​Happy women's Day to all the amazing, beautiful women who have touched my life in innumerable ways. 

I rise  (Inspired by Maya Angelou's - Still I rise)

Like the tides in the ocean 
That have seen many lives
I rise

Like the gentle breeze
That touches everyone
I rise

Like the specks of dust
Trampled beneath
I rise

Like the vapour in the water
When brought to a boil
I rise

Like the fury of the fire
Stoked by a gust of wind
I rise

Like the clouds that gather 
All their might 
I fall

But, fierce and mighty
Like the sun
I rise again and again and again.

And, like a ray of hope
Amidst despair and gloom
I will always rise.

- Sreeja Iyer
​
#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#youngacgieversacademy
#sundaymusings
#everychildcan
#poetry
​

On a gloomy Monday afternoon, the facilitators at SM were busy preparing for their classes next day when T (a 5 year old pre-schooler) walked in and sat on a facilitator's chair.
F: Do you want to be a facilitator?
T: I want to be a scientist! 
F: What does it mean to be a scientist?
T: (now in thoughts and guestured to not know) What does a scientist even do?
F: But you wanted to be one? 
T: Maybe I want to be a doctor or a librarian. I have not decided yet, when I become fifteen I'll get to choose.
(Something strikes her and she continues) Ah! I know! I want to explore space, I want to learn about the universe, I wish to be the first kid on space. Hmmm... What's a space ship driver called?
F: You mean an astronaut?
T: Yes! I want to be an astronaut.
T: (still thinking) Maybe I want to be a writer! 
F: What would you write then?
T: When somebody goes missing, I 'll write missing on a paper and put it up so that they can find them.
T: (continued with her eyes sparkling as bright as the sun compensating for the gloom outside) maybe I'll write stories!
T: Hmmm... Maybe I'll be a zookeeper, I love animals specially dinosaurs.
F: Do we have dinosaurs in the zoos now?
T: No, they died 15 million years ago, but I'll draw them... I'll become a zookeeper!
T: (seeming confused) they are all so cool, I'm unable to decide!

By then, her Mom arrived to pick her and she leaves. as she left, she screamed out loud from the door, "Ma'am! I want to be a tooth fairy"

If we can sustain this unique and imaginative thinking through their schooling years we would have succeeded in creating individuals that will carve their own unique paths and become changemakers in their own right!

#reggioemiliainspiredlearning
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
​#inspiringconfidentlearners

​Contributed by Yashika CG, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

As the pups and calves discovered more about our country India and learnt about its special day and coming together to celebrate it as fellow Indians, here is a compilation of our precious little ones singing the "variety song" which shows off their patriotism towards celebrating India's 74th Independence day together! ​

**Long Post Alert**

If you think of the word interview and the words ‘nervous’, ‘scary’, ‘dread’, ‘boring’ or any of those come to your mind, it is clear that you have probably not had an interview at Sparkling Mindz Global School. At SM, we have a learning area called ‘LIFE’, short for Learning Is Forever and Everywhere, and we take that very seriously. Even an interview is a learning experience for both, the interviewer and the interviewee. In the beginning of April, we had an interview which led to the resolution of deep-seated beliefs about the learning of math for one of the facilitators who was part of the interview team. It was also a refreshing experience for the interviewee, S, who saw math and math anxiety in a whole new light. As if this was not enough, all the people involved in the interview also had an ‘aha’ moment about maths during the interview! 

The interviewee, S, writes: 

Expect the Unexpected 

“Expect the unexpected” that’s exactly what you should expect in Sparkling Mindz. And I had my first such experience in my Interview itself!!! 

I had to do a demo session on Parallel lines for 4-6th graders... After the 1st demo session, I had a few comments as the areas of improvement and then the very next day I had to redo the session. 
All the feedback was explained well with examples and the need for making the specific changes. I was able to relate to them and understood how to implement the same. With all those inputs and a quick connect with one of the facilitators helped me to gather my thoughts and structure my day 2. 

All Set!! 

My session was now on an overarching umbrella - Lines... the students were a mix of those liking math, those not liking, some knowing some of the topic, some not knowing much of it......But when I started, each one of them was enthused and excited, because I asked them to draw their favourite imaginary toy!! 

That’s how we started “the lines” After putting their imaginary toys on the paper, talking about them a little.... It was the moment I introduced the lines – vertical, horizontal, slanting... 

Then I brought in the second line!! 

So while explaining the parallel lines, One of them called out- 
“Ma’am are all HORIZONTAL LINES Parallel lines? 
Woooohhhhhhoooo!!! that was the Aahaaaaa moment!! 

It was exciting... the student discovered something so did I... And so did my interviewer who was silently watching all that was happening in the session!! 

All VERTICAL LINES are PARALLEL lines too!!! The joy and the pride on the face of the student for being able to say something so important was satisfying and is unexplainable in words for me.......It was not a part of my script.... 

While there will be those difficult questions that the I would not have thought thru during the preps and may throw me completely off track, I realised at that moment, there will also be THESE moments when I will discover many the wonderful things with children!!!And that’s what all the hard work will be worth for! 

The Facilitator, P, writes: 
The Class in which I found math (and the ball found it’s lines) 

As I sat for the second math class of my adult life, I was not sure if history was going to repeat itself. Well, it had already repeated itself yesterday, when in the middle of the class a veil fell upon me. The old familiar veil of ‘I can never get this’. Now this is a transparent veil, and it is difficult to spot it. Also this is a layered veil. It is made up of many emotions and thoughts, like: ‘I hate this’, ‘I am not getting this so this must not be worth getting’, ‘But the others are getting it so maybe it is worth getting but I lack the ability to get it’. Between all of these though, and the most difficult one to spot, is ‘I want to get this!’

This veil has often been the reason I have had a strange relationship with math. As I write ‘have had’ in the past tense, I realize that an opening has been made and I have a chance to open the veil and look through in some way. 

So, what made the unimaginable happen?

This was a repeat of the class on parallel lines conducted by one of the interviewees, S at SM. Just yesterday, I thought parallel lines are a farce, an illusionary concept that does not exist in life. I gave a lot of feedback during and after class to the interviewee with the view that another child shouldn’t ever sit through a math class and feel anxious like I did, another child shouldn’t have to face the veil and be helpless about it and if I could do anything to change how a child might feel in a math class I’d do it. So, today again, despite my meltdown and math anxiety, I went with an open mind. Let me give the person a chance, let the person use the feedback that was given by us to account for the emotions of students, look at the big picture of a concept and not just narrowly look at parallel lines, define and establish purpose and connect for the students etc. - I went to try and understand what lines are, what line segments are. I told myself let me not be that student in the English class who, in the middle of a very evocative poem, asks,“but how can the moon talk!?”...It can’t, but the poem does not mean to say the moon is talking literally, it is a representation, a symbol, a form. So I thought let me not break apart the form of mathematics. Let me stick to the piece of paper, to line segments and see what unfolds. Little did I know that a lot was going to unfold. 

The interviewee had taken the feedback well and planned a very different class. At the outset, we were asked to draw an imaginary toy and I drew a ball. Why did I draw a ball when I could have easily drawn something with straightforward lines on it? Well, partly to test mathematics, and partly because well: I think it was just to test mathematics. 
“Oh! You say lines are everywhere. This is my ball, where are your lines?” 
“A circle is a curved line.”
 Okay, I melt a little bit. 

Who said learning has to ever stop even when we are quarantined? 

Today we met our 5 to 6 year olds on Zoom for a year end reflection session. As discussed, they all waited for their turn to share, learned to speak by independently, talked about their favorite memories from their class. They also bid farewell and sent love and good wishes to those they will not be seeing next year as they move to Dolphins (1st grade) and mostly, they held space for each other.

They learned that learning can happen anywhere!

#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#youngachieversacademy
#21stcenturylearning
​#everychildcan

In tough times like these, how can one learn to remain inspired and committed to the greater vision, mission and purpose? As the saying goes, 'Tough times don't last, tough teams do...!' 

This is how we choose to stay together, our SM community. We hold the fort down, we got each other. And we invite you to explore your life and share with us how you stay inspired and joyful.

#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#inspirationstandup
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#youngachieversacademy
#21stcenturylearning
#socialemotionallearning
#buildingcommunity

Quest for a personality development programs for my child

 A year ago, I was the distraught parent of a shy and timid child groping for answers to my questions. My five year old was not the exuberant, confident and outgoing child that I wanted her to be.  My quest for a sound personality development programme in the neighborhood was unfruitful. The prospect of sending my child to an activity center where children are herded in droves did not appeal to me.  About eight months ago I saw an ad for Sparkling Minds and it changed everything. Here was a fresh and innovative approach to a child’s development using an activity based approach centred around NLP and MI. It was very evident from their website and brochures that a lot of sound research had gone into the design of these programmes. Working in groups of ten meant individual attention to each child. Finally, the impressive credentials of the founders reassured me that my child would be in safe hands.

First exposure to 21st Century Skills - becoming greedier!

The first interaction with the coordinator opened a world of possibilities beyond personality development. They were offering to groom my child to become a 21st century citizen with attributes like interpersonal skills, independent thinking, sound decisions making, leadership etc. This was more comprehensive than any generic personality development program. The holistic feedback system would ensure that I would know the best way to work with my daughter. From being confused and worried, I became optimistic and maybe even a little greedy about this whole new world of possibilities.

New Learning Experiences & Lovin’ It!

It has been four months since I started this relationship with SM and I have loved every minute of it! My daughter loved going to Sparkling Mindz right from the word go. The facilitators, the activities and the carefully designed rooms made her very happy. In the first few days itself, I saw a never before eagerness in her to be a part of everything.  Even at home and at school, her social interactions and confidence improved.  She became enthusiastic to participate and perform without any inhibitions.

There is way more, if you look carefully…

While these changes were noticeable in the initial couple of months, imbibing attributes like self-confidence, not buckling to peer pressure, learning smartly, listening and observation, structured thinking etc. happened later.  About three or four months into the program, my daughter started displaying the above attributes in her own small ways. 

• She started becoming curious about learning the process behind any activity or product
  
• She subconsciously breaks down any given task into steps for better execution
  
• She figured out on her own that if 5+5=10, diving 10 by 2 would be 5 without any prior exposure to the principles of division
  
• She started using rhyming words to remember spellings better
  

This morning she stumped me again. We were watching a show called Mr.Maker on Discovery Kids, which was previously aired on CeeBeeBees. The final credits alluded to ceebeebees.com. Pat came the question as to why should ceebeebees be a part of the credits if the programme has already transitioned to Discovery Kids, why are they still referring to CeeBeeBees. That was a home run for listening and observation!

My child will stand out from the crowd – thanks to Sparkling Mindz!

My daughter has embarked on a journey of self-discovery and loves it. She is acquiring critical life skills which are essential to survive and succeed in today’s dynamic environment.  The children of today are all smart and intelligent. But the Sparkling Mindz programme will help to differentiate her from the rest.

The right program at the right age

I too have attended sessions on team play, structured thinking and interpersonal skills at work. However I have observed that these initiatives do not always generate the desired results because adult personalities are pretty much set and transformation is difficult and time consuming. By starting early, my daughter will have these traits and would not have to be tutored as an adult.  I am glad that she is developing an edge without even realizing it! 

Contributed by Roopa Balakrishna (Dhriti's mother), she is an equity analyst by profession and currently a full time doting mother,

Teaching is a very personal job and is all about hope. My close interaction with teachers from a non-student point of view and having taught myself, over the past few years has brought me to this conclusion. Why, you may ask?

A teacher has to overcome their own personal prejudices to teach a student in the way he/she learns best. It is very easy to spot weaknesses but guiding a child along its areas of strength is one of the most critical and crucial part of teaching.

When a child shows negative behavior, being able to separate the child's behavior from the child and adopt a positive approach to prevent recurrence of the behavior is not easy.

So, lets celebrate all the teachers who opened their hearts and minds so that we could learn. Thank you!!!

It was a cold Sunday morning and I was finding it difficult to get up and prepare my mind to get ready to go for work. I had to go to another center and it would take quite some time for me reach there. I somehow got out of the refuge of my blanket and got ready to leave.

I go upstairs (I live as a paying guest) and find out that Aunty hasn't prepared breakfast till now. She seems to have just got up. I must have forgotten to tell her that I am leaving early. I say it is alright. I will manage

I put the ear plugs and switch on the radio and start walking. For people who don’t listen to Radio on Sunday morning. Here is a fun fact. They always play old Hindi songs, mostly the early 90’s period. And for me that was not the best period of Indian Cinema and they are really not my taste. I flip the channels then switch to my own playlist. I am feeling hungry and a few biscuits I had in the bag, didn't fill my tummy.

I went and had breakfast and enter the place. All the children were standing for some activity that they were doing. The moment I got inside the bunch of little kids looked and called out my name. They had charming smiles on their face and any other feeling of my lazy Sunday was lost. The thrill and excitement made me forget about everything else, the warm blanket, the empty stomach, the bad music, everything!

I realized yet again, why am I really here and why I love what I do. 

Contributed by Nikita Kayal, Designer Experiential Products with Sparkling Mindz. She is an NIFT alumnus and loves designing products for children.