3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV

Issue #230, 3rd December 2024

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What triggers my current habit? Identify the specific situations, emotions, or contexts that prompt the behavior.

What underlying need does this habit fulfill? Understand the psychological or emotional reward you get from the habit.

What are the consequences of continuing this habit? Critically examine the short-term and long-term impacts on your life.

What alternative behavior could replace this habit? Develop a positive, constructive substitute that meets similar needs.

How motivated am I to change? Honestly assess your commitment level and willingness to put in consistent effort.

What specific steps can I take to support this change? Create a practical, actionable plan with clear, achievable milestones.

How will I handle setbacks or relapses? Anticipate challenges and develop a strategy for getting back on track without self-judgment.

What support system can I leverage? Identify people or resources that can help you maintain accountability and motivation.

It is the last month of the year 2024. Let us reflect as an educator, parent, student. As a family, as an individual on our habits and the ones we want to change or replace.

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Three images of the week

Two Thoughts of the Week

If you want to cultivate a habit, do it without any reservation, till it is firmly established. Until it is so confirmed, until it becomes a part of your character, let there be no exception, no relaxation of effort. – Mahavira

Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it. – Dr. Maya Angelou

One Video of the Week

What does make us change our actions? Tali Sharot reveals three ingredients to doing what’s good for yourself. Dr. Tali Sharot is a neuroscientist at University College London and the director of the Affective Brain Lab. She is a faculty member of the department of Experimental Psychology, a Wellcome Trust Fellow, and currently a visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on how emotion, motivation, and social factors influence our expectations, decisions, and memories.

Reading with Ms. Meenu: Tip of the week

Bookmarks:

Why do we use bookmarks?

There’s nothing more traditional and useful than a bookmark, a talisman that travels with you through the pages of your reading adventure. The trouble is, most bookmarks are small and made of stuff you can’t write on – plastic, leather, even metal. But if you make a bookmark of paper, then it can do more than mark your place in the text; it can become a multipurpose tool for recording your thinking as you go, a storage system for ideas to share with your book club later on. This tool works only with books – you can’t use it with one-page stories, for obvious reasons. You can introduce this strategy just before your students start a new round of book clubs or in the middle of a literature circle cycle as a new way of capturing responses in a book.

Introduce the idea by showing samples of effective bookmarks from books that kids know. These could be bookmarks from books that kids know. These could be bookmarks made by previous students or specimens you have created in advance. Bookmarks can be made in layers of paper to record your personal responses, Important passages, questions or important statistics. Bookmark making and response recording is a great way to discuss it in book clubs. If your readers are doing this practice, then it’s a clear symbol of creating a true reader.

Thank you and have a great day!

Happy Reading!

Happy Reading!
Meenu Gera

Consulting home and school librarian and reading guide.

Career assessment, guidance, and placement strategies:

COVID 19 was at its peak, and educational institutions and NGOs focused on the education sector, were working to minimise learning loss for students across age groups. With this objective, these institutions introduced additional support for students through mental health and career planning workshops. In this endeavour, NIIT Foundation reached out to Fermata to emphasize the importance of pursuing STEM education and the career growth opportunities for female students. These workshops were conducted online for 500 first generation grade 9 & 10 female students studying in small districts of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Bangalore. Our facilitators not only educated the students on the topic but also inspired them by sharing stories f successful women from various domains in India since the 1940s. The funders of this program were highly satisfied with the successful achievement of the learning outcomes especially of motivating these students to choose science stream in grade 11. 

Case study provided by: Team Fermata, www.fermataco.com

And Finally:

Showcase of the week:

Student speak:

Ancient Marvels Uncovered: A Journey Through Hampi, Badami, and Aihole

I recently joined an educational trip organized by my school, Capstone High, to explore the historical marvels of Hampi, Badami, and Aihole in Karnataka. This journey offered an incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in India’s ancient heritage and witness its architectural grandeur firsthand.

In Hampi, we explored the magnificent Virupaksha Temple and the famous Vittala Temple with its musical pillars and iconic stone chariot. The massive Narasimha Statue and the delicate sculpture of Ganesha on Parvati’s lap left a lasting impression. We also visited the Lotus Mahal, a beautiful structure that combines Islamic and Indian architectural styles and was once a royal meeting space.

At Aihole, we admired the Durg Temple, which showcased the Chalukya dynasty’s architectural innovation. Finally, the Badami Cave Temples, carved into red sandstone cliffs, captivated us with their intricate reliefs and stunning views of Agastya Lake. This trip brought history to life, deepening our appreciation of India’s architectural and cultural legacy. I am grateful to my teachers for their insightful guidance, our school for organizing this enriching experience, and my friends for making the journey unforgettable

Manvik Sethi

IX-B , Capstone High School

The Bright Hearts and Minds, a ‘best practice’ shared by Alma Mater School:

The ‘Bright Hearts and Minds’ initiative serves as an inspiring platform where learning comes to life, bridging the gap between classrooms and homes. This event offers parents a unique opportunity to witness the diverse and dynamic educational journey of their children. Spanning across subjects and grade levels, it showcases not just the outcomes of learning but also the processes and strategies children use to solve problems, think critically, and express creativity.

Students take center stage, demonstrating their skills in a hands-on and interactive manner, emphasizing the ‘how’ of learning over the ‘what.’ This experience reflects a shift towards holistic education, where learners are empowered to develop a deeper understanding of concepts and articulate their thought processes.

For parents, it is a moment of pride and engagement, as they gain a closer look at their child’s growth as an independent, strategic, and confident learner. This event celebrates the synergy of learning, teaching, and curiosity.

Student achievement:
The students, Varun H M and Tribhuvan S Gowda of Grade : 10 , Vijaya School secured 2nd place in State level Science Exhibition held in Mangalore and selected for the Southern India Science Fair (SISF) 2025, South Zonal level.
Their Project : Magnetohydrodynamic drive
(The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drive is a propulsion system that uses the principles of electromagnetism to propel a fluid, such as seawater or plasma, without relying on traditional moving parts like propellers or turbines)

Project Based Learning:

The chicken coop activity taught kids the importance of shelter for animals. They designed creative, sustainable coops that prioritized safety, ventilation, and space, showcasing their innovative ideas.

TASHVIKA AGE 6.5 years

Samyuktha age 6.5 years

Thrive – Beyond School; A STEAM program for preschool and primary school students.

Dear reader,
I work with the school leadership team as an advisor. I collaborate with teachers as a pedagogical trainer. I assist parents as a parenting counselor. I engage one-on-one with students as a personal guide and mentor. This weekly newsletter shares what I read, learn, and experience.

3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms. Niv is a newsletter you can subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.

From the archives

Many of you have been asking for the earlier editions of this newsletter. I am delighted to note that you are enjoying the content served here. Now, with every new issue, I am sharing a link to the newsletter from the archives (published weekly since July 2016).

Here is the link for – issue#006

https://wordpress.com/post/niveditamukerjee.com/3089

Enjoy your learning journey with me.