Special Materials Developed

Audio Cassette for English Language Teachers – An Introduction to Phonics (Planning & Management):

Jaintia Hills has an acquisition poor environment for learning the English language. As a result the District Institute of Education and Training, Thadlaskein, designed specific English language teacher training modules for pre-school and lower primary teachers, based on a combination of the three methodologies. The Cassettes contain letter sounds and songs that are fun to learn and easy to remember. The delightful rhymes and tunes promise to capture a child’s attention and imagination.

Joy Bells 1-4

The Abacus Project (District Resource Unit and Planning & Management Branch):

The Standard Abacus

Besides the other items included in the Math kit like:

1. Counters
2. Mobiles
3. Graphs
4. Counting straws
5. Flash Cards
6. Arrow Cards
7. Learning Clock
8. (a+b)² Cards
9. Number Line
10. Geo Board
11. Fraction Wheel

The Institute has also developed an abacus with a supplementary brochure. Teachers are trained do simple arithmetical calculations using the two-tiered Abacus. Once a learner gets used to the movement and position of the beads, he/she would be able to do these functions without actual use of the abacus. This is because the pictorial image of the abacus gets registered in the brain. In this manner students are able to tackle the problem mentally. As a result students start to develop photographic memories which would be very helpful in their overall academic performance. Studies have also indicated that the Abacus enhances the brain power, with positive effects on

• Concentration
• Accuracy
• Memory power
• Speed
• Analytical skills
• Comprehensive Skills
• Confidence
• Creativity

Progress/Result :

The Institute is in the final phase of a study undertaken in the year 2007 on finding out the effectiveness and impact of some of its training programmes. A more detailed study may also be conducted in the near future to review the progress of these initiatives in a more comprehensive manner.

Plan for integrating initiatives as part of regular class room practices :

Because of the nature and target of these initiatives, the question of integrating them in regular class room practices does not arise. In fact they are intended to be very much a part of school culture. The Institute is also planning to incorporate a ‘one-page’ lesson plan format based on the Constructivist format and a Cumulative Record prototype which will be incorporated with these ‘initiatives’ in an ambitious attempt to improve the physical, cognitive, social and organizational dimensions of a school.

IFIC

A model ECCE Centre was set up by the branch in the year 2007. There are at present 28 children below 6 yrs. The Centre at present has:

1. 2 trained teachers
2. 1 activity room
3. 1 reading room
4. 1 writing room
5. 1 retiring room