BEGINNERS GUIDE FOR HOME SCHOOLING

Schools might reopen in september or october, many parents are in confusion whether to send their preschoolers to school or not. Parents who are comfortable with online classes may not prefer this article, but if are looking for home schooling options, then you are on right site. 

I started home schooling my kindergarten kid this year. When I started, I had lots of questions and practical problems, because I was not confident about my teaching skills at that time. Overcoming the problems one by one I got some hope that I can teach my child. Let me share my experiences with you, it might help some of you with an idea of home schooling.

• Start where you are:

When I searched for home schooling options, and its requirements, I got suggestions to buy a printer, coloured charts, and many other pre requisites. But during the initial lockdown, for me it was practically impossible to buy even coloured charts.  So, I used crayons and color pencils which I already had, and some of the un used cardboards for teaching my kid. I used live vegetables and fruits instead of charts. I used sky and clouds for explaining weather. So dont be scared of starting your home school, you can start with what you have. 

• Take help:

If you don't have any idea of their curriculum, take help from the internet or their school teachers. Mostly for preschoolers, writing skills and identifying are important aspects to throw light on. So I found it easy.

• Go with the pace of your kid:

One of the best thing about home schooling is the teacher can go in student pace. You can personally check and teach them according to their interest and ability to learn. I designed a time table, according to her interest I start schooling.

• Timely evaluation:

Generally in the schools, the evaluation will be done quarterly, monthly, or yearly. But when you are schooling at home you can get clear idea where your child lags or where they can excel.

• It's okay to break!!:

If you are not from teaching background, kindergarten teaching is not as easy as you think. You may have mood swings or your kids might not be interested, be prepared. In that time its okay to take a break. Take a break and start slowly.

• Create routine:

For kids, creating routine may take time, when they are habituated they can follow it more than you. Create a routine for home school and let them understand that you will be the teacher for them. Initially try to make them sit for 15 minutes in hime school, and gradually increase the time. Now my daughter will be in home school for 1.30 hours. Generally I let her choose what she wants to do in the school. 

• Believe in your kid and have faith

Preschool kids take time to adapt to this new method, so have faith in your kids. They might get bored, as they will be only kid on the class. Say them after the pandemic they can join their friends. 

• Design your own syllubus:

Along with their curriculum, add extra curricular activities according to their intrest. Like I have added yoga, and music in her syllubus.

• Go creative:

Preschool kids love singing rhymes than sitting and writing. So create some games so that they can learn while playing.

I created a game of clapping alternate hands and saying numbers. 

The only things you need for home schooling are patience and creativity. Don't forget to appriciate your kid's efforts to cope up in this pandamic situation, give them a STAR. Let your little one stay safe at home and also learn at same time. 

GRANNY'S TALES-FOOD (PART-4)

 

 My granny about "Touch"

My granny about "Water"

My granny about "Sun"

Did your granny scolded you for not bathing before food? Did she scolded you for bathing after food? 

Almost everyone has this experience when granny was around. I already mentioned you my granny used to bath 3 times a day even in summer water scarcity. I used to pull her leg by saying "Just because of your bathing tradition, we got water scarcity".

She used to laugh heartily, "You should take bath before you cook, the taste will be effected by that. You know why prasadams given in temple are more delicious than our home made recipies,it is all because of good vibrations while making prasadam ".

The way she touches the vegetables or rice, was like she touches us(grand children), with such a love and affection. She makes finger licking food for everyone, even the veggies are bad. We couldnot get that taste with same ingredients and same process..That is the magic of grandmothers!!!!

She hated the idea of wasting food. She always said "If you were intrested to take food, then nothing will be extra dose", by placing one more ladle of rice into my plate. 

"Don't watch tv, while having meals!!! Concentrate on meals". It was the last time she warned me. I was very proud of my self at that time, for my multi tasking abilities (eating and watching TV at the same time).

But I was wrong!!! 

Nowadays everyone is taking about 'Consious eating', that was proposed by grannys long back. 

Concentration on food, helps in boosting your digestion.

She always said "Annam parabrahma swaroopam", means food is God!!

Eat the food with gratitude. 

She had restrictions while having food too. "Never speak bad words during eating, it will have effect on digestion. We are not dogs to fight during eating, let go your negetive emotions for now, after food you can be grumpy again" 

She used to fast on every ekadasi(11th day in Moon cycle). She used to take only liquids during the day, and surprisingly, she was active on that days. We used to have fatigues even after postponing snacks. For this her answer was spiritually connected," You should fast atleast 2 times a month, it makes you feel light. What else I want in this age!! Chanting the names of Him, will feed my soul"  

One day my friend came to my home, I was eating at that time. My granny was there, she almost thrown my friend out of the house, and seriously warned her not to come during meals time. I was embrassed at that time, immidietly I finished my lunch and ran behind my friend. I was furious on granny, and like everytime she shut my mouth with her magic. " Never allow others to come to your place of eating or sleeping, if they have bad vibrations, your life will be effected by their evil-eye", she said while cleansing evil eyes (Drusti) with rock salt.

I asked her, "Granny, why do you link everything to food!? You should not speak, you should concentrate, you need to eat out with good vibrations!!! Why all these?? "

"Because without food you cannot survive. And the food you take becomes You", she answered with her as usual graceful smile. 

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IS IT TIME FOR HOME SCHOOLING??

Are you studying kindergaten again? Don't know why you are sitting next to your littleones during online classes?? Even don't know why they need online classes for kindergarten?? Thinking of sending to school or not after lockdown?? Welcome to club of confusing momma!!!

The corona and lockdown has changed many things in our daily life, including our kids routine and their school life.

New way of teaching through online, new apps for them, are making children to sit infront of digital devices. They may need it, but it costs child's digital time.

If the kids are able to concentrate on what teachers are saying, those kids might be okay with online classes.

However when it comes to kindergarten, only a teacher's physical presence can make them sit there. It is almost impossible in online classes. They are building virtual world around kids. Can't we introduce real world to them, may be this is the right time.

It's crucial age for kids until 6 years, their brain power was built over time, but the inital foundation takes place during early ages.

Enthusiasm created by teachers and company of other kids are only reasons for toddlers to sit in a classroom. Online classes doesnot fulfill this requirement.

My point is why to force them to sit in front of a digital device and learn? We can easily grab their attention by or physical presence and teach them in a more practical ways.

Yes we are not trained teachers, but the mothers are the one who taught them to speak, talk, behave, eat everything till now. Why can't we teach them simple language and small chores?

Another advantage of home schooling is we can encourage them to learn local language/mother tongue and religious writings.

If you can teach them with more patience,

strong bonds can be created with kids.

Moreover we are not sure if we can send them to school even after lockdown. So why don't we use this time for home schooling? I'm not taking about working mothers here.  Because after lock down, mothers should go to office, home schooling will be out of question for them.

Let me discuss how home schooling will be.

Initially home schooling can be interesting,  but with time it is not as easy as it seems,  especially with toddlers. 

For that, mothers need a strong motivation and timely motivation for children.

Any project should have a strong plan and schedule. Being non professional teachers we can't always attract them to home school. This is where we need some experts opinion. You can get it from various sources like other teachers or internet.

So set schedule for kids, start with small, progress as you go, teach them learning is fun, lead them by example. Home schooling means constant learning, not only kids but also mothers.

Is it not the right time to home school them??