationship is one of the essential factors in a child’s education. Good relationships between teachers and parents can help create an outstanding learning environment that allows children to overcome the difficulties they face academically. When parents and teachers work together, they can build upon the home-school relationships that are already in place, creating an environment where kids can excel.

When parents feel connected to the school, they are more likely to receive information about their child’s academic performance and behavior from teachers and administrators. This helps families understand how to be effective partners in their child’s education by knowing what resources are available when needed and how to support their child at home. A recent study demonstrated that a robust parent-teacher relationship during the pandemic lockdown helped students academically and emotionally.

Role of Parents and Teachers in Child’s Education

👩‍🏫 Teachers

Teachers are often the first contact point for parents with their child’s education. A great parent-teacher relationship is based on mutual respect, understanding, trust, and a shared vision for the child. To build this relationship, follow these tips:

• Create a welcoming environment: Make sure parents know what’s expected at drop-off and pick-up times. Post directions for parking, early dismissal, and late arrivals in your classroom. Provide directions to get to the school, as well as information about upcoming events and activities.

• Be friendly and approachable: Parents may not have time to visit with you during the day, but they still want to feel like they can come to you if they have questions or concerns about their child’s progress or behavior in class. Be available after school so that parents can easily reach you by phone or email when necessary. Patient is essential when dealing with parents reluctant to be involved in their child’s education, since not all parents feel comfortable communicating with educators. Some may simply lack the confidence to speak up during meetings or conferences. Initiate conversations with such parents and let them speak their minds. 

• Be honest: Don’t hide information from parents about their child’s progress or behavior. If you’re concerned about something, talk to the parents about it as soon as possible so they can help their child improve. Parents should also feel free to share any concerns with you, so they can work together to solve problems.

• Listen carefully and respond thoughtfully: Parents may have questions about their child’s behavior and performance at home, so listen carefully and try to address their concerns without making judgments or assumptions about what might be going on at home that could be impacting schoolwork or behavior issues in class. Don’t get defensive or blame parents for their children’s problems. Instead, offer suggestions for ways they might support their child’s learning at home that will help improve performance in class.

• Don’t make promises you can’t keep: Teachers shouldn’t promise results from anything beyond what they’re responsible for — if you’re a reading teacher, don’t promise improvements in math skills because there is little you can do to influence those skills outside your classroom directly. However, if you see the potential for growth in those areas, encourage parents to seek assistance elsewhere.

👪 Parents

The benefits of having a solid parent-teacher relationship extend far beyond the classroom. Parents are a child’s first teacher and are often the most influential in shaping their child’s behavior. Parents can be a valuable resource for teachers, helping them understand students’ needs and challenges outside school. In turn, teachers can help parents become better advocates for their children at home and in the community. The following tips can help you build a positive relationship with your child’s teacher:

• Get to know your child’s teacher: After the first few days of school, ask your child what they like and don’t like about their teacher. This will give you insight into how to approach them when necessary and allow you to get acquainted with your child’s class teacher. 

• Be supportive of your child’s teacher: It can be challenging for teachers when students misbehave in class or don’t pay attention during instruction time. But instead of making excuses for them or complaining about the situation, try being supportive by offering encouragement. You can do this by saying, “I know he’s trying his best” or “I’m sure she’ll figure out how to help him.” Your positive attitude will go a long way!

• Parent-teacher communication: It can be intimidating to talk to your child’s teacher, especially if you’re unsure what to say or feel you’re wasting their time. But it’s vital that you communicate regularly with your child’s teacher, so they know who they will be teaching and how best to reach them. If there are any issues or concerns about behavior or progress in school, tell the teacher, so they can address them early on before they become more significant problems down the road.

• Avoid missing PTA meetings: Be involved in school activities like open houses and parent-teacher meetings. This helps build relationships with other parents and shows them that you’re serious about being involved in the education process at all levels. Parent-teacher conferences are a great way to get a feel for how your child interacts with their teacher. At these meetings, you can ask questions about your child’s progress, address concerns and learn more about what your child learns in class daily.

• Be respectful: It can be challenging for teachers when parents disrespect them or believe they’re responsible for their children’s behavior at school — but it happens more than we realize! If you don’t agree with something a teacher says, respectfully explain why and try to devise a solution that works best for everyone involved — including yourself!

Square Panda’s learning interventions seek to engage every stakeholder of the learning ecosystem in a comprehensive manner, and help them realize their learning objectives. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in  

In today’s world, we live in a highly competitive environment. Children are surrounded by different media, which may lead them to develop materialistic values often associated with the pursuit of money, fame and power. This can be detrimental to their development. To mitigate this, parents usually work hard to make their children feel safe and secure by creating a happy, healthy, and vibrant environment at home. But there is something that parents commonly miss: instilling community values in children. 

Community values refer to a set of beliefs and behaviours that make society a better place for everyone. These include kindness, tolerance and empathy towards others, respect for human rights, equality of opportunity, peace, freedom, justice, truthfulness, honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness, integrity, and more. 

The importance of building community values in children cannot be stressed enough. Connecting with the community helps children develop empathy and compassion towards others. They learn that everyone has different needs, abilities, skills, and experiences, and they should respect others and appreciate their differences. This helps them understand what it means to be part of a community, where each person contributes something unique to society.

Why is Community Involvement Important?

When children are involved in their community, they develop a sense of belonging and responsibility. They understand that their actions have consequences on other people’s lives as well as their own lives. They start learning to take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others or other circumstances for anything that goes wrong in their lives or the world around them. 

Children get an opportunity to learn new things about different cultures, traditions and beliefs by interacting with different people from different backgrounds. This helps them become more tolerant towards others and allows them to appreciate the values unique to each country or region. Children also learn how important it is to be part of a team or group. They learn cooperation, sharing and respect for one another’s ideas and opinions. They also learn how to compromise, negotiate and resolve conflicts peacefully without resorting to violence or aggression.

If you want your child to grow up into a well-rounded individual with good values and character who knows how to work with others, you must involve them in your community from an early age.

Community is not just about living in a house next door to someone on the same street or in the same building. It’s about interacting with people from different walks of life and learning from each other. Parents must start engaging their children at home by talking to them about the surrounding community — its people, culture, and traditions.

Family and Community Involvement in Early Childhood Education

As a parent, you are the first and most important influence on your child’s life. Your actions, words, and example all contribute to how your child grows into adulthood. Instilling community values into your children will help them feel confident in social situations and allow them to know what they should or shouldn’t do in certain situations. For example: if a child sees his father stealing from another person, he may think it’s okay because his father does it too, and he doesn’t know any better.

Parents must model good behaviour and encourage their kids to do the same. Here are some ways that parents can help their children learn about community values:

👉 Encourage them to volunteer at their local library or animal shelter. Volunteering is one of the best ways to teach children about giving back to their community. It also allows them to meet new people while helping others who might not have as much as they do.

👉 Talk about the news with your kids. It’s essential to keep current on what’s happening in the world and how it affects our community. When you read a story, discuss it with your children and ask them what they think. This is an opportunity to discuss how we should treat other people and why certain things are wrong. If you read an article that says someone did something terrible, talk about how they should have handled it differently or why they shouldn’t have done it in the first place.

👉 Use language that reflects the values of our community. When you’re talking with your children, use words like “kindness” and “respect” instead of “good” or “bad.” If someone does something good, tell your child why it was good — not just because it was nice or helpful, but because it reflected kindness and respect for others.

👉 Talk about recycling and why it’s essential to keep our planet clean. You could also talk about ways to recycle at home — for example, by separating your recyclables from your trash or composting food scraps.

👉 Help your child understand their own feelings and emotions better to control their actions and reactions in any given situation. For example, if your child is angry, help them learn how to express it appropriately instead of shouting or hitting others when mad (like other children might do).

👉 Let your child know what is expected of them. This includes letting your child know what behaviour is acceptable and what behaviour is not acceptable. Also, let your child know that they should do what is right even if no one else is watching or if no one else knows about it.

Benefits of Community Involvement in Schools

Community involvement in schools creates a sense of ownership for students, parents, and teachers. When people feel like they have a stake in something, they tend to care more about it. This is especially true in schools where students are often very attached to a particular school or principal because they may have gone there since kindergarten or had an influential teacher who greatly impacted their lives.

Many students feel disconnected from their school because they don’t see how they fit into its plans or goals. When teachers involve the community in their lessons, however, students can see exactly how they fit into the school’s mission of education and may feel more motivated. This sense of connection between students and school helps create a sense of belonging that makes students feel more invested in their education and learning environment.

Research has shown that when students are involved in activities outside of school, they are more likely to be engaged in the classroom. They have more resources for learning and can bring their knowledge and experience into the classroom. For example, students who participate in service-learning often report that they are better able to understand issues related to sustainability because they have seen first-hand how their actions affect the environment. 

Service-learning also helps communities by providing students with opportunities to give back and make a difference. In addition, student groups working outside of school may develop lasting friendships that make it easier for them to work together as a team both inside and outside of school. Exposure to other cultures through community involvement can also help students become more culturally aware and sensitive, promoting understanding among people from different backgrounds.

It provides opportunities for young people to practice leadership skills. As part of community involvement programs, students may be asked to take on leadership roles, such as helping plan events or serving as student representatives on committees that oversee school activities. These roles give young people valuable experience in decision-making and teamwork before they graduate high school and enter the workforce or college.

Community involvement gives students insight into careers they might not have considered before. For example, suppose your school has an environmental club that works with local groups to restore wetlands or clean up beaches. In that case, some students may realize that ecological science is an exciting career path for them! The possibilities are endless, and only limited by your imagination. So put on your thinking cap, and start coming up with new ideas to involve students in the community.

Square Panda India’s programs are created to have a holistic impact, including developing the community and engaging all stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and children, in its upliftment. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in.

Any parent of young children or teacher of grade school students can tell you how challenging it is to get kids out of bed in the morning. In most countries, school starts as early as 7:00 a.m. This means that kids are expected to get up between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. before their day begins. The alarm goes off, and it’s all they can do to force themselves out of the comfort of their bed. Children often react with anger and annoyance when pitted against an early start to the day.

Additionally, students in India typically attend private tuition after school to prepare for exams, as good grades are perceived as a crucial factor for gaining entry into good universities and obtaining employment in the future. This leaves less time for children to have a social life. The problem with this schedule is that it sets up a vicious cycle for children. They stay up late to complete homework and don’t get enough sleep, making them stressed and irritable, which hinders their ability to perform well at school. Once entrenched in that cycle, it’s hard to break free. One parent complained that her son’s sleep cycle has been disrupted due to the fact that he stays up late watching IPL.

🛌 Sleep Crisis

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that children under 13 get 9-11 hours of sleep each night, and teens should get 8-10 hours each night. However, because of the changes in their circadian rhythms during puberty, it can be difficult for teens and tweens to fall asleep before 11:00 p.m. The problem with early school hours is that children are still developing their circadian rhythms — the internal clock that tells us when we should sleep and when we should be awake. It takes time for these rhythms to stabilize, so it stands to reason that school should wait until later in the morning, when children are most receptive to learning inputs. 

Children’s sleep schedules are still developing during middle and high school, making it difficult to wake up early enough to get ready for school and stay alert throughout the day. Furthermore, it’s not just adolescents who are affected by early school start times — parents have their fair share of challenges too. When kids have to wake up before 6:00 a.m., parents are up with them — which can lead to family stress if parents aren’t willing or able to adapt their schedules accordingly.

Research has shown that delaying the start of school by an hour or two improves a student’s sleep duration and daytime fatigue. However, changing school start times isn’t easy. It requires teachers and administrators to rethink schedules, bus routes, and after-school sports programs, as well as having parents adjust their expectations about when their kids will be home from school each day. Across the world, some governments, such as the state of California, have realized that children learn better when they are well rested, and therefore mandated school start later.

Here are three reasons why school shouldn’t start early:

✍️ Students Aren’t Ready To Learn When They’re Tired

When you think about it, it’s no surprise that early starts make students less productive. After all, if you had to wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning for school, your brain would be exhausted by 10:00 a.m.! The body naturally cycles between periods of activity and rest throughout the day. And when we disrupt this natural rhythm by waking up early and staying up late — which happens when kids have early starts — our mind doesn’t work as effectively as it should, especially at times when you’re supposed to be sleeping. This can have serious consequences on learning ability.

✍️ Students Fail to Participate in Extracurriculars

An early start to school makes it harder for students who participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports teams or other after-school activities such as music or cricket practice, where they don’t get home until 5:00 p.m. or later. If schools started later, these students could participate in these activities without worrying about missing their homework assignments due to getting home late from practice or games.

✍️ Sleep Deprivation

Being chronically sleep-deprived can negatively impact a child’s daily functioning, especially in a classroom. Sleep-deprived students have more trouble paying attention, completing tasks, following directions, and remembering what they learned. Sleep deprivation can also cause moodiness, irritability, tantrums, and behavioural problems in children. Being tired can make it harder for kids to control their emotions and behaviour when upset or frustrated. Moreover, post-Covid, the transition back to school is already a challenge for children, and with school starting earlier, it makes things even more difficult for students to adjust to.

Decision-makers must consider better scheduling options for their students, especially in higher grades. There are many issues with the status quo, and while implementing a better schedule won’t fix all of them, it is a dream worth dreaming.

Square Panda India’s comprehensive programs take care of a child’s learning needs throughout their educational journey, and uses scientific research and rigour to deliver optimal learning experiences for multiple education stakeholders, in myriad scenarios. 

To know more, visit: https://ecce.squarepanda.in/ 

Homeschooling, often seen as a non-traditional method of learning, has gained much popularity in recent times. The prevailing lockdown and shuttering of schools had made more people impart education to their kids at home, causing a rethink of the traditional ways we look at education. 

Although homeschooling is not as widespread as traditional schooling in India, a growing number of parents prefer homeschooling to regular schooling. There are some success stories to back it up. Sahal Kaushik, a homeschooled 14-year-old from India, became the youngest student to pass India’s highly competitive Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in 2010. He ranked 33^rd in India and first in Delhi. Another example would be a Mumbai-born product of homeschooling, Malvika Joshi, who was accepted to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2016 when she was only 17. 

Here’s why homeschooling is a viable learning option.

✏️ Flexibility

Homeschooling allows children to learn at their own pace and speed, exploring different learning methods until they find what works best for them. This means that if they do not understand something straight away, they can go back and try again until they do understand it. Each student learns differently, so it makes sense to allow them to learn however best suits them through auditory, visual, tactile or kinesthetic learning styles.

Some students thrive when given structure, but others do better when allowed some leeway in their day-to-day activities, and homeschooling can be adapted to suit all these peculiarities. For instance, homework assignments and tests may not be necessary if your child learns better by doing rather than reading or hearing lectures at home.

✏️ Greater Parent-Child Interaction

Homeschooling allows parents to spend more time with their children and give them more attention. This means that parents can answer questions and help their children understand concepts at a much younger age than they would be able to if they were in public school. In addition, because the family does homeschooling, it tends to be much more enjoyable for all involved. The child does not have to wait for an answer from a teacher or wait for someone else to finish the lesson before they can move on. Instead, parents can adapt what they teach according to their child’s level.

✏️ Lower Stress Levels

Many children dislike having too many expectations placed on them at school, and this stress often prevents them from performing well academically. By giving your child freedom in their education, you allow them to learn without pressure — which is sometimes the only way for them to succeed! You may also find that other students who have been pushed too hard may resent your child’s lack of pressure and try bullying them because of it. Homeschooling avoids this altogether and lets your child thrive better. 

While there are a few avid supporters of this up-and-coming concept, most people are still sceptical about it. If homeschooling were recognized as a mainstream option, it might not be able to be widely used in India, especially among children that populate rural areas. Without any accountability for the education of these children, their education will be hampered.

But every cloud has a dark lining too, and so too does homeschooling have its downsides.

📚 Inconsistency

One disadvantage is that homeschooling can be inconsistent in its approach, as there can be no set lesson plans or schedules. This can mean that your child may miss out on some valuable parts of their education if they only get one lesson a day, whereas a child who goes to a school will get the same lesson every day until they graduate high school.

📚 Lack of Socialization

Homeschooled children aren’t exposed to the same level of social interaction as their peers who attend school. They don’t have after-school activities or sports teams, for example, and if they don’t have siblings, they may not have another child to play with regularly. Some homeschooled kids join clubs or participate in community programs, so that they can interact with others their age — but it’s not the same as having someone in class every day throughout the school year.

📚 Life Balance

If you’re planning on homeschooling full-time, there will be no breaks from work or school. You will need to ensure that your home is equipped with everything needed for school, including desks and bookshelves. If you’re planning on homeschooling part-time, finding time in your schedule for the extra work involved in teaching your children at home can be challenging.

📚 Lack of Quality Education

You have no control over the quality of teaching your child receives. There is no official regulation of home educators in India, so there is no way of ensuring that they meet any minimum standards. Some parents may not be qualified to teach their own children. You will not know if you are getting good or bad instruction until your child’s grades start coming in, but it could be too late to do anything about it by then.

In a country like India, where there are so many challenges in access to education, a school provides an opportunity for an education that might not be available otherwise. This can be especially important for girls and children from underprivileged backgrounds.

📚 Lack of Guidance

Home educators may have difficulty finding support when they feel overwhelmed by the task of teaching their children. If home educators are not teaching in a formal setting, they do not have access to resources such as lesson plans and other materials that could help them improve their teaching skills. This can make it difficult for home educators to evaluate their performance and develop effective strategies for improving it over time.

The Bottom Line

Despite the potential drawbacks, homeschooling is a growing form of education among parents. Families can educate their children at home using any type of curriculum that best suits their child’s education needs, allowing them to be challenged and have an individualized learning experience. Whether a family decides to homeschool or not, parents need to understand that the decision to homeschool their child should be carefully considered.

Square Panda’s comprehensive programs aim to nurture the entire education ecosystem, from teachers to students, parents, administrators, and more, by empowering them with the tools and knowledge they need to realise their learning objectives.

To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

A good education begins with holistic development. All too often, parents’ focus tends to be on academics and not on activities that promote physical, emotional, social, and intellectual well-being. However, field trips are an essential part of a child’s education. They give insights and opportunities that are otherwise non-existent within the four walls of the school premises. Field trips act as catalysts for learning, as they encourage children to acquire knowledge through their senses, practice skills and apply information that has been absorbed, thus leading to better retention in their long-term memory.

Field trips can be arranged for any grade level, but are often done at the elementary and middle school levels. They are a great way to get students excited about learning. 

Here’s why:

Hands-on Experience

Field trips allow students to experience hands-on learning opportunities. Classrooms are often not equipped with all the tools necessary for students to thoroughly understand what they are learning about in class. However, during a field trip, they can experience real-life situations that enable them to apply what they have learned in class. 

By going to different places and experiencing different things, students can better understand concepts such as art, history, or geography that would otherwise seem abstract if only explained through classroom lectures. Field trips also stimulate students to use their imagination and make connections between what they’ve learned in class and real-world applications. For example, if your child’s class were studying ancient civilizations during one semester and then took a trip to a museum where they saw artifacts from those cultures, it would reinforce what they were learning in class. The same applies if your child’s class studied ocean life during an afternoon at the aquarium, or had a discussion about environmental issues after visiting an environmentally friendly farm.

Moreover, field trips also help students learn about the world by exposing them to new environments, cultures, and people. This can help foster an appreciation for diversity in our society. 

Better Teacher-Student Relationship

Field trips are also an excellent way for teachers to get out of their classrooms and into the community where they work with students every day. This allows them to interact with other teachers outside of school hours – which can lead to stronger relationships within their school community, as well as building new ones with other local businesses and organizations.

Field trips help teachers connect with their students on an emotional level. When teachers take their classes on field trips, they get to know their students in ways that they don’t usually do when simply teaching them in a classroom setting. Teachers can use this connection to motivate their students to learn more about whatever topic they’re studying at the time of the trip.

Foster Collaboration

Students learn more when they work together. Field trips provide an opportunity for students to collaborate on a project or task, which fosters their ability to work together. This can be challenging for some students, especially those new to the school or those who have difficulty communicating with their classmates.

Field trips encourage teamwork and collaboration between students. When students are faced with new challenges, such as finding their way around a strange place, they have to work together to overcome them. This is a valuable skill for students to develop, as it will help them succeed later in life.

Field trips also allow teachers to see how their students interact with others in different settings and environments than they’re used to at school. This gives teachers insight into how their students will behave at other events like sporting events or concerts — valuable information that can help them better plan future activities for the class!

Develop Life-Skills

Students build self-confidence by exploring new places and situations on their own. Most children are not used to being away from home or school for long periods, so taking them on a field trip can be a great way to boost their confidence levels and provide them with an exciting experience they will never forget!

Field trips enable students to use their problem-solving skills in real-life situations where there isn’t always a correct answer or an immediate solution available at hand. Students may need to think outside the box to complete their tasks successfully during these types of activities.

Improve Learning Outcomes

Field trips involve students in their own education. By taking students out into the world around them, teachers allow them to become active participants in their own learning instead of passive recipients of information fed to them by their instructors. A field trip lets students ask questions about what they see and interact with other people who may live in different places around the world — experiences that can significantly enrich their perspective on life and increase their knowledge base.

Field trips also give students a chance to practice skills they’ve learned in class, such as reading maps, following directions and interacting with strangers. This helps solidify what they’ve learned in class, making it easier to remember when they’re back at school.

At Square Panda, we believe holistic development is the best way to prepare the students of today for the challenges of tomorrow. To know more about our work, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Social media has changed the way we communicate with one another, and as a result, the way we learn. Although social media has impacted our world in many ways, its impact on education deserves special attention.

In today’s world, students are exposed to more information than ever before. Students can access articles, videos, and photos from all over the world at the touch of a button. From online classes to the ability to communicate with teachers and peers, social media is changing the way children learn. It has made it easier for students to interact with their teachers and peers. Through social media students can ask questions and stay up-to-date on coursework. Students can also use social media as a tool to find information when they have a doubt in class. They can also understand concepts that were not covered in class.

Social media has had a profound impact on education. Here are some of its effects.

For Students

Social media platforms like Facebook & Twitter allow users to interact with others in their network through comments or posts. This helps them expand their knowledge base by exposing them to new ideas or perspectives on topics they might not otherwise encounter in their day-to-day lives. 

For example: A student interested in politics may start following political figures on Twitter. This way they will see a variety of opinions held by different people within their social circle. This is important, as it helps students understand that there are many ways of thinking. While some ideas may be more popular than others, they are all valid in their own right.

Social media has also become an important tool for student learning. It gives kids access to information they may not find anywhere else. Examples of this are peer-reviewed articles from experts in their field of interest, podcasts from experts in other areas, videos from around the globe that showcase different countries’ cultures, and more.  A study reveals that TikTok has become a popular medium for learning pronunciation among students. 

Another benefit of social media platforms is that they allow students to connect with others who share the same interests and hobbies as them. For example: A student who loves photography would follow a photographer on Instagram who has similar interests. This allows students to gain inspiration from other artists, which helps them develop their own style of art and become more confident about what they post online.

In addition to allowing students to access high-quality education, which they might not have been able to do due to physical distance or financial constraints, it also allows them to enter into fields where there is high demand, but low supply. 

While social media can be a great educational resource, it is essential to keep learners safe online. Check out this webinar addressing the cybersecurity of students.

For Educators

Additionally, social media is changing how educators teach. Teachers are using social media as a tool for creating lesson plans and communicating with students outside of school hours. According to a recent study, teachers and professors are finding new, innovative ways to use social media to engage students and further their educational development.

Teachers are using social media to connect with other educators and share ideas about teaching methodologies or best practices. They can also use these platforms to see what their peers are doing in other schools across the country or around the world. It can help them improve their own teaching style — especially when it comes to incorporating new technologies into their classrooms.

In fact, many schools now have policies in place that encourage teachers to use social media as part of their curriculum. Schools want teachers to utilize the wealth of resources available on platforms like YouTube and Twitter. They use it as a way to communicate with families about school events and policies.

Another benefit of social media is its ability to help teachers create engaging lessons that engage students holistically through interactive activities like quizzes or polls, which can be accessed via mobile devices. Teachers can also use social media tools like Twitter or Instagram to share interesting articles or videos with their classes so that everyone stays up-to-date on current events.

Teachers are using social media to reach out to parents, who are more involved in their children’s education than ever before. Parents are also able to use this technology to ask questions about schoolwork or assignments and receive answers from their child’s teacher immediately.

In these ways, social media helps reshape our understanding of the world around us. It constantly reveals new ways in which to further education for all.

Square Panda’s programs and services equips children with the knowledge and skills needed for successful classroom learning, and consequently empowers them to embrace lifelong learning in dynamic environments. Moreover, we empower teachers to contribute significantly in this regard, augmenting the student learning experience. 

To know more about our varied methodologies and pedagogical approaches, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Teachers have always been at the forefront of the education system, greatly responsible for shaping young minds and preparing them for life. With the internet and other technologies taking over, the education system is changing considerably. Online classes and virtual schools have replaced some of the old classroom setups. Mobile devices and electronic documents have elevated note-taking to a whole new level. Educators now have to fully embrace the technology revolution to keep their students ahead of the curve. 

Teachers who don’t engage in continuous professional development can fall behind their peers and feel less confident in their ability to provide a great learning environment for students. Continuous Professional Development helps teachers keep up with the latest developments in their field. It means they can provide more engaging lessons relevant to today’s students. It also allows them to develop new skills and techniques that will help them become better educators overall.

The most common type of professional development is on-the-job training. In this, the teachers learn how to use new technology or techniques while working with students. This type of training often occurs through workshops or classes offered by professional organizations.

Other types of Professional Development include:

• Mentor programs in which experienced educators work one-on-one with new teachers to give them advice and guidance about how to improve their teaching skills
• Summer institutes that provide intensive courses over several weeks
• Internships where new teachers work under the supervision of an experienced mentor who guides them through the process of teaching a class for a set period.
• On-site programs where teams from different schools come together for workshops or seminars focused on specific topics, like classroom management or instructional strategies.

Instead of simply observing, teachers committed to continuing their growth and development engage in a myriad of professional opportunities. They seek conferences, workshops, online training classes, or e-learning courses to expand their knowledge and skills.

With Continuous Professional Development, Teachers Can:

✏️ Learn New Skills

Continuous Professional Development allows teachers to learn new skills and techniques. Teachers who take part in professional development courses often learn how to improve their teaching methods and techniques. They also comprehend how to create lesson plans and other resources that can be used in the classroom. This helps them improve their ability as educators and helps them better teach their students. 

Besides, teachers also experience more confidence in their teaching abilities because they know they are up to date with the latest developments in education. This allows them to feel more comfortable when teaching a new topic or concept, making it easier for them to engage with their students and explain concepts clearly.

✏️ Better Understand Student Needs

Effective professional development programs help teachers identify learning objectives for each lesson before they begin teaching it. They also allow teachers to reflect on how well-designed lessons met their objectives, including how much time was spent on each objective, what worked well, why specific techniques were successful or unsuccessful, etc. The goal is to make every lesson as effective as possible by identifying what works best with different groups of students at different times in their education.

✏️ Increase Knowledge about Effective Practices

There are so many new initiatives being implemented in schools every year, along with the ongoing challenges faced by all educators. With Continuous Professional Development opportunities, teachers get access to information about these initiatives and how they might impact their classroom practice. 

Additionally, teachers have better relationships with their colleagues and other professionals because they understand how other people work and think about specific topics or issues related to teaching. This can help them collaborate with other professionals on projects at school or within the local community, which means there is more opportunity for students to benefit from their expertise too!

Professional Development Opportunities

Continuous Professional Development allows teachers to find ways to improve their teaching style and increase their knowledge base. This means there is always an opportunity for teachers who want to learn more about teaching or expand their knowledge base on a particular subject matter or topic area, whether it’s math or science or another subject area applicable in the classroom setting. Continuous Professional Development allows teachers to find opportunities that they may not have otherwise found if they weren’t participating in these ongoing efforts.

Teachers are responsible for the well-being of their students and for ensuring that they succeed in their studies. With professional development, teachers can learn new ways to engage with students so they don’t feel like they’re just lecturing at the front of the room. They can also learn how to work with children from different backgrounds than them—for example, if they’re teaching English as a second language, which is often required in most schools across rural India today.

Through these mechanisms, and more, Continuous Professional Development helps teachers stay at the forefront of an ever-evolving education landscape, and help young learners realize their full potential. 

Anganwadi workers are women who work in government-run childcare centers across India. A large number of these women come from low-income households themselves, and therefore face financial constraints when it comes to completing their education or acquiring new skills that could help them improve their quality of life. Square Panda India’s Anganwadi Workers Upskilling Program aims to empower Anganwadi workers, enabling teachers to upskill their talent and knowledge to help them deliver better services, while our Educator Empowerment Programs equip teachers with the skills and knowledge required to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. 

To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Here are some useful videos to explore the topic further:
Prerequisites of a Preschool Teacher
Supporting Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development with Edtech
How To Support Educators In Their Changing Roles

You may also be interested in reading some of our blogs on teacher training:
3 Things Teachers can do to Improve Teaching Kindergarten Online
4 Ways Formative Assessments Can Enhance Your Teaching
Creating Self-Paced Classrooms through Curriculum Design

We hope that you enjoyed our post on National Curriculum Framework. If you have any tips or suggestions please leave a comment below. If you would like to collaborate with us, you can drop us a mail on marketing@squarepanda.in.

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