Day Two

Day Two in Bangalore, we had our first school visit to Vasanthnagar, a Government School.  I observed a math class for multi grade levels in which students used kinesthetic cubes for adding two digit numbers.  All students worked on the same lesson, though the class included three grade levels.                    

                                                                                                      

You could feel the passion for education by the staff but the school is struggling with enrollment.  Early on the tour, during the morning assembly, I observed a younger sister spending the day with her older sister, until she is ready to attend the Pre-K class independently.  If this was not allowed, the older sister would have to stay at home to watch her sister, and both girls would miss school.  I am curious when the younger sister will be ready to make the transition and complement the class for taking her under their wings.

Though the RTE act requires students to attend school, a teacher shared they lose some older students who need to earn money working seasonally or as servants. In this case they may miss school, attend and be tired, or attend a shorter day.   How fortunate we are in the US to have “Work Based Learning Paid Employment” in which students are given the opportunity to work and earn school credit for graduation at the same time.

Next we debriefed our first school visit with Indira from The Teacher Foundation.  I had the chance to learn more about the school I would be visiting for one week in Hyderabad and shared my outline for a Professional Development session, or “Workshop” as it is called in India, on “Differentiation and Project Based Learning.”  Overall, students with learning challenges in India do not get the small group or one on one support we offer students in the US.  Just looking at sheer numbers alone, with a class in India of 40 students and one teacher, how can students with a gap in skill development get the support they need to be successful? 

That evening we enjoyed a Cultural Dinner at Carnival De Goa, there was good service, food, music, and conversation to cap off the day.