Encouraging right atmosphere at school - Lawrence School

A good teacher ensures not only imparting the lessons listed out in the syllabus but also makes sure that all the students are growing on the learning curve. While it is not possible to have all the students at the same level on the graph, it is important to create an atmosphere wherein every student embarks on the upward chart and progresses as per his/her abilities.

A typical class consists of all kinds of students. Some are inquisitive and gregarious by nature that makes them easily visible to the teachers, while some are rather quiet who'd want to introspect and think before posing a question. Some are easily distracted while some are able to concentrate on their activity for longer periods of time.

It is therefore a enormous and difficult task for a teacher to take the entire class along. Yet, when the atmosphere is non-threatening and open ended, it allows every child to grow at his/her own pace.We have listed top 5 tips below that we follow and believe would enable a more positive nurturing of the child's character:

1. Emphasize on questions being raised rather than judging the nature of question asked. 
2. Discussions on various topics can be introduced to enable the children to think out of the box. 
3. Enabling children understand that sometimes approaching a problem in the right fashion is more important than the actual solution. 
4. Sometimes there are no right or wrong answers. 
5. Adopting positive rather than punitive measures to help child differentiate between right and wrong actions.

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/  

Developing a child at the right age in the right way- Lawrence School

A much debated question is the right age when a child can begin formal school. Experts opine that too soon or too late can hamper the child's progress and suggest 6 years and above as the optimum age to start schooling.

A child is not emotionally ready before 3 years of age and even between ages of 3 and 6, a rigourous schedule should not be expected of them. Rather than formal schooling, emphasis can be laid on developing their fine and gross motor skills through play. Unstructured play at this age is a great teacher and one should not undermine their importance.

Role-playing and letting the child observe and learn from the surroundings in an art that comes easily to a child that young. They must be encouraged to play more in the open, in nature.

http://bit.ly/1rUrTuc

Many schools or pre-schools begin the exercise of writing as early as 3 years of age which is harmful for the child in the long run since his fine motor skills are yet underdeveloped and the muscles needs time to strengthen. Instead, more emphasis should be on encouraging and developing reading skills. Picture books could be read out as a group activity to the tots. They could be given any object and encouraged to talk about it.

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/  

How to improve your handwriting?- Lawrence School

Bad handwriting is the nemesis for most school and even college level students who still depend on their written (rather than typed out) answers during exams. Scrawny, illegible hand not only gives the examiner nightmares, it also wipes off the confidence to write.

A good handwriting should not be a goal that is pursued just to score that extra marks. It is an asset that can be cultivated, honed and used to your advantage long after you've passed out of school and college. Here are a few tips that can enable you to improve your writing:

Move the right muscles: Generally it is observed that people who write illegibly are ones that write with their fingers rather than the forearms. When the forearms move along with the letters written, the shape and size turn out much neater and clearer as opposed to putting the pressure on the fingers to 'draw' out the letters.

Sitting Vs notebook position: The sitting posture has to be correct; no slouching or leaning too forward or backwards with respect to the notebook. Also, the book or writing pad has to be in an correct angle to the body. A 90 deg angle to the body will only hurt the hands and back.

Pressure on the pen/pencil: The pressure applied to the pen or pencil has to be just right. Holding the pen/pencil lightly and letting the letters flow easily is the correct method as opposed to a tight grip and pressing it deeply onto the paper, enough to make a mark on the opposite side of the paper.

Practise makes perfect: It's not without a reason that elders insisted on us writing pages after pages just to improve our writing. However writing without applying the mind or heart will not help. Hence, even if it is just a paragraph, do make it a practise to sit down with a pen and paper. Not only will this help the writing to clear out, your thought process will also see clarity in the long run.

Hope these tips help you!

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/  

Teaching children about good and bad touch

A lot has been spoken about the need for sex education in schools. We at Lawrence definitely endorse the idea of teaching children early on about their bodies and the changes that happen with age. An important part of sex education is teaching the young about respecting their bodies and learning how to recognize a good touch from a bad one.

We'd like to share a very simple video conceived and developed by NPSCC that simplifies the process for very young children.

Video credit : http://bit.ly/1egYTiH

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/  

Enjoying the rains without worries

The beginning of monsoon brings back the beautiful weather Bangalore is famous for but it also sets off the cycle of cold, cough and flu amongst school-going children.

http://bit.ly/1qPXoTd

Here are a few tips to through the rainy days:

Drink safe water: As far as possible, drink only boiled or purified water; always carry a water bottle for yourself and kids when going outdoors. Avoid drinking regular water at restaurants you are not sure of with regards to hygiene.

Avoid eating at road-side stalls: Chaats and fried stuff seem most yummy when it is pouring outside, but the road-side stalls that serve these delicacies are the breeding house for many infection-spreading flies and mosquitoes. While, it is Ok to indulge once a while, it is wise to use discretion. At best, the snacks can be savoured at home or ordered from reputed joints.

Avoid collection of water near home: Stagnated water leads to breeding of flies and mosquitoes, so there should not be any logging of water near the home. Water-bodies that function as beauty elements must be cleaned regularly, so that the water does not turn murky or collects moss. A practice of washing the feet and hands after coming from the outdoors must be inculcated in children and followed by adults too.

Exercise regularly and eat healthy: Viruses are kept at bay when one has a regular regime of exercising. Children need to play outdoors. Young children need supervision to see that they play safely and within the boundaries of clean and hygienic activities. One must also ensure that the family eats healthy-soups, greens and fruits should form a part of daily diet.

Prevention is better than cure: however, if you or the child falls sick, take plenty of care and rest to ensure that the body is able to fight the viruses. Salt-water gargling helps in clearing the throat, steam-inhalation does wonders for blocked nose. A concoction of honey, pepper and ginger juice is a great remedy for sore throat and cold.

www.wellsphere.com

Hope these tips are useful and this monsoon brings more cheer than worry.

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/  

Importance of fine arts in life-Lawrence school

We came across a fine piece of writing over social media the other day and thought of sharing on the blog:

google image

A wholesome education is guaranteed by embracing the finer forms of expression. It need not be learnt with the aim of making it your career.  Just having these forms in your life can make you a better individual or a better society if we consider the larger picture.

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/

Failure does not mean end of the road

As parents, it is natural to want to shield children from dealing with disappointments and failure in life. We want the best for them and cannot see them lag behind their peers in any respect and feel helpless to see them unable to handle any kind of raw deal that life may throw at them.

However, it is in their best interests and ours to let them handle frustrations early on, so that they turn out to be well-reasoned out adults later.

http://bit.ly/1nCdY58

Encourage instead of lending a helping hand: Kids are met with tiny frustrations even as young as infancy and toddlerhood. While kids at this age are very resilient and are not prone to giving into despair, there can be times when the child might feel like giving up. It is the duty of the parents to encourage their efforts and let them be at the task, rather than finishing it off for them.

Compete with self: However brilliant a child is, there is always going to be someone who is better. Hence, the aim has always to be bettering oneself than competing with the neighbour. If the focus is on acquiring skill and knowledge and not about beating the next person in an exam, there will be no anxiety or frustration of failure.

Realistic expectation: Parents need to keep realistic expectations from the child. It is not right to saddle them with their own unfulfilled ambitions. Tuning in to the child’s capacity, interest and capability will help the child to achieve his/her full potential.

Larger picture: Score in an exam is very temporary and does not mean much in real life scenarios. This is a truth that needs to be accepted and imbibed by both-parents and children. The larger picture in life is many a time missed out by pursuing shallow goals like winning a competition or topping an exam.

Open channels of communication: Children should feel free and comfortable in approaching the parents in any kind of situations. The lines of communication must be free from judgment on the parent’s side. The child must not feel threatened and should be encouraged to communicate his/her opinion.

Life is never fair and the goal of life should be deriving pleasure and taking lessons from the journey without keeping a destination in mind. If parents can teach this philosophy early on, kids will be better equipped to deal with failure.

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/