The challenges teachers face!

The Teacher Foundation, Hyderabad Centre conducted its inaugural Afternoons with TTF at Sparkling Stars , The compete School (A unit of VSK Memorial High School) on  24 March 2011 on  'Shades of Our Teachers'.  Around 30 Teachers from 5 different schools paricipated in the session. Ms Sridevi, the Principal of the host school initiated the session with a short inspirational address. The session initially focused on arriving at some crucial roles that teachers play and the challenges they face while doing that. Further, the session helped teachers arrive at solutions to one of those challenges.

Overall, the session was well packed by most teachers contributing to identification of challenges in each of the role, choosing one challenge as being widely faced by the teachers and arriving at possible solutions to meet the situation adroitly. Ms. Hemalatha, The Correspondent of Sri Vidyanjali school  opined, “The session was very lively and we are looking forward to more of such ones.”   Ms. Sunitha of VSK Memorial School said, “ The session was very well organised, I don't want to miss out any AWTTF and I shall be grateful if there is more duration allotted for such intellectual discussions”.

The TTF Hyderabad Team feels more energised to have done a sataisfying job for its participants and appreciate the deep involvement of all the participating teachers!

Posted by Anuradha, Coordinator - School Relationship Management, TTF Hyderabad Centre

Read More...

Shades of our Teachers!

TTF Hyderabad Centre is organizing another "Afternoons with TTF"– a forum for teachers from different schools to facilitate exchange of thoughts and ideas related to schools, education, teaching and learning. 'Afternoons with TTF' is held on a weekday, once a month. There would be a different theme for each month. They enable focused small group interactions, therefore the learnings from these sessions would be more personal and internalized. These are free and open for teachers of Hyderabad City Schools.

The inaugural session of 'Afternoons with TTF' organized by TTF Hyderabad Centre is on Thursday, March 24 from 2pm -3:30pm at Sparkling Stars, The Complete School (A unit of VSK School) Vivekanandanagar colony , Kukatpally, Hyderabad. The theme for this session of Our"Afternoons with TTF" is 'Shades of our Teachers'.

Teachers are not mere academic instructors. In our rapidly changing world, teachers play a far more strategic and often difficult role with helping their students become well adjusted, global citizens in a world that is not easy to live in. What are these varied and complex roles that teachers play? How can we better equip them to straddle  roles that have stretched beyond just teaching? We will explore these issues and throw the floor open for an animated discussion with teachers.

Venue
Sparkling Stars School (VSK Memorial High School)
Vivekananda Nagar
Colony Extn
Kukatpally,
Hyderabad

Direction
In vivekanandanagar
1. Take the lane opposite Reliance Fresh
2. At the dead end, take left
3. Take second right ( into HP gas godown lane)
4. Take a right after the play ground (you can find a direction board of VSK at the ground)

Landmark
HP Gas Godown lane/ VSK gardens

We request you to confirm your participation and register the teachers' names attending session not later  than 21 March 2011, so that we accomodate you. 

Read More...

3Ms in Hyderabad!

35 delegates from 20 reputed schools in Hyderabad participated in The TNet Heads' organised by The Teacher Foundation -Hyderabad Centre on February 11, 2011  at The Central Court Hotel . Maya Menon-The Founder Director extending a warm welcome on the evening, addressed the delegates and took them through the 3m approach of managing schools in 2011. The 3M approach has been devised by  by The Teacher Foundation that envisages all the challenges of managing schools  and deals with how 3M approach could be proven handy in successful management of schools.

The delegates actively participated in the seminar and contributed their ideas. The informal resolutions indicated adequately that the delegates realised that Education has been undergoing enormous developments and there is every need to adapt to those changes. The Teacher Foundation highlighted its courses and programmes that would serve as a prime link between the the inevitable change and how to change effectively to manage succesful schools! The delegates expressed their deep contentment in attending the seminar and that they would look forward to more of such initiaves in the future.

More photographs from the event here.

Posted by K V Atriya, Coordinator, Teacher Training and Support, TTF Hyderabad Centre 

Read More...

Everyone has a role to play!

The Teacher Foundation, Hyderabad Centre organized "Breaking Patterns, Creating Change" a two-day training on “Theatre of the Oppressed” on 29 Jan and 30 Jan 2011 at Kennedy High The Global School, Hyderabad facilitated by Marc Weinblatt, an internationally renowned theatre artist. He began with an informal introduction of the theme and expressed that he believed in experiential learning and therefore avoided to preach theories and instead involved the participants in multifarious image-makings in different forms and postures of themselves,each one of which was based on a particular theme that apparently made the participants to think what they are, how they are and in its corresponding image made them to think on what they like and what they want to be. Image Theatre was a wonderful technique in which a series of physical exercises and games were experienced by the participants to uncover essential truths about self. Using their own and others' bodies as "clay", participants "sculpted" statues -- still images representing their experiences, feelings, ideas, oppressions, and/or dreams.

Every theme had a message that was technically intertwined with the activity and those were revealed through short discussions. One of the prime aims that came to be realized by the participants was that everyone of us in a some or other way have a role to play in which they are the oppressed and so can be the case of  students we deal with.

At the end there were discussions relating to each of the activity as to identify some of the major concerns teachers have in their professional lives and as to what can be done to make our professions more lively and contributing.

The participating teachers found immmense value in the workshop. One of the teachers, Swathi expressed “the workshop gave an opportunity to explore ways to analyse self and relate ourselves to others in a more effective manner”

Posted by Rama Mavuri, Centre Coordinator, TTF Hyderabad

---

More photographs of the event here!

Read More...

What do we have on offer in 2011-12?

Are you looking for a school development or teacher training programme that will dramatically improve the quality of teaching and learning in your school? Well, we are here to help you choose. TTF has several tested programmes that are so well-grounded in the reality of the “Indian” classroom, that they receive extremely good feedback from teachers and schools who go through them. TTF's services and support systems for teachers are the products of dedicated and focused research by school education specialists, who work very closely with Indian Schools. Following is a map of what TTF can offer your school in 2011- 12:

Which of the above would you like to choose for your school? If you would like to know more about any of the above mentioned programmes/courses, contact us online or call any of our centres in Bangalore, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Haveri, Hubli, Yadgiri or Mysore. 

Read More...

Breaking Patterns, Creating Change - a 2-day training in Theatre of the Oppressed

Here is yet another novel learning opportunity for the teachers of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad - Breaking Patterns, Creating Change, a 2-day training for teachers in Theatre of the Oppressed by Marc Weinblatt on January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2011. This workshop promises to be a life-changing, inspirational experience for participating members!

What is Theater of the Oppressed?
Developed by Augusto Boal, the Brazilian visionary, Theater of the Oppressed (TO) is a form of community-based education. It is also a tool for transformation – of the individual, as well as groups and communities. TO invites critical thinking and authentic communication. It is about analyzing rather than accepting, questioning rather than giving answers. It is also about “acting” rather than just talking.

Marc Weinblatt is the founder director of Mandala Center for Change, an international hub for the training and grassroots practice of TO. Marc regularly facilitates TO sessions working with diverse communities ranging from police and homeless youth to University professors! His work stems from his deep commitment to bringing a sense of spirit, humanity and social justice. These are qualities all of us as teachers need to urgently hone.

Venue: KENNEDY HIGH The Global School , Bachpally, Miyapur -Medchal Highway, Hyderabad-500 090
Date: January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2011
Timings: 9.30a.m- 4.30p.m

During these 2 days participants will be trained with a range of theatre exercises to explore sensitivity, compassion and understanding of human interactions. We have very limited seats and so we urge you to hurry and confirm your school's participation! Participation Fee: Rs. 2000/- per head.

Image from  MCFC Website

Read More...

Erica's magic in Hyderabad!

Erica Brouns, an international trainer in mathematics methodologies and a visiting faculty of The Teacher Foundation, was here in Hyderabad on December 3, 2010 and December 4, 2010, for 'Mathemagic' a two day workshop organised at Manthan International School. 30 mathematics teachers, handling grades 5-8, from 13 schools in Hyderabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts participated in the workshop.

Erica's workshop dealt with various concepts from different areas of the subject, to show teachers how they can make mathematics more accessible to children. The idea of simplifying a mathematics concept for easier understanding by the learners won the admiration of all the participants. The workshop had an amazing impact on its participants and all of them believed that it was a precious workshop worth attending.

Mr Ramakrshna Reddy, the Director of Manthan International School, who was also a participant in the workshop, said,  “ such workshops add to the quality of teaching and learnings in the classrooms and there should be more of such kind.” Shinee of DAV(p) School, Safilguda branch said that the workshop was very effective in terms of recreating various methodologies that offers the learners a real learning experience through complete involvement.

Posted by Anuradha B, Coordinator-School Relationship Management, TTF Hyderabad

Read More...

Training teachers to promote caring schools!

89 teachers from leading schools in Hyderabad participated in the two-day Quality Circle Time Workshop organized by The Teacher Foundation at Meridian School, Hyderabad on 15 November 2010 and 16 November 2010. The two-day session led by Jenny Mosley, the reputed UK-based education consultant and best selling author, was a thrilling as well as great learning experience.

How do we maintain a positive atmosphere in our school, based on a sense of community and shared values? How do we have a high degree of consensus about the standards of behaviour among staff, pupils and parent? How do we deal with 'bad' behaviour? How do we work as a team to develop whole school approaches to promote good behaviour in our school? How do we promote mutual respect, self-discipline and social responsibility among our students and staff? How can we effectively communicate with our parents?  Jenny Mosley's Quality Circle Time Model helps schools find answers to these and many more questions that schools have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. The Teacher Foundation trains Indian teachers to use Quality Circle Time Model and helps to make our schools caring places. The QCT workshop in Hyderabad with Jenny Mosley, who has pioneered the Whole School Quality Circle Time Model in thousands of schools in the UK and world over, was another giant leap in that direction.

The two-day session on QCT in Hyderabad began with Maya Menon, Founder Director of The Teacher Foundation briefing the participating educators about QCT and how it can bring in positive differences in teaching and learning that will influence the learner behaviour and learning styles. Jenny took over with her apt examples and practical  logic, helping teachers experience how they can enable pupils of all ages, at their own level, to reflect on aspects of their lives and how to help them learn to listen to others, to be tolerant of other viewpoints and to respect fellow learners. One of the participating teachers said, “I could never imagine that a teacher can bring in such levels of energetic enthusiasm in classrooms and technically plant positive behaviours among the learners”.

Children of Grade III and VIII joined as participants and Jenny conducted 'Circle Time' with them, exemplifying how effectively learners can gain multiple skills and multiple  values through QCT. The workshop concluded on 16 November 2010 with a presentation by Prakash Nedungadi, Director Development-The Teacher Foundation, on the 'Range of  Services' The Teacher Foundation offers to schools.  The participating educators expressed that they found a great value in the workshop and some of the schools have promised to work towards implementing QCT in their schools.  

Posted by Rama Devi Mavuri, Centre Coordinator, TTF Hyderabad

Read More...

MatheMagic - Lets Create Magic with Maths!

The Teacher Foundation, Bangalore is organizing MatheMagic in Hyderabad. This course is being led by Erica Brouns, a guest faculty member at TTF.

Erica is a visiting International Consultant for the Mathagondapalli Education Centre that runs the Mathagondapalli Model School for underprivileged children from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. She has a degree in Physics and Math, a Certificate in Education and a 'big booming personality’! Erica has taught in UK, Europe, Africa and South Asia. She has also taught Mathematics to International Baccalaureate students (Stds.11 & 12).

She likes sharing her ideas with other teachers and has conducted many workshops for Indian teachers through The Teacher Foundation. Erica has a sound understanding of International and Indian curricula.

MatheMagic: photograph from one of Erica's
workshops in Bangalore

The MatheMagic workshop is based on the premise that school education must support a better connection between daily life and the curriculum and use exploration as the means for conceptual understanding.

Teachers will explore teaching strategies that enhance children’s liking for and a deeper connection of the real life relevance of Mathematics. Inculcating a love for the subject and eliminating fear goes a long way in achieving sound numeracy skills. Erica’s workshop will enable  maths teachers to experience for themselves how, using various easily found materials, helps students to understand the concepts better and apply and remember what they have learnt.

There is much agreement in the work of researchers that active learning has a positive and lasting impact on children’s learning in pre-school and the early years of primary school. Active learning is an appropriate way for children to develop vital skills and knowledge and a positive attitude to learning.

These workshops are an attempt to help teachers understand the building blocks necessary for a child to develop true Math sense and sensibility. They will discover through hands-on experience how to nurture mathematical beliefs. These beliefs influence their thinking about, performance, wonder, creativity, and understanding in their classrooms for the early learners.

For:  Maths teachers of 5th - 8th grades

Venue:  Manthan International School, Madhapur, Hyderabad

Dates: 3 and 4  December 2010 (From 9 am-4 pm)

We look forward to having your teachers benefit from this workshop. Since seats are limited we look forward to receiving your speedy confirmation. 

Read More...

'Quality Circle Time' in Hyderabad with Jenny Mosley !!

Do you believe that fostering healthy relationships between teachers,students and staff as well as positive approach towards discipline and student-teacher relationship are the key to an institutions success? Are you looking for a creative and democratic approach to providing your teachers a support system that enables them to deal with range of such issues?

Then, Quality Circle Time will be one such experience that is sure of be 'one of its kind'....

Click here to read more about Quality Circle Time in Hyderabad!

Read More...