3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV

Issue #190, 27th February 2024

Empathy. Problem Solving. Courage. How does one discuss these without getting mired in complex philosophical and emotional conundrums? Well, picture books, illustrations, and children’s read-aloud are some very accessible ways of bringing these into conversations with children and adults alike. Have you tried it? These skills are required now and most definitely for the future of work. Shall we rediscover the picture books together, with our students and children, our families and colleagues?

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Three images of the week

Two Thoughts of the Week

“A picture book is a small door to the enormous world of the visual arts, and they’re often the first art a young person sees.” Tomie dePaola

“Telling stories with visuals is an ancient art. We’ve been drawing pictures on cave walls for centuries. It’s like what they say about the perfect picture book. The art and the text stand alone, but together, they create something even better. Kids who need to can grab those graphic elements and find their way into the story. ” Deborah Wiles

One Video of the Week

Priyanka makes the case that we can make the world a better place if we remove the unspoken age restriction on children’s books. She believes that since the values and skills we are teaching through children’s picture books, like empathy, communication, and problem-solving, are essential for a successful and happy life, we should use them to guide adults too.

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Priyanka is a writer, entrepreneur, and mother. She is the founder of ‘Sam and Mi’, a publishing house for children’s books focused on skills of empathy, problem-solving, and communication. She is also the founder of an agritech app that helps farmers in India minimize their risk.

She previously founded the UK-based education network ‘Connect2Teach’. She is a Northwestern University and University of Cambridge alumni. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, in recognition of her contribution to the education sector.

She has previously worked with corporates such as Tata Group, KPMG Boxwood, and Towers Perrin in India, the UK, and the US. She is well-networked within Government machinery for her work in the education and entrepreneurial fields. She currently lives in India with her husband, two daughters, and their four dogs.

Guest Expert of the Week

Reading with Ms. Meenu

Celebrates the Written (and illustrated) word:

Think about the activities that make you happy. Surely, we focus more time and expend increased energy on preferred activities than on those we dread. Therefore, if we elevate the written word by enthusiastically celebrating all text-related events, whether smaller or larger, we can catch some of those readers who are vulnerable or disengaged. For example, in any classroom, we should not only celebrate the kid’s birthday, but we should also applaud book birthdays. This is just one simple way to elevate the written word.

To draw readers into the joyful read-aloud experience you want to begin with books that are fun, humorous, and engaging. Every teacher has a go-to series to launch our read aloud for example Mo Williams’s Elephant and Piggie series.

Making the author and illustrator come alive for your students is another way to honor the hard work and dedication that goes into writing and/or illustrating a picture book. Fun picture books always raise joyful, engaged, and interested readers.

Happy Reading!

Meenu Gera

Consulting home and school librarian and reading guide.

Dear reader,
I have been a research scientist, a journalist, and an educator for over 3 decades. I read and, I write. With this weekly newsletter, I share what I read, learn, and, experience. At the same time, I engage with students, parents, and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and ed-tech organizations.

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