3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV

Issue #231, 10th December 2024

It is the time of the year when we practice giving. I share in this issue of News Letter a heartwarming talk by pediatrician Hasan Merali. He shares ‘The best life lessons from toddlers’. Don’t miss it. Great for educators, parents and anyone who has had the opportunity to be with a toddler.

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Three images of the week

Two Thoughts of the Week

“You will discover that you have two hands.  One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn

“We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly and without hesitation; for there is little grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.” – Seneca

One Video of the Week

Terrible twos, temper tantrums, and grocery store meltdowns are usually the first things that come to mind when people think of toddlers. But pediatric emergency medicine physician and researcher Dr. Hasan Merali (@HasanMerali) has long thought toddlers are among the best people in our society and adults could do well to learn from them.

Toddlers act kindly toward strangers, are eager to work with others to solve problems, and demonstrate extraordinary dedication and perseverance. These are all traits that many of us aspire to have in order to improve both our personal and professional lives.

In this talk, Dr. Merali discusses two of the most important lessons we can learn from toddlers, kindness and play, and how behaving like a toddler can be the catalyst for having more fun and living a fulfilling life.

Dr. Merali is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University and a pediatric emergency medicine physician at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University.

His first book, Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas: Secrets from the Science of Toddlers for a Happier, More Successful Way of Life was published in March 2024.

Reading with Ms. Meenu: Tip of the week

Making a Reading Calendar:

Part of the charm for teaching literature is that students take a lot of responsibility for their learning and behaviour. The teacher usually decides on meeting dates. They also determine the date the book must be finished. Each student group decides how much reading is due for each meeting.

Before the first meeting, create a calendar. Make copies for each student. Also, make at least one extra copy for each group. Point out the meeting dates. Identify any dates that might affect their ability to do homework. For example, having the biggest chunk of reading due the Monday after homecoming is never a good idea. Also instruct the kids to list the actual start and stop pages for each assignment. They should not use just the chapter numbers. Make sure that students are writing down page numbers rather than chapter numbers. Encourage them to do the math and figure out exactly how many pages they plan to read for each meeting. By creating this, students will develop a good sense of their own reading speed. They will also understand their pages per day capacity within certain genres of text. This awareness can serve them well with later book choices.

Happy Reading!
Meenu Gera

Consulting home and school librarian and reading guide.

Career assessment, guidance, and placement strategies:

‘Life Skills Toolkit’ for Teenagers

13-year-old Sam was playful and did not feel the need to study at home. He would complete his homework during school hours. Sam’s mother believed he was a bright child who could thrive academically and in co-curricular activities with proper guidance. She had received career counseling and mentoring for her elder child from us. Because of this, she approached us to understand the best approach for Sam. 

We recommended enrolling Sam in our ‘Life Skills Toolkit’ sessions – our signature program designed to foster an inside-out approach. The toolkit empowers teenagers to take charge of their academic decisions. It also helps them in personal development. Teenagers can effectively manage external influences and distractions. 

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

And Finally:

Showcase of the week:

For the final art project, students of Capstone High School, Hoskote, will be creating original comics or storyboards, telling a story from their own imagination. This project is designed to cultivate creativity and visual storytelling. It also aims to develop critical 21st-century skills. These skills include creativity, critical thinking, and competency in visual literacy. Through exploring different framing techniques and shot types, students will learn to thoughtfully structure a narrative. They will make deliberate artistic choices. They will also convey emotion and action effectively. This immersive project encourages students to think critically about composition and story flow. It prepares them with essential skills in communication. They learn problem-solving and innovative thinking. These skills are invaluable in today’s world.

Project Based Learning: Thrive – Beyond School; A STEAM program for preschool and primary school students in Hyderabad.

Neev ,Mayra,Samyuktha, Tashvika& Havishka
6.5 years old; Tara & Arnav 5.5 years old

Children learned about millipedes, fascinating arthropods with segmented bodies, jointed legs, and exoskeletons. They also discovered the important role millipedes play in ecosystems as decomposers. To enhance their understanding, they created models of millipedes using recycled materials.

The children made millipede-shaped cookies, applying math and science concepts like measurement and physical changes. They compared the cookie’s crisp exterior and soft interior to a millipede’s body and highlighted its segmented shape.

Student Achievement

Bangalore’s National Public School ITPL’s grade IX students Anushka Goel and Gaurav Sai Pant excelled at the Model United Nations “Knowledge Knockout” event held in July 2024 at National Public School Banashankari, winning the Best Position Paper award. Their exceptional research, analysis, and writing set a new standard for excellence.

Bangalore’s National Public School ITPL’s grade IV and V students Pradhyot Kumar and Manvi Singh won the first prize at the Volksfiesta Comic-On Competition held in August 2024, hosted by The Deens Academy. They showcased creativity and quick thinking, transforming on-the-spot topic into an award-winning presentation.

Bangalore’s National Public School ITPL’s grade XI students, Shailesh and Dhruv Mathur of  triumphed at the prestigious ‘HackHive24’ on July, 2024, a cutting-edge agro-tech event by the New Horizon Council for Innovation. They won the ‘Agronovate’ challenge for creating a robotic model to enhance agricultural efficiency, earning a cash prize of Rs. 25,000. Their achievement showcased their innovation and ability to solve real-world agricultural challenges with foresight and creativity.

Dear reader,
I work with the school leadership team as an advisor. I collaborate with teachers as a pedagogical trainer. I help 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 share a link to the newsletter from the archives. These have been published weekly since July 2016.

Here is the link for – issue#007

https://wordpress.com/post/niveditamukerjee.com/3183

Enjoy your learning journey with me.