Enthusiasm creates energy. And the secret of getting children enthused is the classroom structure so critical to the child's overall development. At 'Stepping Stones' this forms an important part of the curriculum. If there is yet another bold statement emanating from the home-like premises of 'Stepping Stones' it's perhaps the colorful and highly aesthetic classroom. Walls decorated with educational motifs, cutouts and posters of alphabets, animals and sceneries, brightly painted Lilliputian furniture indicate much thought and emphasis has gone into their planning. And within hand's reach are colorful bins heaped with toys, games and a host of activity material. Centering around NAEYC guidelines on what constitutes a good classroom. 'Stepping Stones' adapted these to suit local requirements. The school boasts of a state-of-the-art communication room and a computer lab, stacked with a wide range of educational topics and child-friendly software - perfect settings for these bubbling and vibrant minds to explore, innovate, learn and shape positive attitudes. Says Seetha, "Even if they can accomplish just the mouse skills, that'll be a big accomplishment. It's important they overcome their inhibitions about anything."
Mondays through Fridays, three hours each day, these kids will be in the hands of quality teachers with personality and attitude. "Our teachers will be young, talented and energetic," says Seetha. They will be team players all the way and not just classroom assistants. Each will have all-round talent with a flair for music, arts, crafts and many others areas. Adds Satish, "We are not looking for mere qualifications. What we need is exceptional talent."
At 'Stepping Stones' teachers are trained to have an open mind. Any form of teaching that is fun and at the same time helps children learn is encouraged. For motor and everyday life skills Montessori materials are used enabling children learn through discovery. To teach the basic 'whys' of science, teachers perform simple experiments so that the kids can learn through experience and observation. Memory skills are improved through music and dance. Any new teaching method that can add new experiences to a child's repertoire without being monotonous or boring is encouraged. In short, constant innovation in teaching methods is a prime objective at 'Stepping Stones'. |
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