31/12/09

Yesterday was a fantastic day at school. After the disappointing class of the previous day, I had learnt that what I was trying to teach them was a little higher than they could handle just then and that I was confusing them by not telling them exactly what they had to figure out. So yesterday I went with a plan. I started off with 'samroop' or similar triangles explaining to them how the condition of similarity could be used to figure stuff out about one triangle when the other triangle is described. I tried to impress upon them how trigonometry was in essence a study of ratios that helped figure out attributes of triangles, just like comparing two similar triangles.

:) I had fun explaining why a side of a triangle could never be larger than the sum of its sides using Lakshmi's chunni!

Yesterday again admired Neha's effortless drawing. Found out today that she sings quite well too. And she's a quick child too. A lot of potential, and the right attitude. I hope she gets her CA.

Today was a lot of fun. Starting off with the test, I was pretty happy with the performance. They did manage to crack the not-so-straightforward question as well. Gives me heart that my efforts to make them think are working. And it makes me think so much more as well. I've seen that it is very important to know the why of things. And this is not stressed at all in their school as far as I can make out. They don't question enough. In fact, it was the same during my time too. Asking questions is the only way to move forward to new things. Maybe that's my problem too, I don't question enough.

Coming back, after grumpily attempting the test, the girls cheered up and geared up for the party. It was good to see how wonderfully they cooperated to collect money, buy stuff and organise the party. And it was touching to see how they did not leave out those who could not pay up. Of course, there was music and dance and games too. Fantastic party all in all.

Oh! I have to mention the letter writing. So, yesterday, when they refused to do any more Math with me, I had to quickly engage them in something and luckily for me, the students themselves presented me with an opportunity. They suddenly wanted permission for a New Year party today. They kept pestering me to ask M right away [Mr. M looks after the day-to-day running of the centre], but since I did not want class time wasted, I told them I'd do it at 5. But they were insistent. So I asked them to write letters to M seeking permission. Although they grumbled, they really got into the act soon. And I liked their ideas. Pity only a few were original, the rest preferred to copy. I have to wean them off copying. I really want them all to think independently. Lakshmi, Pushpa and Aarthi especially. Puja's great that way. She writes what she knows in Math. In English, the vocabulary is crippling most of them. Roopa and Swati are the most forthcoming and it's a lot of fun to see them respond. Mamta goes unnaturally quiet in English class. Neha sincerely tries in English too.

Nice bunch of kids, so disarmingly natural. My only hope is that they're gaining something from those sessions.