Importance of Circle Time in Schools.

Teaching is not just limited to text-books and note-books but got to be more interactive with the students. This is to ensure creating congenial atmosphere in the school where students & teachers develop good bonds. Today, unfortunately we see students and teachers are not so interactive in classrooms or outside classrooms to discuss any subject problems.  Why ? Teachers are just interested in syllabus coverage and students are interested in attendance. The Real Learning is missing. The solution to this problem is the Circle Time. 

What is Circle Time? 

It is the morning session where students and teacher interact with one another to refresh their minds before they start the classes formally. You can name it as a  Zero- period or Happiness Class. The duration of the Circle Time may vary from 20 min to 30 min. after the prayer meeting. 

What happens in this Circle Time? 

The first word Circle denotes that students be made to sit in a big circle preferably on floor and the teacher is also the part of this Circle. It becomes like a team. In cases where the students are large in numbers then make more teams as required.  Now, it is time to discuss the following  topics one or two per session:

1.Well- being of students.

2.Importance of Values in life.

3.Good Manners.

4.Good Habits.

5.Topics of General Awareness, Personality Development & Group Discussions. 

6.Students Sharing their Experiences. 

7.Story telling by students.

8.Poems Recitation.

9.Yoga for good health and happiness 

10.Quizes & fun games.

Benefits of Circle Time:

1. Better academic performance. 

2. Better engagement of students. 

3. High attendance. 

4. High discipline in classes.

5. Life Skills Development. 

Is the Smart Class a Technological boon for the Education System ?

The world is changing fast  and one needs to keep up. It is only possible by adopting modern  technologies. The technology plays an important role in every field including Education. 

It has enabled schools and institutions to transform Blackboard classes into Smart classes. 

Education broadly means Research & Development,  Teaching & Learning.  The aim must be to make Education not only accessible to everyone but also to make it qualitatively high to meet 21st Century standards.

In traditional classrooms teachers and students are not able derive their best teaching and learning outcomes as compared to Smart classes. Because it lacks in better understanding of concepts and poor interactions between teachers and students. 

In Smart classes with the help of modern technologies like Internet, Computer, LED's, projectors, microphones, speakers etc. the learning is fun, enjoyable and effective. The teachers are able to explain the concepts through audio- visual means in the most effective way to the students. Thus, students have the best learning experience. It develops the interest in learning the subjects and  skills like logical thinking, reading and writing. 

It is high time that more and more schools must adopt Smart Class Mode of Teaching to make Teaching and Learning,  the best experience for both Teachers and Students.

Smart Class at Step One School 

The advantages of  Smart Classes:

1.Better interaction between teachers and students due to effective engagement. 

2.Better Understanding of concepts by means of audio- visual teaching aids.

3.Makes teaching effective for teachers.

4.Makes learning fun and interesting for students. 

5.Eco- friendly as no paper, ink, chalk are required.

6.Enhances abilities and performance of students. 

7.Helpful in skills development like logical thinking,  reading and writing. 

How to develop Creativity skills in the students ?

Learning by Demonstration 

Creativity is one of the most important skills to be developed in the students. In the long run these creative people only make the nation innovative, self-reliant and developed. 

Creativity starts with inquisitive mind. It develops when the students in early years of their age are motivated to ask 'Why?'  in classrooms. The classes must be made more interactive. It ensures growth of analytical and critical thinking mind of the students.

Further, the learning by doing and learning by demonstration are effective methods of teaching to develop Creativity Skills in the students. This way educators can correlate theory and practice in the most effective way. If students learn by understanding  then the knowledge gained is retained for a longer time as compared to classroom lectures. This will develop scientific temper among the students. 

Unfortunately,  the curriculum is made so heavy with content learning that students do not get space and time to be interactive in classroom , learn by doing and learn by demonstration.

At Step One School we have reduced the content learning in order to create space and time for Activity Based Learning. 

To be creative the students must be disciplined, well-mannered, empathetic ,polite, compassionate and be gentle with the nature and animals.

The following are the methods for developing Creativity Skills among the students:

1. Learning by Doing    

2. Learning by Demonstration 

3. Activity Based Learning 

4. Experiential Learning

5. Group Discussions

6. Puzzle Solving

7. Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW)

8. Undertaking scientific & industrial  tours.

9. Organising events

10.Attending workshops, Seminars & Conferences.

Unique Online Study System

Step One School's Unique Online Study System:

Online Assignments Evaluation 

It consists of the following steps, keeping in view the lower age group of students upto Preparatory Level:

1.Students Study from our Pre-recorded Video Lessons to understand the topics. In our Video Lessons the lessons are explained by the teacher in detail similar to as explained in regular classes. 

2.Students repeat it by reading from their textbooks and do exercise.

3.Students submit their work assignments to school for checking.

4.School checks and corrects the assignments. 

5.If found all correct , then Excellent grade is given.

6.If found some mistakes then school corrects it and send it to the students. 

7.Students re- submit it to school after corrections.

8.School gives Excellent grade.

9.If any student is not able to understand any topic  then the student sends the screen shot of the topic to the school for doubts clearance. It is discussed on the phone or through Zoom meeting.

10.Online Exams are conducted Quarterly by sending Question Papers as per exam schedule and to be submitted online within 3 hours same day.

How to build a positive school culture?

  Positive Learning Environment   

         

The Positive Greetings at the Door (PGD) of  the students is another way to build a positive school culture. The act helps build relationships between students and teachers, which is an important part of making connections for learning for the rest of the day. Research studies say that students are more engaged and well -behaved  in classrooms in which there is an upbeat climate and students feel that they have a positive relationship with their teacher. If the school day begins with positive interactions with the students  then it will only help in developing positive classroom climate. The study claimed that teachers  greeting students at the door led to a 20% point increase in academic engagement and disruptive behavior decreased by 9% points. In this strategy the teacher starts greeting the students at the door, saying each student's name while using non-verbal greeting chosen by the student such as  handshake, namaste, gentle hug, dance, fist bump, and high five.

Positive Greeting at the Door

Manners Before Knowledge

 Dining Manners

Children who are well-mannered right from their early years of age are  more likely to be professionally & socially successful as compared to other children. Therefore, learning manners before knowledge drive is gaining importance in schools.  Children at a young age have fast developing absorbent brains which act as a sponge.  They remember what they are taught with clarity & their minds absorb everything much faster than they would at later age. Innovative Early Childhood Education plays an important role in teaching your child the importance of good manners. Kids learn from adults who are good role models. Teach children to greet , respect other people and to be kind to animals and nature. If the students are taught Manners Before Knowledge through Early Childhood Education then socially and professionally they become self-disciplined,  productive & well- cultured citizens of the nation. Education without Values is just like a flower without Fragrance. Remember, good manners make every professional a good human being. 

Education Standards of a Nation Defines the Quality of its Citizens.

 

Magic Words

How to Transform Education?

Value Based Education 

Important innovative steps taken by Step One School for transforming education through Zero- Investment Innovations.

1. Reduced weight of the school bag by introducing teaching one or two subjects per day (written & oral) according to class. This allows enough time availability for carrying out various creative activities by the students for their skills development.

2.Creative Curriculum consisting of skills development of students in main areas of development.

3. Individual attention.

Certificate of Appreciation on Innovation 

4.Activity Based Learning using innovative games & teaching learning materials.

5.Skills development.

6.Value Based Education is imparted by story telling, caring & sharing activities & role modeling.  

7.Regular interaction with parents to check the progress of their child.

8.Daily inspection of students.

9.Circle time in the morning for daily interaction with students for their  happiness, good health & moral development.

10.Four cycle tests/ assessments                ( Jul, Sept, Dec, Mar).

11.Continuous Improvement in teaching & learning process through innovative ideas and new age learning techniques for example online classes. 

The students are provided video lessons subject & chapter wise. This way the students while at home can study at their own pace & convenience. 

All video lessons are uploaded in school YouTube channel.

The principal goal of education is to develop individuals who are interested to explore different things and doing things differently what other generations have done.