Activity on using ice-cream sticks as puppets to make a story involving me in a recent conflict was an interesting one. I could see myself revisiting the conflict as a spectator and could see and understand the viewpoint of other side.
Why do we need language? To express, share, communicate….How is communication different that effective communication? How is it different than expressing? When do I decide that my communication was effective and when its not? What if the other person is still taking time to act then is it effective or not? Still thinking…..
What are we really teaching kids in the school? To communicate the way the teacher wants them to write or to express themselves what they feel, think or learnt? If I am bothered by what others will think of me or I am trying to impress others or just I am too scared to hurt others feelings then am I expressing or just communicating? When am I more satisfied, when communicating or expressing….
How is language related to thinking? When we think we do so in a particular language (mother tongue). More languages we know, more we can expand our thinking. We tend to speak to our children in so many languages sometimes English, Hindi, sometimes Telugu or Kannada. But what if a child has not yet developed one particular language as mother tongue and I am exposing the child to all sorts of languages, how will it help the child to expand his thinking? How can he build a house of thinking if the foundation is not strong yet? Still confused…..
Thinking becomes richer, if we enrich our language and vice versa. But how can I make my thinking richer? By reading, talking, listening, expressing, writing …. Observing, experiencing, soaking in everything through my five senses and expressing. If I learn to think richly, my language will become richer too.
Exploring our classroom made me realize that it's not an ordinary classroom with whiteboard, curtains, mats, teacher and students. It's a room where I am learning to learn, understand, respect, accept and think beyond. Learning to share, express, question myself, my beliefs and actions. Learning to listen, understand, appreciate and respect my fellow class friends, teachers and everyone I come in contact with for who they are and what they are doing….
Talking about what is a mop made me realize how we focus so much on knowledge and application part and so little on synthesis, understanding, relating and using metaphor.
Also enjoyed doing activity ideas on developing listening skills in children and listening to different ideas each group came up with.
Anu
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