Ira had to attend her first online introductory class today for Elementary Montessori. Yes, we have chosen to continue in the Montessori system for a few more years.
Every year, the day one of school is a special day and she absolutely loves going back to school after her 2.5 month summer break. We do our hugs and kisses and also a pic by the school before she walks into her new year of montessori. That is another Pramadh tradition.
This year, the school began sending us some activites every week for the last 6 weeks. The activities were customised to the child. It was a combination of Reading, some writing, Math, some experiential activities and spanned the three languages they learn- English, Hindi and Kannada. Mamma promptly made a Google doc and shared with Papa, to monitor the weekly activities and also wrote in a book for Ira's reference. We had already been doing some English, Hindi , Math or Kannada writing almost everyday. These school activities added an extra punch to that activity hour planned by Mamma, as it was assigned by school. Some days, Ira was full motivated and some days, Mamma and Papa had to keep telling her that's her activity for the day. The activities assigned were divided between us and we managed to keep to the calendar more or less. As cases rose, we knew that it would be some time before school begins and we also prepared Ira for the fact that she will be home for a few more weeks and have us do the school activities with her. We realised that we have to plan our work accordingly. Papa is slowly getting back to work and Mamma is beginning her online training sessions, slowly and steadily. We now not only have to calendar and plan the days but even minutely plan the hours of the day.
The introductory session email came and Ira was super excited that she would see her classmates and meet her aunties (the teachers). Today was a session where the teacher asked them how they were doing, whether they have been doing the activities that was sent by school the last few weeks. Ira with a little nudge showed what she wrote and what she drew. The teacher told the students how they are missing them and waiting for them to get back to school, but that will take some time. She reassured them that during the next few weeks, they will continue to send some activities which they will have to do with the help of their parents and we can reach out to her if we need any help. She will also do a one to one with each student every week to understand how they are finding the activities. It was a 30 minute session and just that did wonders. Ira was happy to see her teacher and classmates and understood that this will happen once every few days.
I attended the session with Ira today and I have to admit that the manner in which the children were reassured and gently reminded that they have to do the little activities assigned to them.
This is all new, the 'new normal'. Ira asked her teacher what she was doing and she told her that she is at school preparing activities for the kids. I am a teacher and I teach Post Grad and Research students. I have to tell you that being a teacher is hard work and this year, it just got harder. They are customising activities for kids, putting in longer hours, getting accustomed to new modalities of teaching and have the humongous responsibility of doing it all well. These little kids look up to them and listen to everything they say. Can we adults even comprehend that pressure.
We as parents can sit on the other side and wonder are our children learning enough, is this year going to help them academically and even have doubts on the fees and the effectiveness of the methods. This is a time for us to let go and remember that every year when we are at work, our children are with them for the day. This year, the hours may be lesser and the medium may have changed. Everyone is adjusting to this and doing their best. Educating a child is team work. Team work between their teachers and us parents. We are not on the opposite sides, we are on one side goading the child, encouraging the child and making sure the little human being is garnering skills, interacting and learning to deal with the world.
As we get set for this roller coaster of a year, a big shout out to all the teachers and all the amazingness they bring into the lives of our little human beings.
We are in this together.
#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSix #StoriesAtSix #ElementaryMontessori #Education #Happiness #Gratitude #Parenting #Teaching #OnlineLearning #ElementaryMontessoryDayOne
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