Eureka SuperKidz

Quality  education  for  all  children  

Off  to  a  good  start…  

Issue  2  –  Feb  2015  

  Chennai     Vellore     Thiruvannamalai   Tanjore     Kanchipuram   Cuddalore     Trichy     Thiruvallur     Pondicherry     Sivagangai    

Trichy                            Krishnagiri  Dharmapuri  Sivagangai  

Districts  

Schools   visited   –   BR   Palli   government   school,   Bharatha   Vidyalaya  nursery  and  primary  school  and  Bhagavathapuram  government  school.    

We   observed   both   Tamil   and   Maths   classes   in   all   the   schools.   The  teachers   in   all   the   schools   were   effectively   using   the   methodology   and  materials  to  teach  all  children  the  required  skills.  The  teachers  in  both  the  govt.  schools  had  identified  lagging  children  and  were  working  with  them  either  individually  or  in  smaller  groups.  

The  euphoria  of  the  big  launch  of  ESK  2.0  in  January  was  followed  by  field  visits  to  observe  the  program.  The  focus  this  month  was  for  the  state  team  to  visit  many  schools  as  possible  and  gather  first  hand  feedback  on  how  the  program    is  running  and  suggest  course  corrections  if  required.  

Thiruthani  Visit  

Lalgudi    Visit  

Schools  visited  –  St.Anne’s  Nursery  and  Primary  School,  Srinivasapuram  –  Government  Primary  School,  Sembarai  –  SPG  Mission  school    

We   spoke   to   several   teachers   in   these   schools.   Kiruba,   a  Tamil   teacher,  felt  that  the  program  will  be  helpful  for  students  who  are  lagging  behind  in  learning  as  their  skill  levels  would  clearly  be  indicated  in  the  skill  chart.  One  of  the  main  problems  she  faces  with  some  of  her  students   in  Tamil  reading  is  the  identification  of  the  letters,  which    delays  their  reading  skill.  Pushpa,  a  young  and  enthusiastic  Math  teacher,  plans  to  use  our  material  and  training  with  lagging  children  who  are  yet  to  pick  up  basic  math  skills.  Vimalarani,   a   govt.   school   teacher,   mentions   that   the   Tamil   reading  materials,  especially  the  Tamil  calendars,  are  very  helpful.    

The  overall  feedback  from  the  teachers  was  that  the  Eureka  skill  chart  and  materials  are  very  helpful  in  teaching  children.  However,  we  feel  the  focus  on  evaluation  and  attention  towards  lagging  children  has  to  be  emphasised  more.    

Eureka  SuperKidz  Monthly  Newspaper  

 

 

                                                                                                                     

More   than  400  children  from  government  schools   in  Anaicut  block  participated   in  the  Eureka  Science  day  celebrations.  The  children  enthusiastically  displayed   science  models  and  participated   in  a   science  quiz.  The  event  was  co-­‐sponsored  by  Bank  of  America,  whose  employees  also  volunteered  by  assisting  with  event  organization  and  management.    

Joyful  Happenings  Declaration  Events  

Science  Quiz      

Declaration   events   are   an   integral   part   of   the   Eureka  program.   Every   year   the   entire   village   gets   together   to  celebrate   the   skill   achievements   of   the   children   in   the  Eureka   centre   and   congratulates   the   Eureka   teachers   on  their  effort.   The  event   is  celebrated   like  a  “Thiruvizha”  or  community   festival.   The   Eureka   teacher   takes   up   the  challenge   of   achieving   100%   in   one   or   more   skills   by   a  stipulated   date   and   announces   it   to   everyone   in   the  village.  On  the  event  day,  the  children  publicly  exhibit  their  reading  or  Maths  skills  and  are  awarded  certificates  by  the  community  leaders.  The  event  not  only  makes  the  children  more   confident   and   proud   of   their   achievements,   it   also  brings   to   limelight   the   enormous   amount   of   effort   the  Eureka  teacher  has  put  in  to  achieve  these  skills.      

Declaration   events  were  held   in  Vembakkam  and  Polur  blocks   on   20th   and   21st   February,   respectively.   In  Vembakkam,  class  6-­‐8  children  of  Vadamanapakkam  and  Dusi   villages   achieved   the   following   goals   in  Math   and  Tamil   –   fraction,   integers   and   decimals   and   story  comprehension.   The   event,   held   at   Eureka   SuperKidz  centre   in   Vadamanapakkam,   was   attended   by  approximately   100   people,   which   included   Mr.Jayanth  and   Mr.Natarajan   from   Wheels   India,   children   and  teachers  of  our  Eureka  centres,  parents   of   the  children  and  people  from  nearby  villages.    

 

 

                                                                                                     

We  visited  a  government  school   in  Gummidipoondi  last  week  where   the   teacher   was   so   impressed   with   our   material   and  methodology  (at  the   initial  training)  that  she  couldn't  wait   till  we  delivered  the  study  material  kit  to  her.  She  went  ahead  and  made  her  own  Tamil  calendars!  It  was  very  heartening  to  see  that   she  was   going   out   of  her  way   to   improve   the   quality  of  education  in  her  class/school  and  that  our  Advocacy  for  quality  education  is  taking  shape.  

Govt.  School  Teacher  goes  “Eureka”  

Eureka  ties  up  with  SCU  

Corporate  News  

“Intern”al  Studies  

Interns  from  NMIMS  visited  govt.  and  private  schools  in  Trichy  and  Vellore  districts   to  study   the  quality  of  education  and   the  need  for  an  intervention  like  Eureka’s  .    The   interns   observed   that   government   schools   impart   better  quality   of   education   than   private   schools   however   very   few  teachers   in  both   types  of   schools  take   the  extra   step   to   teach  their  students  from  various  other  references.  They  also  noticed  that  the  focus  on  lagging  children  is  lacking  and  a  visual  tool  like  Eureka  Skill  Chart  can  be  highly  useful  in  tracking  the  children’s  skills  or  absence  of  it.    The   interns   saw   that  wherever   illustrations  were   involved  and  the   work   kindled   creativity,   children   participated   actively   in  class   projects.   Clearly,   students   retain   better   when   they   are  taught  using  games  they  are  familiar  with.  Interns  suggested  a  bi-­‐annual  evaluation  for  teachers  for  their  improvement.    

Eureka  SuperKidz  team  has  tied  up  with  “Frugal  Innovation  Lab”  from  Santa  Clara  University,  California  to  develop  tech  based  solutions  for  diagnosing  and  evaluating  children’s  math  skills.  We  are   looking  forward  to  using  the  solutions  in  the  Eureka  centers  in  the  upcoming  academic  year.  

Severn   Glocon   has   joined   the   Eureka   family   of   donors   and   supporters.   Thanks   to   some   of   their  employees  who  after  volunteering  at  Eureka  in  the  past  couple  of  months  approached  their  CSR  team  and  spoke  highly  about  our  program!    The  'Kits  for  Kids'  is  a  stationery  drive  conducted  at  corporates  by  AID  INDIA   for   a   period   of   one  month,   where   employees   can   contribute  stationery  articles  at  the  boxes  placed  at  their  office  premises.  These  materials   are   distributed   among   the   underprivileged   children   who  attend  the  Eureka  Super  Kidz  centers.  In  February,  we  collected  huge  number   of   kits   from   IMRB   and   IBM.  Our  sincere  thanks  to  both  the  companies  for  their  contribution.    

 

 

 Siblings  Shine  

 

We  are  looking  for  volunteers      

• To  visit  the  centers  and  observe  classes  • Conduct  Evaluations  • Teach  English  Reading  at  the  centers  • Prepare  content  in  Maths  and  Tamil  • For  setting  up  talks  in  your  company  • Event  volunteering  

Please  do  get  in  touch  with  Selva  aid.selva@gmail.com  if  interested  in  any  of  the  above.    

Call  out  to  Volunteers  

Thank  You  for  reading!  

With   your   support,   we   have   been   able   to   transform   the   lives   of  thousands   of   underprivileged  children   across   Tamilnadu.     This   year   we   hope   to   reach   out   to   more   than   30,000   such   children.  Please  do  write  to  us  if  you  would  like  to  support  these  children  and  help  them  have  a  bright  future.    

An  Appeal  

Mathur  Village,  Vembakkam  Block,  Thiruvannamalai    Bharat  is  a  class  4  student  studying  in  a  government  school.  He  has  been  coming  to  the  ESK  center  for  few  years  now  and  attributes  his  success  in  Math  operations  topic  to  our  center.  He  has  a  wide  smile  when  he  says  he  learnt  division  at  the  Eureka  center.  At  school,  he  has  been  noticed  by  the  Math   teacher   for   his   involvement   and   accuracy   in   the   subject.   He  concluded   the  conversation  by   telling  us   that  he   likes  Revathi  akka,   the  tutor,   as   she   teaches   them   very   patiently.   Bharat’s     sister   Renuka   is   a  class  3  student  in  a  government  school.  She  read  Tamil  really  well  during  the  assessment  and  when  probed  further  about  what  she  likes  and  learns  at  the  center,  she  mentioned  that  she  learnt  Multiplication  from  scratch  here.  She  told  that  she  learnt  the  Tamil  consonants  such  as  Ka,  na  cha  at  the  centre  and  gradually  progressed  to  reading  through  the  story  cards.  She  also  added  that   it  was  difficult   for  her   to   learn  Tamil  at   school  and  Revathi  akka  helped  her  a  lot  with  Tamil  reading  at  the  centre.  We  were  very  glad  to  hear  about  both  the  siblings’  accomplishments  in  Math  and  Tamil.