Namaste All!
Right in the beginning of the year we, the
mentors of grade 5, decided to instill news sense into the students. It is very
appropriate age to instill the same in the kids. While our curriculum exposes
them to chapters like government and civilizations, it was very important that
they know and connect in a better way to the world.
We at our school have circle time where we
discuss what we did the previous day and how we feel about whatever we did. It
is a healthy discussion that promotes expression. During the same time, every
day we encouraged students to find out what happens around the world and how we
feel about it.
So why do we need to know about news or the
least instill the same in such young kids? Reading news is a habit. We often
find our elders at the home with a newspaper in hand and cup of tea in hand
almost daily. Newspapers, channels, and websites displaying news are tiny
windows to the world. As citizens of the world it is necessary for us to know
more about the world we live in, think about it critically and do our bit
wherever necessary.
This is a habit we need in our kids too.
They might be initially we reluctant to read news on a daily basis. But as time
passes by we believe that they will love being in touch with the world. We,
here at SMIS, not just nurture leaders, but just leaders, leaders who know
their surroundings, who can tell the right from the wrong.
It is compulsory for every student to bring
a new piece each. Each time a student comes out with a news piece, we discuss
the in the class to understand both the good and bad elements of it. Not only
did it abridge the students with the world today, but the discussion that
followed also gave them a heads up on what is ethically right and wrong done by
the leaders or fellow human beings.
We, at SMIS, have seen a positive change in
our kids. The parents of our students have shared that students at their homes
put on news channel or talk to their elders or skim through newspapers every
day to find out news. Their news sense has improved with time. This has also
targeted in improving their language. As they read the newspapers and sites
they language skills improve as well.
As an elder we need your participation too.
You can encourage reading news. Explain the importance of being a global
citizen. Discuss important issues of the world and ask your child to express
their ideas about the news.
We aim at making reading news a regular
habit. Making an individual aware of their surroundings, helping them become a
better citizen for a better tomorrow is something that we target here.
- Deepti Venugopal
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