Language
In Meghalaya, the medium of instruction is in English including all prescribed texts except for MIL. Because the Khasi script has been developed from the Roman script, teaching language is relatively easier as the Khasi alphabet is phonetically very similar to the English one. The methodology to introduce both the languages is essentially the same. The ‘Language Modules’ have been designed for Primary Teachers to promote speaking, reading and writing skills. Child Development has helped us understand the normal sequence for children learning to read.
- From infancy to age three, children listen, learn many new words spoken and also learn how to speak.
- At ages three and four, children have growing vocabularies and also learn to rhyme.
- In Class 1 children blend letter sounds, ‘sound out’ new words and memorize sight words. They also start to read simple sentences.
- In Classes 2 and 3 they are able to read chapters in readers and read fluently with comprehension.
Many people think that children learn to read with their eyes. However in reality reading is actually learnt through the ears.
- Talking to pupils
- Reading to them
- Narrating stories
- Playing auditory games like rhyming etc.
When language teachers ‘converse’ with children with the help of pictures, stories, etc. they introduce children to new words and gradually increase their vocabulary. A bigger vocabulary enables a child to recognize words while reading. The larger the variety of pictures, themes and stories used, the bigger the vocabulary becomes.
Auditory skills prior to reading:
- Rhyming.
- Short vowel sounds (like ‘a’ as in apple; ‘e’ as in elephant; ‘i’ as in Indian; ‘o’ as in orange and ‘u’ as in up).
- Different letter sounds including consonants.
- ‘Sounding out’ new words by breaking up words into word parts and putting them back as one word.
The three methodologies used to teach reading to children through these initiatives are:
- Auditory Skills: rhyming, short term memory, etc. for ear training prior to the introduction of Phonics.
- Phonics: Letter Sound(s) and the different phonic rules.
- Memorization of words as whole units. Here children are taught how to connect words and are introduced to reading.
Arithmetic
Teachers from the selected schools are given ‘hands-on’ training at the Institute in the following areas:
- Competencies
- Resources and TLM
- Playway Activities
- Numeration
- Teaching Multiplication, Fractions, etc.
- Activities and Diagnostic Worksheets
- Evaluation
- Mathematics and Language Learning
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