Report
(Project
RightStart- Training Programme- Sept 27th,2003 to Oct 3rd,
2003)
The original
proposal
The teacher training programme was
originally planned for the month of May 2003, but did not happen then as
we could not get things moving fast enough to get the participant teams
moving. We had also planned a ten day programme, so that we could address
the balwadi teachers and primary class teachers separately.
A sum of Rs47000, $1000 was approved
for the project.
Asha Chennai however did not lose
sight of the need for the training programme. So at the earliest real
opportunity the programme was organized, during the common I Term holidays
for the primary schools in Tamilnadu.
The participants
were from the following schools and in the numbers given below-
Serial No.
|
Name of the school
|
No of participant teachers
|
Name of the Project
|
District
|
Remarks
|
1
|
Rishiyur Govt. primary school
(Classes I to 6)
|
6
|
Dream
|
Mannargudi district
Southweast Tamilnadu
|
Five Asha teachers + Headmaster
(Govt. employee)
|
2
|
Rishiyur Govt.
Balwadi
|
1
|
Dream
|
Mannargudi district
Southweast Tamilnadu
|
Govt. employed teacher
|
3
|
Venbakam Govt. Primary School
(Classes I to 5)
|
1
|
Tea Trust
|
Chingelpet district
|
Asha teacher
|
4
|
Kolathancheri Govt. Primary
School(Classes I to 5)
|
1
|
Tea Trust
|
Chingelpet district
|
Asha teacher
|
5
|
Venkatapuram Govt. Primary
school (Classes I to 5)
|
1
|
Tea Trust
|
Chingelpet district
|
Tea Trust Teacher
|
6
|
Little Flower Primry School
(Classes I 2,3)
|
2
|
Tea Trust
|
Chingelpet district
|
Tea Trust Teacher
|
7
|
Venbakam Govt. primary school
(Classes I to5)
|
1
|
Village Mission (Project
submitted to Asha Chennai)
|
Kancheepuaram District
|
Village Mission Teacher
|
8
|
Urur Balwadi
|
1
|
Pride
|
Chennai -90
|
Govt. teacher
|
9
|
Lazarus Convent (Classes I to 8)
( contact through Adyar Times)
|
4
|
Govt. aided middle school
|
Mandaveli
Chennai- 4
|
Govt. aided school teachers
|
10
|
Olcott Memorial High School.
(Classes 1 to 10)
|
4
new
teachers
|
Bridge
|
Chennai-90
|
Private school for the under
priviledged
|
11
|
Seva Chakra
Orphanage Primary School
|
3
|
Seva Chakra
|
Choolaimedu
Chennai
|
Asha teachers
|
12
|
BUILD- for the year 2004
|
3
|
Build
|
Tiruvellore District
|
Asha Teachers
|
13
|
Urur Balwadi
|
1
|
Pride
|
Chennai -90
|
Asha Teacher
|
|
Total no. of teachers benefited
from the programme
|
29
|
The village mission school
teacher left after 3 sessions as his father was not well and he was
suddenly called back.
|
The Lazarus School teachers had
asked for permission to attend for the first four days as they had a
school three day workshop on teaching English.
|
Both these groups paid for their
food.
|
15 teachers stayed at the Asha Chennai
home for the period of seven days. The other teachers came in on time
everyday.
Arrangements
for their stay were planned and most of the requirements were provided by
Asha Chennai volunteers. Tea in the morning and evening and dinner was
provided at the home. All participants had their breakfast at the home.
Lunch and tea in the mid session break were served at the OMHS the venue
of the workshop.
It was indeed an exciting experience
to be able to bring together eager teachers young and old from schools and
balwadis from different parts of the state, both teachers from the private
sector and the govt. schools and a govt. aided school.
Right through the programme the
predominant feeling that came across was the level of involvement with
which the participants went about each session and the sharing and
openness with which they took part in all the sessions. Each of the seven
days was split into two sessions as per plan. Refer website for the
details of the plans. The resource persons arrived on time for all
sessions, and conducted the sessions professionally.
Feedback from the participants was
sought from each participant for each of the sessions in the 13th
session.
The sessions
happened in the following order-
- Rights
of the Child- Conducted by Ms. Poornima Arun – a senior teacher of
the Olcott Memorial High School. Poornima has been specially trained
and certified by ICCW- the Indian Council for Child Welfare- Chennai.
Poornima had done the exercise for the training for Project Build.
Asha Chennai
volunteer Mr. Jambunathan was present for some part of the session. He was
impressed with the level of interaction that could be seen emanate ing
from the group even though it was the first session.
- An
overview of the plans for the next six days to follow and the
outlining of the
objectives
of the workshop, discussion on how children learn at different stages and
creating healthy school climate. – Ms. Lakshmi Suryanarayanan. She is the headmistress of the Olcott Memorial high school
that has the distinction of being one of the unique and successful schools
for delivering quality education to the under priviledged.
- 3rd
and 5th sessions were coducted by Mrs. P. Saraswathi. Mrs.
P. saraswathi is a resource person for the Tamilnadu text book
committee and has helped bring out the child friendly textbooks of the
Govt. Tamilnadu. The textbooks being used by the participants have
come about through her able guidance.
She
got the teachers to role play children, actually experience how the
different
games
could be actual learning experiences for the children.
Mr. Rajaram,
Asha Chennai volunteer, attended a part of the fifth session. He found he
could learn from the session and also realised how these activity based
learning experiences would help children learn’
Participant
feedback summary-
Ms.
Anita Sathish attended the 5th session
- 4th
and 6th sessions were Dr.L. S. Saraswathi who is a resource
person for the Tamilnadu text book committee and has helped bring out
the child friendly textbooks of the Govt. Tamilnadu. The textbooks
being used by the participants have come about through her able
guidance.
Her area of
focus was on the role songs, story telling, creating rhymes… as part of
the language development for the children.
Mr. E.S.
Ananth, Asha Chennai volunteer was present for 4th sessions. He
has appreciated the novelty
” The
session that I attended was conducted by One Saraswathy madam, and it was
really nice that she had adopted various novel methods to be followed, in
teaching children of tender ages. She had even played a tape literally
infusing a very good idea of science, while telling the age old song on
the moon
NILAA NILAA
OADI VAA. It was quite catchy.
She also
opined rather convincingly as to how pretty young minds are so
impressionable, and that they have their own ideas about any subject on
earth, and on occasions, it belies to understand that the children's
imagination, knows no limit, and that sometimes very uncommon factors they
say, lead to a novel story line, and this struck a note in me that perhaps
J.K.Rowling must have experienced”.
Ms. Anitha
Sathish attended the 6th Session. She expressed satisfaction
about the arrangements and the venue. She was happy with the resource
persons and participant teachers interactions. She also expressed that
this project Rightstart should be put up in Asha projects and written for
the Learning Network newsletter Chigaru.
- 7th
and 8th sessions- Mrs. Shanthi Badrinarayanan. A veteran
educationist of more than 17 years of experience in class room
teaching, as head of schools, a reading expert, a consultant for
schools, she runs her own language learning center the first of its
kind in Chennai
Ms. Shanthi
focused on the integrated approach to learning of subjects and language in
the primary and upper primary areas.
- 9th
and 10th sessions- These sessions were interactions with
the teachers of Olcott school primary section who were implementing
activity based learning the resource room. The teachers teaching the
four subjects at the primary level –Tamil, English. Maths and EVS
displayed the material they had created, acquired and demonstrated the
use of these language and Maths games, puzzles, reading material in
their classrooms and in the school resource center. It was also
demonstrated how these items can become the integral part of the
primary classes teaching-learning experience, by having such material
ready in our classrooms. About 200 multi colored cards, sketch pens,
stencils were given to each teacher
so that the
teachers could make their materials immediately in the evenings and also
on their return to their schools.
A copy of the
“Blackboard Drawing Book” which is useful for teachers to learn to
draw on the cards, as well on the BBs was given to each group (TEA Trust,
Dream, Seva Chakkara, Lazarus, Build, Urur Balwadi).
The afternoon
saw the demonstration of the use of Computer Technology in Learning in the
Olcott school’s AVRoom.
- 11th
and 12th sessions- these sessions were for sight seeing
trip, around Chennai. Local Seva Chakkara volunteers did not
participate. The group
went to Gandhi Mandapam, children’s park. Time was given for the
group for shopping, as this was a request made by the groups.
- 13th
session- Mr. V.Balakrishnan of TANPIC, conducted the session on parent
and community involvement as stake holders in the school and as part
of the process of schooling. They certainly are a great resource to
the schools and they could be very happily involved in the process of
education. He suggested various ways in which the teachers could get
their involvement for the benefit of the school. The session lasted
for an hour.
The
participants had another hour where they were requested to write about
their understanding of the 13 sessions and give their feed back on each of
their experiences. Each one participant has done this with great
enthusiasm.
- 14th
Session- Lakshmi suryanarayananconducted the discussion on the
feedback and summarization of the 7 day programme.
Concluding
session saw a great deal of comradeship a genuine feeling of having gained
from the workshop and request for support at their school levels with
implementation
Special Highlights
- Mrs
Radha Arjun and Mr. Arjun spent a lot of time with the groups,
attending the sessions, discussing difficulties, giving essential
immediate feed back for course corrections. Mrs. Radha helped with the
summing up o the workshop reading through the participants feedback
sheets. Their presence was a great source of reassurance to the
participants, the workshop designer and facilitators.
·
The project drivers Mr. Murthy, Mr.
Arputham made it their point to be present with their teams for the
inaugural day in spite of busy schedules.
·
Build teacher came in or the first day
and narrated how she was now working with a govt. school and how her
intervention was improving the school climate and actually helping
children talk about their problems. She has gone up to the level of the
village council to speak for intervention in the matter of the helping the
school’s headmaster change his attitude to help the students.
·
The facilitators and teachers of the
Olcott school spent their vacation time willingly helping with the process
of workshop facilitation, arrangements, working hand in hand with Jeba,
Shekar and Satya. They performed their roles to the satisfaction of the
workshop designer.
·
The participants felt free enough to
talk about food, request for change in menu, request for the afternoon
break…Particular mention must be made of Mr. Selvaraj headmaster from
Rishiyur, who was there with his quick suggestions and free in sharing his
thoughts. This helped make things very comfortable for the organizers.
·
The cooperation of the Asha Chennai
team, the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the endless hours put in by Jeba,
Satya, Sekar, Dhanalakshmi(Build teacher trained last year, now working
with The Urur Balwadi) team.
·
The clear, long, serious feed back
given by the participants.
Participants
Feedback-
Participants
have expressed freely their understanding of the sessions, what they have
gained, what was new to them, what they plan to do on getting back.
Reading through each one of these sheets was a energizing experience for
the workshop designer. It shows that we have a thinking, listening group
of teachers who will not stop with the workshop learning and sharing but
will take the learning to their school environments.
The
summary has tried to bring out the essence of the feedback, yet it cannot
do justice to the individual participants’ seriousness and commitment.
A
file containing their feedback will be available at Asha Chennai home at
Besant Nagar for interested volunteers.
Main
points-
-
Had heard about/ participated in
activity based teaching methodologies. Never believed that they could be
implemented in our schools. It does require some material and some effort,
but we know it is possible to use these techniques for our children.
-
We have learnt how to connect the
activity to the topic we are going to help children learn.
-
Practical methods for our classrooms
-
The importance of building self
confidence, giving room for the children’s abilities is possible.
-
Never thought our children could learn
so easily
-
Will never again treat children
harshly or without respect
-
Will give more opportunity for
children to participate
-
Will not use the children for errands,
but plan carefully
-
We did not even dream that the
workshop would be so useful
-
The arrangements were excellent
-
Food was great. We felt really well
taken care of.
-
The time for the workshop should have been longer
-
The outing should have been better planned
-
Some theory parts of the sessions were a little difficult to
understand
-
The food in the afternoon could have been lighter and we
need a break in the afternoon- The menu was changed after discussion and
the tea break was provided during the course, to the satisfaction of the
participants.
Accounts
|
Rightstart
Teacher Training Event-1
27th Sept 2003 to 3rd Oct. 2003 |
|
Budget=
$1000 = Rs 47000 |
|
|
|
Heads
of expenses |
Details |
Amounts
in Rs. |
|
1 |
Food
for 7 days |
Breakfast
for all participants, lunch for participants, resource persons and
facilitators, dinner for the participants who stayed at T58A, Tea
at break time everyday at the venue |
21,801.25 |
|
2 |
Resource
persons Honorarium |
- Poornima-1
session
- P.
Saraswathi - 2 sessions
- L.S.Saraswathi
-2 sessions
- Balakkrishnan
V. @ Rs300 per session
|
1800 |
|
3 |
Conveyance
to Resource persons and facilitators |
Shanthi
Badri for I whole day- Rs200 + Rs500 for 10 teachers of Olcott
School @ Rs50 per person for demonstrating the use of Resource
room activities and AV room facilities on 1st Oct |
650 |
|
4 |
Facilitators
remuneration |
1
teacher from OMHS @Rs150 per day for 7 days= Rs1050 &
1 more teacher for 5 days
@ Rs 100 per day= Rs 500 |
1550 |
|
5 |
Wages
for helpers at the venue |
1
person at the rate of Rs60 per day for seven days, 3 persons at
the rate of Rs 50 per day for 7days |
1,260 |
|
6 |
Photography |
Pictures
taken on all 7 days |
1,587 |
|
7 |
Outing
for the participants |
To
Gandhi Mandapam, Children's park and shopping |
2,500+40=2,540 |
Rs40
for parking the vehicle. |
8 |
Travel
expenses of participants from Rishiyur |
Train
tickets for 7 teachers to and fro +
Local transportation from station to T58 and back + Tea
Trust teachers return fare |
1,890+550+200=
2,640 |
at
the rate of Rs 181 per person from Rishiyur and
Rs80
for internet booking+
Rs200
for the TEA Trust teachers to return |
9 |
Materials
for the participants to take home |
Cards
for making flash card and games, teachers kits, cassettes of
songs, blackboard drawing book and photo copies of teacher
training material |
5,122.55 |
learning
materials and photocopies
of
teacher training materials. |
10 |
Transportation
costs |
For
getting material and stuff to T58 A, venue of workshop …. |
380.4 |
|
11 |
Maintenance |
Utilities |
1,049 |
|
|
Total
Amount |
|
40,380.40 |
|
The balance of about Rs6600 will be used for
material for students for and
for travel of resource persons for Asha Chennai projects –Tea Trust,
Dream, Build appropriately. |