Students in deep reading during Morning Study
20thApril 2019:I stepped my foot in TCV Choglamsar school, located in the extreme north with my colleague Gen TP la on 20thApril escorted by the school Principal Mr. Lhundup Namgyal la. Luckily, my interinary was made in such a way that I get one day rest to acclimatize the weather of Ladakh. The next day was Sunday and it came as extra bonus for me to take a break and plan my visit hmmm. Very soon, I found myself in the midst of a landscape far from the madding crowd of Delhi. And the hospitality extended from both the school heads and staff was as usual superb irrespective of the hardship owing to the closure of the road.
The early morning begins with the school monitors turn by turn checking the day scholars’ satchels for any junk foods. The students, from their side willingly show their bags for frisking. The early morning prayers led by the Riglam teacher fills the entire valley and sends a soothing melody across the nearby camps. Right after that, turn by turn, the English and the Tibetan Department members play the audio whose scripts are distributed to the students and the whole students read in unison. A great and innovative way to drill reading skill! Such is the beginning of a typical school time here in TCV Choglamsar, Leh Ladakh amidst the unpredicted weather.
TPD Common Period of Senior and Junior Section
During my stay here, I could not visit the 3 Jangthang schools Hanley, Nyoma and Sumdho due to my own failure in procuring PAP well in advance. My former aim was to visit those areas at least once so that I coud personally experience the severe weather and hardships under which our teachers and staff are working for our students.
With the support and co operation from the school heads, I interacted with all the subject department members during their common TPD periods and listened passionately to their woes and achievements. As a customary, I never failed to extend my genuine appreciation for their hardwork and dedication. As per the EDC resolution, the school heads had created a common TPD period.
As for the Senior Section (Class VI to X), I met all the department members and the headmasters. Here is a brief report on the TPD activities carried out by various departments. The Tibetan and English teachers are working on improving the reading and writing skills of the students and as such they use their TPD period in creating resources and sharing new strategies. The social teachers are learning themselves with the help from other teachers in teaching Tibetan History, which were earlier taught by Tibetan teachers. The Math department is using the TPD period in creating resources focus on class VI. The Science teachers had done Action Research and they were continuing. This is the only school which has been doing Action Research. A briefing is also done to the school Principal and the Headmasters.
Junior Section Morning Assembly
And as for the Junior Section (Class I to V), they have their own common TPD periods made among three major subjects; Tibetan; English and Mathematics. I had a meeting with the section headmaster about TPD activities. Here is a brief report on their activities. During their TPD period, they gather in their respective subject rooms and do their collaboratives. The Math department are creating mathematic activities and materials for class I to class V this year. The Tibetan department are focussing on making PPTs for all the Tibetan lessons. The English department are using the TPD periods to work on Jolly Phonics teaching and creating teaching materials. They have been doing this since last year owing to the introduction of English to the class IV students this year. All the sections have been requested to focus on improving reading culture among students by using the long break and lunch break.
Agling :
Agling School Morning Assembly
The Headmaster Gen Tsering la, like a typical big brother gave me a detailed tour of the school(Montessori to Class V). There are around 12 or 13 teachers including the Montessori teachers and 130 children. Apart from the regular academic subjects, the school gives lots of importance to co curricular activities. to build their confidence.The school had left no stone unturned in providing everything for the children. Last year, collectively they had published one children’s book titled “Tho Pa Ga” in Tibetan. And this year, they want to publish the second book. Apart from this, they would also familiarize themselves more to the ICT. A facebook account is maintained and events and activities are shared. During the long break, over a cup of hot butter tea, I gave talk to the teachers appreciating their work, reminding them about TPDs and social networks and most importantly to work with full sincerity and dedication.The teachers have been advised to utilize the two breaks to create a reading culture among their students. The art teacher has been requested to beautify the campus with some wordings and pictures. I have also requested HM to create reading culture among the children.
Menlha School Campus
Menlha: This school ( Montessori to Class III) is formed in the middle of two camps of Sonamling Settlement and is led by Mr. Karma Sonam la, the headmaster. Just like Agling, Gen Karma la gave me a detailed tour and report of their activities. There are around 60 students including the two Montessori and 10 staff members. I gave a 5 minutes’ morning assembly talk trying my best to come to their level. God Knows! As far as their previous year collaborative is concerned, they had worked on Riglam. So, every Saturday 5thperiod, they gathered in the staffroom and started. This year, they would do book discussion and sharing on His Holiness’ advice on teaching Secular Ethics in schools. During the long break, I had an interaction with the teachers and they shared their doubts about TPD. I thanked them for their hardwork and requested them to continue working hard and make the best use of TPD periods. The school is also having a good relationship with the local parents.
Montessori Class: TCV Choglamsar
Montessori: Under the leadership of Gen. Pema Dolma la, who look after all the Montessori classes around TCV Ladakh, the teachers are using their TPD periods in enriching their execution of all the four prescribed subjects. Every year, different schools choose one particular subject and work on collaboratively. At the end of the year, they gather in the main school and share their lessons and related teaching resources created. As such there was a good response from the teachers themselves. This year also, they have decided to continue. TCV Ladakh has one of the largest number of Montessori teachers who also have the longest service.
I made the best use of my visit by talking to the students during the morning assembly on three points; Make teachers happy; Law of Attraction and feeling grateful. I also gave a short interview to TCV Ladakh Media center on the roles of parents in children’s life. Last but not the least, I gave fifteeen minutes’ presentation to all the sections on teachers’ social network, creating a positive learning hub, using of Bloom’s Taxonomy, addressing the root cause of students’ problem and implementing the collaborative activities with full sincerity.
The school heads of all the sections have been requested to attend some of the TPD sessions without having to wait till the final TPD Day. They are also thanked for the rich morning assembly programs and the rich co curricular activities and asked to further enrich these. All the teachers are working so hard and as such the school heads have to encourage and motivate them time and again. Wish you all a good year ahead. Congratulations for producing 81.3% in the CBSE class X board exam much better than the previous year. Wish you good luck for 100% result next year.
Thank You
A short report on my recent visit to TCV Bylakuppe as a part of my annual Teacher Professional Development (TPD) on-site school visit and follow-up. My stay was from 15th March to 27th March. TCV Bylakuppe was having the hottest time of the year and as such having their Summer Time Table, when classes were held early and likewise released early with afternoon, literally free. Class X and XII students are in the middle of their CBSE examinations, eyes buried in their books with concerned teachers visiting their respective dorms and hostels to encourage them and guide them. There were Inter-Class Basketball, Football and Kho Kho tournaments on one side and a remedial Tibetan class for the Primary teachers as a part of Language Across Curriculum (LAC). A monthly religious and Ethics talk coincided with my visit there.The talk was just half an hour in the afternoon followed by Q&A on Kindness, one of the ten competencies of secular ethics. Mr. Dawa Dhoundup la, shared his SEL workshop which he had attended at Drepung Loseling, Mundgod with both Junior and senior section teachers.
As a part of BEP, this year English is being introduced in class IV for the first time after three years. Every where there is fear and anxiety of how our children and teachers will cope. This isn’t a case any more and nothing much to worry. The English teachers are taking extra responsibility and doing their best. Here in this school, there are 2 class IVs. TCV English mentor Mrs. Tenzin Pelmo la is here and in touch with the English teachers every day. A lot of progress is going in these two classes whether it is classroom print rich culture or teaching or students’ willingness.
TPD which is the on-going teacher’s self directed professional development implemented in all the Tibetan schools in exile, is being carried out effectively under the leadership of the school heads and the concerned department heads. In the previous year, apart from the Lesson study, Peer Observations, Book Discussion, some of these dedicated teachers have prepared teaching materials and pooled resources. Teachers had also participated in submitting their articles for the TCV Sheyon magazine. With kind initiative from the school heads, they entire teaching fraternity had successfully watched the movie “Freedom Writers” to motivate and re energize one another. Another one is coming too this year. Enveloping and seeing dedicated people around always bring positive vibes and this I felt it there.
This year as per the minutes of the Education Development Committee (EDC)meeting, a common TPD period/timetable was created during which teachers work on their respective collaborative programs and activities. During my stay there, I met each and every department member and chairpersons. I also visited the Montessori class and the teachers. They shared their plans and activities for this academic session. I wish them all the best.I am also overjoyed to see the projects and the financial supports from the TCV Bylakuppe Alumni. Their contributions are making a big difference in the lives of so many young children here. I personally want to thank them and hope this support continues as a gesture of moral support for the staff members who are working so hard.
As per the request from the senior headmaster, I gave half an hour motivational talk to the senior students in the school hall after evening prayer. Like other teachers, I enlightened them about the untapped power they all have and how this power remained embedded because of the false beliefs; I enlightened them about the Subconscious mind, Meta learning. Last but not the least I told them about the importance of respecting teachers and feeling the sacrifices of their parents.PPT:
Apart from the hordes of responsibilities each school Principal have, taking care of the professional development of the teachers under his/her jurisdiction comes in the highest order. This year, TCV Gopalpur principal has organized an intensive refresher’s course on Lesson Planning and CBSE Life Skill Programs and the same was later given to TCV Himachal schools. The resource person Mrs. Vijayan Kartha, MA, M.ED having a career span of 30+ in the field of Education and Development is a sought after speaker in the local and national forums on Education and social change. She is also a winner of National Award for Teachers in 2007 and many more awards in the list.
(Excepts from tcvsuja.wordpress.com) In her first session, she talked about the importance of the role of a teacher in molding a child’s life. Quoting few incidents and narratives from her own years of teaching, she filled the atmosphere with waves of inspiration. 
In her second session, she discussed in detail the importance of a Lesson Plan in teaching and presented few slides on it. The session entailed few hands on activities for the participant teachers in creating lesson plan for a topic. She made all teachers to sit in a group that teach same subjects together. And then gave on activities to each group to discuss and make a lesson plan on a chosen topic from their textbook and later presented it to everyone in the workshop. After each presentation from the groups, she gave her professional feedback. The morning session thus culminated with the completion of workshop on Lesson Planning. In the afternoon session, Mrs. Kartha took a session on ‘Life skill’ classes taken in school.
The very purpose of giving life skill education to student is to prepare our children to all adversities or challenges of life positively. The biggest problems of our youngsters these days are the failure to cope with their emotional challenges. So, Life skill classes in all schools are made mandatory. Mrs. Kartha took the session by talking on the ten life skills as put out by WHO. She talked on importance of each skills by giving out factual data and sharing many more narratives from her personal experiences. She also emphasized on taking life skill classes by referring to the ‘Life Skill book’ CBSE. In the evening session, the teachers participated in group activities where each group chose one of the life skills topic and planned and presented their topic to the whole group. Taking a role play of a classroom scenario, each group delivered their topics very efficiently. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kartha gave her comments after each presentation. At the end of the session, Mrs. Kartha repeatedly spoke on the importance of a role of a teacher in child’s life and requested everyone to grow within.
She visited all the Himachal TCV schools within a short time span and conducted this important intensive workshop for the teachers. Each school Principal and the teachers gave a hearty welcome wherever she visited and the workshop went a great success in all the schools. Finally, she was given a loving farewell by the Principal of TCV Gopalpur Gen Phuntsok Tashi la with a traditional white Tibetan scarf.
Mr. Cheme la talk on “ Continuous Teacher Professional Development” was attended by all the Upper TCV school teachers, Principals, Headmasters and Department heads from Himachal TCV schools and as such there was a huge attendance. The Education Director, Mr. Sonam Sichoe la welcomed the resource person and the attendees and gave a brief introduction of Mr. Tenzin Cheme la.
This hour long presentation by Mr. Tenzin Cheme la very effective for all the teachers and school leaders especially at a time when the schools re-opens after the long winter holiday. There was a strong message and motivation for the teachers. The take away from this presentation was- the importance of teacher’s continous professional development so that they can make their teaching more effective and achieve their respective goals. He also told the teachers to work smart, not work hard and produce the desired result without missing the rich culture and language.
