Sparkling Mindz
  • Home
  • School
    • Young Changemakers' Summit
    • Changemaker Missions >
      • SM Plates (Healthy Food Practices)
      • TRUI (Climate Change)
      • CSP (Community, Stories and Practices)
      • MCV (Mission Child Vulnerability)
    • Poetic Fete
  • Preschool
  • Programs
    • Young Thinkers and Achievers
    • Early Learner's Enrichment
    • Summer Camps
  • Enquiry
  • Testimonials
  • Blog

Are we "testing" our children too much?

27/8/2012

Comments

 
There are lots and lots of exams and tests that children take all throughout schools. But we are not talking about that here. We are talking about what we as parents do with our children.  A test need not always be in the written form or in a formal set-up. So then what is a test? Is it a way to find out what a child doesn't know or what he knows? 

We often test our children when we ask, "Do you know the names of all the continents in the world?"  instead of saying " Let us talk about continents!".
 
Would a child be happy and eager to be tested if the tests only exposed their ignorance or shortcomings? Would the child see the test as a fun activity or a stressful one? In fact, they begin to associate the 'whole' act of asking questions with the 'act' of testing rather than a 'fun' way to learn and explore. Which is the sad part :(.
 
While a certain amount of testing is definitely needed to evaluate, motivate and challenge the child, if we want them to learn more - there other ways to do so:
  • Provide opportunities for the child to showcase what he/she already knows
  • Engage him/her with new challenges in a positive environment to make learning fun
  • Be encouraging and supportive in both cases

Do share with us other ways to make learning enjoyable for children.

Contributed by Anubha Jain, currently a learning facilitator with Sparkling Mindz. She is an MBA graduate from a premier institute and an Engineer prior to that. She also has several years of corporate experience under her belt. She has chosen to shift her career to work with children.
Comments

What makes a good singer 'great'?

20/8/2012

Comments

 
Lakhs of people are 'good' singers, but ever wondered what makes one of them 'great'?

Is it just mere LUCK? Then, all of us should roll the die and wait for it to tell our futures! Or just the fact that you were in fact born with a 'Golden Voice'. You might be gifted with a good voice but singing is an art, no doubt, learnt with years of practice. You master the nitty gritties of pitch, rhythm and raaga to gear up up for performances. What, then, differentiates a 'good' singer from a 'great' one? 

I'd have to say, the following:
  1. Confidence in their own ability. Confidence to get up on the stage and perform without becoming a bundle of nerves
  2. Self-Awareness, knowing limits of their own abilities, knowing what aspects of their singing still needs work, knowing which song highlights their strengths
  3. Ability to Think Out of The Box - the ability to surprise others, bring out something unique by combining your strengths, giving that unique twist to an existing song that gives you the edge
  4. Ability to create a unique niche - systematically analyzing what made others great, sizing up existing competition and consistently displaying a unique trait that catches people's attention
  5. Willingness to look beyond failures - not giving up too quickly on your dreams, in fact using minor failures to fuel their 'inner voice'
  6. Last but not the least, dogged determination - believing in yourself (not foolishly, not without self-awareness, but still...) even when no one else did, waking up early in the morning to put in the necessary hours of practice and giving yourself every opportunity you can to succeed

I'm not saying that every child who can sing should focus on becoming a 'great' singer. Only if that is what you want to do in life! 

Now, come to think of it every career requires these skills and possibly, one of the best gifts we, as parents, can gift our children today are these skills. If you are interested to find out how to cultivate these skills in your children today, you can reach us here and we would be glad to work with you!
Comments

Book Review: The Diary of Amos Lee

15/8/2012

Comments

 
I was at a children's book library recently when i glanced upon a book with an intriguing title and cover page.
Thought of giving it a shot and little did i know i would stumble upon something so entertaining yet full of learning for children in the 8-13 years age group.
 
The book i am talking about is called "The Diary of Amos Lee - I Sit, I Write, i Flush" - written by Adeline Foo.
 
The bold title may turn some parents off due to its apparent setting, but in reality it offers a lot of lessons to pre-teens without being preachy. It is written as the diary of a 9 year old boy; Amos and is set in Singapore. The book has gained huge popularity among the Asian audience and here is the author's summary of the book for those unfamiliar with it: http://www.amoslee.com.sg/home.html

In simple but engrossing language, the book shows that the everyday life of child like Amos is laced with opportunities and challenges and how he uses various thinking skills to tackle them. Amos helps his mother with her writing assignments and demonstrates creativity and communication skills in his own writing. He is faced with challenges at school in the form of a bully and trouble with best friend and after some hiccups, he resolves them by using interpersonal skills and making the right decisions in line with his values. Throughout the book he takes up interesting assignments and even tries his hand at entrepreneurship - all of which require him to be resourceful, apply critical thinking and work in teams.
 
The creative illustrations help keep up the entertainment quotient of the book and its a delightful read for the young and adults alike.

Contributed by Anubha Jain, currently a learning facilitator with Sparkling Mindz. She is an MBA graduate from SP Jain and also has several years of corporate experience under her belt. She has chosen to shift her career to work with children.
Comments

    RSS Feed

    RSS Feed​

    Sparkling Mindz is an organization with a vision to create millions of confident thinkers and communicators amongst our children!

    ​You can read more on...

    CEO's FB Page

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    July 2017
    June 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    July 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    21
    21stcenturylearning
    2 Year Olds
    3 Year Olds
    4 Year Olds
    4-year-olds
    5 7 Year Olds
    5-7 Year Olds
    5 Year Olds
    5-year Olds
    8 13 Years
    8-13 Years
    Activity Modules
    Add
    Adhd
    Afterschool Program
    Age Appropriate Session
    Age-appropriate Session
    Age Group
    Awards And Recognition
    Bangalore
    Being Changemakers
    Book Reading
    Child Development
    Children Making Friends
    Children's Activities
    Children's Workshop
    Children's Workshops
    Collaboration
    Communication Skills
    Communication Skills Workshop
    Community
    Concluding Sessions
    Confidence
    Confident Learners
    Confident Thinkers
    Conflict Management
    Conscious Parenting
    Creative Individuals
    Creative Thinking
    Creative Thinking For Kids
    Creative Thinking Summer Camp
    Creative Thinking Summer Camps
    Creative Thinking Tools
    Creative Thinking Workshop
    Creative Thinking Workshops
    Creativity
    Creativity For Children
    Critical Thinking
    Critical Thinking Workshop
    Curiosity
    Deep Learning
    Deep Thinking
    Dep
    Developing Creativity
    Distracted Behavior
    Documentation
    E
    Emergent Curriculum
    Emergent Play
    Emotional Quotient
    Emotional Vocabulary
    Emotions In Learning
    Empathy
    Everychildcan
    Experimenting
    Exploring Emotions
    Facilitation
    Facilitator Discussion Diaries
    Flexibility
    Flexible Brain
    Following Your Passion
    Fun Activities
    Fun Activities For Children
    Fun Modules
    Fun Places For Children
    Game Based Learning
    Games For Kids
    Getting A Quiet Child To Talk
    Growth Mindset
    Holistic Development
    Hyperactivity
    Imagination
    Imagining-with-blocks
    Impulsivity
    Innovative Learning
    Innovators
    Inquisitive Children
    Inspiration
    Inspirational Stand Up
    Inspiring Confident Communicators
    Inspiring Confident Learners
    Interpersonal Skills
    Invitation To Play
    Joy
    Joyous Learning
    Just Books
    Keys To Success
    Kindness
    Lateral Thinking
    Learning For Keeps
    Learning From Play
    Learning Styles
    Learning To Make Friends
    Light Play
    Logical Reasoning
    Making Connections
    Motivation Skills
    Music
    Natural Things
    Nature Of Creativity
    Nature Walk
    New Age Classrooms
    Open Ended Thinking
    Openness To New Expeiences
    Ownership In Children
    Parenting As A Skill
    Parent Invites
    Parent Testimonials
    Parent Workshop
    Peer Intervention
    Play Based Learning
    Playschool
    Poem For Children
    Poem For Children 8+ Years
    Positive Attitude
    Preschool
    Preschool Activities
    Preschool Games
    Preschoollibraryactivity
    Pretend Play
    Problem Solving
    Programs For Children
    Reframing
    Regg
    Reggio Documentation
    Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool
    Reggio-emilia Inspired Preschool
    Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool India
    Reggio-emilia Inspired Preschool India
    Reggio Emilia Inspired School
    Reggio Emilia Preschool Bangalore
    Resolving Disputes
    Resolving Fights Amongst Children
    Role Plays
    Self Expression
    Self Identity
    Self-identity
    Self Learning
    Self-learning
    Selflove
    Sensory Play
    Shy Child
    Shy Child To Talk
    Skills
    Social Emotional Learning
    Social-emotional Learning
    Sparkling Mindz
    Sparkling Mindz Stories
    Sports
    Stories
    Story Telling
    Story-telling
    Success Stories
    Summer Camp
    Summer Camp 2012
    Summer Camps
    Takehome
    Team Work
    Thinkers
    Thinking
    Thinking As A Habit
    Thinking As A Process
    Thinking Corner
    Thinking Program
    Thinking Skill
    Thinking Skills
    Thinking Skills For Children
    Thinking Skills Program
    Tinkering
    Traditional-classroom
    Trust Based Parenting
    Understanding-children
    Value Based Learning
    Visit To Park
    Visualization
    Weekend Activities For Children
    Wittyconversations
    Wonder Based Learning
    Workshop For Kids
    Workshops For Children
    Workshops For Kids
    Young Achievers Academy
    Young Thinkers Academy

Announcements

Admissions are open for 2020-21 batches. Limited seats remaining. Call us at +91 9900080331/2 for more details. Click here to register.

The season 3 of our TED-Ed Clubs are open now! As we are waiting for talks to get published, you can see past videos here!
​​
Next Trinity Communication Skills exam will be held in Oct 2020 at Sparkling Mindz. Our students have achieved distinction across grade levels in the exam the past two consecutive years! Enroll in our Young Thinkers and Achievers Program here today to participate. 


If you are passionate about innovative and joyous teaching and learning and want to be a part of SM Community. Apply here!

Locations
Hennur - 8/4, Kannuru, Bidarahalli Hobli, Hennur-Bagalur Road, Bangalore 562149
Kalyan Nagar - 408, 2nd Floor, 5th Main, HRBR Layout 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore - 43

Contact Details
Mobile: +91 9900080331

                 +91 9900080332
Phone: +91 80 4111 5607
Email: contact@sparklingmindz.in

Company

About Us
Team
​
Child-Led Missions
Careers
Media

Support

Contact
FAQ
Terms of Use
​Privacy Policy
© COPYRIGHT 2011-2023 AVIDA EDUCATIONAL TRUST.