School Induction Programme - Day 5🖤

The fifth day of the school induction programme went really good. I reached the school by 9 30. After the prayer and pledge, we signed our attendance roll. We were given a schedule to engage the students in various periods during the whole day. Ashly, Bhagya and I went to the 6th standard and held a short interactive session with the students. We were also asked to supervise their PT period. Students divided themselves into teams and played football.

We gathered the remaining information and completed the process of data collection and took necessary photographs of the school premises. We engaged substitution hours allotted to us since some teachers were absent. During the lunch break a student of 8th standard came and gave me a tin of curry. It felt really special.

In the afternoon session, we took the third shared lesson which dealt with grammar in 9th standard. The students listened attentively. I was assigned the duty of handling VII A during the last period which was a PT period. As the equipments to play carrom, chess and ludo were insufficient, I made them play penalty shootout instead. The students thoroughly enjoyed it and told me that they felt really happy. We distributed sweets among the students and bid farewell to them.

After the national anthem, we signed our attendance roll and the same was attested by the HM. We met the teachers including the Principal, Manju Teacher and Padma Kumar Sir in person and took our leave.

It was the end of the 5 day long school induction programme which was a vivid chapter of the B.Ed life. The induction programme gave insights into the various aspects of the profession we're about to step into and the learners we're about to deal with. It personally helped me place myself as a teacher in a classroom and take up the expected role of a facilitator.

School Induction Programme - Day 4🖤

It was the fourth day of the school induction programme. We reached the school by 9 15. The school had arranged the breakfast for students which was served by the teachers. The classes began by 9 30 after the prayer and pledge.

We visited the school auditorium, zoology lab and kitchen to understand the facilities of the school. We were given permission to observe the activities and working of midday meal scheme in the school. We inquired about the menu and timings of breakfast, lunch, milk and egg. It was told that the school follows a set menu and the charge of supervision is given to one of the teachers. 

We held an interactive session with the senior assistant of the school, Padma Kumar Sir to collect more details about the school and its activities. He told us about the SSLC result percentage of the school in the previous academic years. He also explained about the achievments of the school in co curricular activities including sports meet and school kalolsavam and the extension activities done under the initiative of school, SPC unit, NSS unit and BSG.

We discussed the third shared lesson with the B.Ed trainee who was handling English in HS section and finalised the schedule for it. We also engaged the students during a free hour as per the instruction given. We left the school by 3 45 after signing the attendance roll.

School Induction Programme - Day 3🖤

 

Third day of the school induction programme was hectic. We reached the school by 9 15. The school had arranged breakfast for the students. The classes began after the prayer and pledge as usual. We signed the attendance roll and met the HM. Ashly, Bhagya and I were assigned a class in 5th standard. After a short interactive session, we made all of them participate in a word game. The game was to write different words that begin with a selected letter on the white board. The students actively participated in the game and read out the words written by them aloud after the game was completed. We spent the second hour in the 9th standard and held an interactive session. We asked the students about their ambitions and certain other things. 

We did the final preparations for the second lesson we had to take in 8th standard during the third hour. The second lesson in the 8th standard was a prose lesson where we dealt with the second part of the chapter titled 'The School for Sympathy'. The class went good. We were asked by the teachers to engage the students during two periods in the afternoon session.

The NSS volunteers of the school came and gave away a toy titled 'കില്ലാടി പാവ' symbolic of the struggle against drugs. They told us about various other activities undertaken by NSS and SPC. We were also given cup candles worth Rs.5 which were made by the NSS unit as part of vocational training.

After another busy day, we left the school by 3 45.

School Induction Programme - Day 2🖤

The second day of school induction programme was eventful. I took the city shuttle and reached the school by 9 15. The day ahead was hectic than last day. We went to the office, greeted the HM and signed our attendance roll. Right after the prayer and pledge, Ashly, Bhagya and I met Manju Teacher who had permitted us to observe her class. Her class was in Std VII. She began the new unit Light and Shade and started the lesson titled The lonely child and the Puppy. The students were made to read the script in group and given activities at the end of the class.

After the class, we talked to the teacher about the Language Lab, Hello English programme and other activities. She had given us the printout of the materials provided under Hello English and explained various classroom implications of it.

We were allotted a lesson in Std VIII as part of the school induction programme. The lesson was taken in shared manner by the three of us. The slot assigned was from 11 am to 11 40 am. One of the students gave chocolates to us and we wished her happy birthday. The English teacher came to the class and sat with the learners. She remained there till the comprehension part was over. I felt really nervous. However, we were able to complete the lesson properly as we had planned. The class was manageable and the learners were attentive and cooperative. 

The second class we had chosen for observation and reporting was that of Padmakumar Sir who handled Malayalam in HS section. He started a new unit titled കാലം ദര്‍ശിച്ച രസാനുഭൂതികള്‍ and explained the Introduction to the unit. He discussed about the various dimensions of LSRW skills and their development in students. 

We went to collect more data about the school and the co curricular activities took place there. We asked for permission from the teachers and took some photos too. We signed the attendance roll and left the school at 3 45 after national anthem.

School Induction Programme - Day 1🖤

It was the first day of the school induction programme. The group sent to GGHS Karamana consisted of 7 student teachers from English, Tamil and Natural Science optionals. We took the city shuttle and reached the school by 9. The first day started off really slow. We met the HM of the school Ms. Mini PV and discussed about the schedule and the things to be done. We were asked to meet the concerned optional teachers and finalise the schedule of our lessons. The classes started at 9 30 followed by the prayer and pledge. Everybody in the school was busy at the day marked the reopening of the school after a 11 day long vacation. Teachers were seen hurrying to the classrooms with bundles of answer sheets that carried the marks of the students' mid-term examinations. Almost every teacher spent the first class after vacation distributing the answer sheets, discussing the question paper and explaining the answers. We were given a classroom on the second floor to sit and keep our bags.

The entrance of the school had a wall painting of Ayyankali and Panchami. The painting commemorates Mahatma Ayyankali's revolution attempt to enroll a Pulaya girl in a government school in Ooruttambalam which led to violent acts perpetrated by the oppressor caste. It declared the history of the injustice meted out to the lower caste and their historic resistance.

Ashly, Bhagya and I met the English teacher and enquired about the portions to be taken. It was said that only a single unit is left for Standard VIII and XI and they are being handled by the trainee from another B.Ed college. We were asked to communicate with the trainee regarding the lessons and inform her. After the discussion, we were allotted the first chapter of the last unit of Std VIII coursebook titled 'School for sympathy' and the timetable was also provided. As the English teacher who handled the HS classes wasn't available to take proper classes, we asked the permission for observing the classes from two teachers who handled English in UP and Malayalam in HS section. Thus, by the end of first day, the schedules of the observation and the first lesson was finalised.

Later, we took a quick tour of the school to understand the infrastructure and basic facilities of the school and noted down the necessary details. The experience was brand new since the teachers and students of the school referred to us as 'teachers'. The first day of the school induction programme ended at 3 30 followed by the national anthem.

The Jolly Hollies..❄️🤶🏿🖤

 

Christmas is an opportunity for soaking in its quaint traditions and endearing rituals. The soul-stirring festive occasion not only sends a wave of joy to people all around , it brings hope to people and celebrates the idea of warmth and closeness of human relationships. Imbued with the spirit of love, sharing and togetherness, Christmas festival touches everyone’s hearts.

GCTE was already drenched in Christmas mood with the big star hung on the tree, the crib, the christmas tree and the practice sessions. The Christmas celebration was titled The Jolly Hollies. Everyone was dressed in red and white with christmas caps.

The formal inaugural session was chaired by Dr. VK Santhosh Kumar. Rev. Fr. Sunil M John, Vicar of Salem Marthoma Church Vazhuthacaud inaugurated the programme and conveyed the message of Christmas. He explained about Christmas, Christ's nativity and their deeper meanings. He said that Christmas is the celebration of the weak and the poor. Our beloved teachers Dr. Joly S and Dr. Isacc Paul, Manoj Kumar, Praveen Kumar S, Vishnu G and GS Smitha Nair extended felicitations to the programme. Sandhya A gave the welcome speech and the vote of thanks was rendered by Sibana S. The show stealer of the day was Kavya Sagar who left everyone amazed as the Santa Claus. Her entry was splendid and everyone cheered as she danced to 'Kannum kannum kaathirunnu..' She gave away gifts to the teachers and student teachers and cut the cake with the dignitaries onstage. Pieces of cake were distributed among the teachers and student teachers.

The spirit of christmas was elevated by the Carol songs sung by the student teachers. The day was full of energy and vibrance with songs, dance performances and games.

The Nativity play directed by Mariya George was the centre of attraction of the day. A Nativity play or Christmas pageant is a play which recounts the story of the Nativity of Jesus. We were assigned the characters of Mary, Joseph, Melchior, Caspar, Balthazar, Gabriel, Shepherds and Herod the Great. The play was the culmination of days-long efforts made by us and we felt proud as the curtain fell.

The final part of the day was the Treasure Hunt organized by the College Union. Student teachers were divided into 3 groups and given a color each. All three groups went in search of the clues and treasure and the treasure hunt literally left us exhausted! The clues were so confusing and ambiguous that everybody strived to crack the clues.

And that's the wrap-up to another Christmas celebration.

National Mathematics Day

National Mathematics Day is observed on 22 December every year to mark the birth anniversary of legendary Indian Mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. The day recognizes and celebrates his works. On this day, the genius mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was born in 1887. At a very young age, Srinivasa Ramanujan showed signs of an unfolding genius, and his contributions span across the areas including fractions, infinite series, number theory, mathematical analysis etc.

Mathematics Association organized a mathematical creative contest competiton as part of the celebration. It was titled 'Triangle Tribute'. Student teachers were divided into 5 groups. Every group had to make a creative work using triangles only. Though this sounded a bit odd, the final works of the groups were impressive. The works were judged on the basis of creativity and originality of the work, accuracy in drawing triangles, theme of the work, neatness and clarity of work and overall impression of the work. The assembly conducted by the Mathematics association as part of the celebrations was informative. The prizes for the winners of the contest were also distributed in the assembly.