An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”– Benjamin Franklin

While worries about the quality of private education institutions minimises with the involvement of organizations such as KHDA, EYFS makes necessary steps to encourage activities among children.

But are we really concerned about the process of learning? Anything taught to them, must be taught well. That’s really significant. In fact, it’s the essence of EYFS as well.

Teaching Them Time:

When it’s about teaching children, the whole new concept of time is far more complex than it appears. There are numerous doubts that children faces.

Like in many other tasks, mobile applications come to the rescue this time too. There are smart applications out there that help in teaching children the concept of time.

Check out some of the smartest apps that help you with this:

  1. Learn to Tell Time

Learn to Tell Time is an innovation of Redbytes, a team known for making attractive apps for children. The whole concept of time is taught by this fascinating app in a simple way.

This mobile app has two different learning options for the users to select from- Auto Learning and Self-Learning. Introduction to both analogue and digital clock, its features and purposes are done by the app.

Activities of the app

Age appropriate activities are added advantage of Learn to Tell Time. Activities of the app includes

  1. Matching: The activity is really simple. Digital and analogue clocks showing the same time should be matched by the child.
  2. Set Time: Asks child to set time on the clock and evaluates them.

Each aspect on the app is designed with utmost simplicity.

     2. Jungle Time learn how to tell time

Jungle Time is an interactive app that teaches children how to tell time. The time can be set in multiple skill levels. It teaches both 12- hour and 24- hour clocks in both analogue as well as digital formats.

Jungle Time can be set to numerals in order to make it look little tough. The clock in the app can be set to different animal faces. Children find it fascinating when they receive smiles and roars for the right answers. It is possible to drag the clock hands to set time, just like a real clock. Jungle Time works well and looks great.

  1. Tick Tock app

Tick Tock is a fascinating app used for learning to tell time. The app can be set in multiple levels, which is really important for telling time. You can start with 0’Clocks and then move up to Half Past, Quarter to, 25 past etc.

  • It has a basic look compared to other apps, with just a smiley clock face.
  • It teaches from analogue to digital and vice versa
  • Digital to words and back again
  • Analogue to and from words

The operation of the app is little complex, but once you understand, it works fine. 

  1. Telling The Time

Telling The Time app cover three ranges 4-5, 6-8 and 9-11. It includes the practice of key concepts. The app helps children to learn the concept step by step.

The app helps children to learn o’clock, days and months to telling the time to the minute in 12- and 24-hour format and calculating time intervals and durations of train journeys.

Each app in Telling the Time has got three main areas:

  1. Quick quiz section that consist of selection of random questions that helps children to decide what to practice and when to take a progress test
  2. Practice quiz helps to build confidence
  3. Progress tests helps to grade ability of children and track scores that matches to National Curriculum expected progress.
  1. Around The Clock app

Quite different from conventional apps that teach children on telling time, Around The Clock app concentrates on teaching children about time and clock.

The app includes interesting games such as alarm clock ring, breakfast and packing backpacks along with a wide range of challenges, waiting during the day.

24 mini games are available one for each hour. There are wide ranges of games with different challenges. The illustration of the app is beautiful. It’s easy as well as fun to use.

More or less, it’s the responsibility of teachers to ensure better progress of students. At a time when innovative syllabuses such as EYFS and quality control institutions such as KHDA and ADEC are present, a teacher’s job can be challenging.

The effort required to maintain all aspects of education smoothly is quite high. Hence, teachers might not be able to carefully monitor assignments completed by their students. Some children would complete their work by copying it from internet or other source with minimal effort.

No need to worry about tracking the copied stuff. There are sites out there that can help you with this.

5 Awesome tools for Teachers to Check Plagiarism

Be sure about your needs before choosing any plagiarism sites. It’s your responsibility as a teacher to ensure that the assignments allotted to them are carried out effectively.

1.Turnltln

TurnItIn is a popular plagiarism detection product. The software can be used to analyse against a database with billions of web pages, student papers, and academic articles.

Site Facts:

  • The service can be used in both computer and tablet as it is cloud-based
  • Educational institutions can avail purchase plans
  • 15,000 institutions round the globe uses TurnItIn
  • The site shows teachers the percentage of unoriginal content, high lightens the lines in question and  serves the source of the original content

It is reported that some followers encountered the problem of showing false plagiarism. This can be resolved by checking the source of plagiarism samples. TurnItIn can only be used by teachers if the school subscribes.

2.PlagiarismChecker.com

The usage of PlagiarismChecker.com is free and simple. Hence, it is one among the favourite plagiarism checking sites for teachers. It has been made keeping in mind the needs of teachers.

Site Facts

  • PlagiarismChecker.com is free
  • The site searches phrases rather than whole paper

PlagiarismChecker.com is the best resource to depend if you are looking for a simple reliable plagiarism detector for free. This one will miss plagiarism if children are cribbing their work from resources not freely available online.

  1. Plagtracker

Plagtracker is an effective online plagiarism detection service. The site scans content from more than 20 million academic works. After the scan teachers can obtain a detailed report about the work.

Site Facts:

There are some special features especially for teachers in the site:

  • Student Management and Tracking System
  • Custom Filter Setup
  • Grading System
  • Live Document View
  • Bibliography Check
  • Document Cross-Check

Plagtracker is an effective helping hand for teachers.

4.PlagScan

PlagScan allows teachers to copy paste or upload assignments of students. The web-based plagiarism detector will scan the content.

Site Facts

  • PlagScan offers the best security for the documents uploaded
  • The submitted document is compared with a database consisting of billions of other documents
  • The site allots information about the original source
  • The search index is regularly updated

PlagScan works on monthly subscription model. Institutions can buy accordingly.

5.The Plagiarism Checker

Plagiarism Checker was developed by a college student and he forgot about the site, then he realised that the site was getting attention among users. The site functions with simple copy-paste method.

Site Facts

  • The site is free
  • Plagiarism Checker allows the user to check long posts
  • Premium users can upload files  along with copy-paste option

The site is free and simple, long tests can be checked without error. 

Are you are a teacher outside the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, who wants to gift an EYFS-like learning environment to students? If you are, it is a great way to help children practice effective ideas, ensuring better learning experience.

But, at times it can be a struggle to come up with fresh ideas in the classroom. This is where internet comes to the rescue. There are numerous blogs that can help you with this.

Check out some of the fascinating EYFS blogs every teacher should read:

  1. ABC Does

ABC Does is a website managed by Alister Bryce-Clegg. Despite many social prejudices, it is fascinating to realise that a man is managing a website about working in the Early Years. There are practical ideas in the website that easily works. The blog consists of effective tips and techniques you can work with children

Teachers can depend on the creative ideas that will make the children fall in love with classroom and learning. This blog is regularly updated.

  1. Coombe Mills

Coombe Mills offers farm experience for younger children. They are allowed to explore farm animals and farmyard way of life. This blog explains the experience youngsters had around their farm. There are activities in the blog, adaptable for teachers.

  1. Creative Star Learning

Creative Star Learning is a blog that concentrates on outdoor activities. The blog belongs to Juliet Robinson. You get everything you need to know about outdoor activities with effective tips and techniques.

  1. Forest Factor

Forest Factor allows young children to learn through forest schools. The website shares experience of young children. Let them enjoy their experience within the safe, forest environment. Along with forest learning, the blog is also packed with outdoor learning activities.

  1. Imagination Tree

Imagination Tree maintained by Anna Ranson is a simple blog that explains ideas that are handy. It focuses on learning through play and is a treasure of great ideas. Teachers can make use of this blog as it is regularly updated with tips and techniques

  1.  Inside the Secret Garden

A well designed blog with good resources, Inside the Secret Garden explores many policy decision affecting early years practitioners. It is managed by Juilan Grenier who is a head teacher, author and researcher.

  1. Interaction Imagination

Interaction Imagination is created by Suzzane Axelsson in Sweden. The blog highlights the early year’s practices happening in Swedish setting. It also consists of ideas and inspiration which are adaptable across the globe.

  1. Laura Henry

The blog of Laura Henry is every inch informative for parents and teachers. It is regularly updated and has plenty of ideas for teachers. Laura Henry is an Early Years consultant. She is an active participant in social media.

  1. Learning and Exploring Through Play

Learning and Exploring Through Play is a creative blog packed with practical activities, stories and ideas, including an ultimate guide to making playdough. The blog is a treasure for teachers wanting stunning ideas for encouragement and inspiration.

  1. Nursery Nook

Nursery Nook is a blog managed by James, a primary male school teacher. It is stuffed with ideas, tips and inspiration. Nursery Nook offers guidance for teachers on a daily basis. Teaching children becomes fascinating with Nursery Nook.

  1. Nurture Store

Nurture Store is a delightful and reliable site for teachers. The blog is maintained by Cathy James. Nurture Store offers effective practical ideas as well as activities. The site offers something for everyone. Motivate young children with the help of Cathy James.

  1. Pirates and Princesses

Pirates and Princesses is a fantastic blog created by Michelle, training to be a primary teacher. It explores the planning, ideas and challenges that can be faced working in the early years. The site is continually updated.

  1. Red Ted Art

Red Ted Art is a blog organised by talented Maggy Woodley. The site is full of art activities which can be used by teachers. Explore and get inspired with the blog. Along with picture the blog is one among the treasures in EYFS blog.

  1. Right from the Start

Right from the Start is an exquisite blog created by Rachel McClary which discusses about all the aspects of early education, play and similar topics. Insightful posts are available in the blog that throws light on issues such as:

  • The roles of adult in the early years setting
  • Advice for teachers who look after very young children

Let’s make the change happen:

We know that EYFS solely aims at providing the best for children. Adopt the best for your children too. With activities, teachers help to motivate and stimulate the learning ability of children.

Be the kind of teacher every student wish to have.

Like wet cement which reflects anything that falls on it, children cannot always be blamed for the behaviour they showcase. School apps help students to learn better and parent portal helps parents to evaluate their children, but is that enough for our children? For that, execution has to be impeccable. Gifting our children the best environment for healthy mental and physical development is equally important.

Even inside the school, children are not as safe as we think. Bullying is one such problem that can affect children in the school. Under any circumstances, bullying cannot be justified. Approximately 32% of reported student bullying complaints are from schools.

It is of no doubt that bullying can affect the emotional stability of the victim. When it happens at school, it can negatively impact a child’s learning ability. More than one in five children is bullied regularly at school.

Stop before it startsthat’s the best way to deal with bullying. The possibilities of school staffs are numerous to stop the bullies. Teachers have the authority to mould the children for better.

Teachers can help prevent the bullies:

Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops”- Henry Brooks Adams

Teachers can create a bully-free school zone. The authority of teachers is not limited to school syllabus, they can do a lot more for the school and the students.

What works?

Implement the best that works. Practice what you preach.

  • When in doubt take action

According to research when teachers or adults ignore bullying it is a clear indication for the students that it’s OK to behave in that manner. Always take immediate precautions against bullying. Students must be aware that, no practice of bullying shall be tolerated.

  • Treat them right

Always treat students with warmth and affection. Students should feel that teachers are always available to listen and help them. Most of the students might be in fear to expose their experience with the bullies, but giving them adequate courage can solve the problem.

  • Peer Volunteers

Appointing special volunteers for anti-bullying squad can be helpful. The volunteers can report to the teachers about any bullying incident. The victim also attains courage with volunteers between them.

  • Approaching the bullies

While the victim must be treated with extra care and support, bullies must not always be treated harshly. They should realize the intensity of the crime they have committed. Feeling guilty fetches better results.

  • Spread goodness

Activities that encourage social conduct can be helpful. The prevention taken before bullying is far more effective than the punishment granted to the victims after the incident. A school wide focus to the problem can resolve it better.

  • Monitoring the bullies

Bullies must be monitored and necessary action must be taken to prevent it as soon as possible. Contacting the parents of the bullies can be considered. The entire school must be warned that bullies are carefully monitored. No bullies will be ignored.

What doesn’t work?

It’s also essential to point out, what does not work in the prevention of bullying. Many preventive factors might sound effective but they are not.

  • Enforcing Zero Tolerance Policy

Zero tolerance policies might result in less reporting of bullying incident. The policy regardless of accidental mistakes or any other circumstances, believes in punishing the guilty. The policy might not fetch the expected result. Punishment cannot eliminate the chance of future bullying.

  • Conflict Resolution Methods

There is a great difference between the bully and the victim, mediation between the two is not an alternative. It can upset the victim more. Never encourage bullies by not resolving the issue.

  • Dealing each bullying incident in isolation

Compared to a school wide approach dealing the incident in isolation has little effect. Each incident should be resolved without any delay as well. Enquiring the family background of the bullies can help but counselling them is much better.

Always remember:

“If kids come to us from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important” – Barbara Colorose

Solving problems and memorizing tables will not make kids better at mathematics, says an education expert. Among the subjects destined to learn, mathematics is one subject that students often find difficult to study. May be the difficulty is due to passive learning process.

Students learn math best only when they approach the subject as something they enjoy. Some students might take longer time in memorizing but they still possess extra ordinary potential in the subject. Trying out something new can transform the classroom. Traditional method of teaching has lost its charm. Technology is taking over the space.

Check out some of the cool apps that can make mathematics fun to learn:

  • Swim with Numbers

Swim with Numbers is one such app that uses the beautiful colour of ocean as its theme. Learning numbers is made fun by the app. This app consists of four sections. Children can get familiar with oceanic creatures along with numbers. The app is also enabled with a tracing activity which provides practice for children to begin writing the numbers in English. Swim with Numbers is a simple yet helpful app for attracting children.

  • Kids Numbers and Math Free

As the name suggests Kids Numbers and Math is a FREE app for kids. Basic mathematical operations and numbers are taught with fun by the app. Numbers are spoken loud in kid friendly manner, making them easy to understand. Depending on your kid’s progress, set the number ranges and the rest is assured by the app. Kids will have immense fun with this app.

Kids will learn to:

  1. Name numbers
  2. Count
  3. Compare numbers
  4. Add
  5. Subtract
  6. Match numbers
  • Math Workout

There is no doubt that Math workouts make the mind sharp and alert.  This app ensures that the brain is given a daily dose of mental exercise. To enhance mental arithmetic skill, Math workout gives math drills. The exercises help in improving maths skill. Math Workout allows tracking the progress with charts of past performances. Daily dose of the app helps in the healthy improvement of the mind.

  • Brain Exerciser

Brain Exerciser is designed for the purpose of giving brain some exercise for its healthy development. The app consists of 3 games that you can play to refresh your mathematical skills.

The Add like Mad is a game that consists of squares where numbers should be added so that they become equal to the value at the top before the time runs out.

The Number Breaker is game where the user needs to destroy all the digits, and the Balloon Solver where you need solve for the right answer to pop the balloon before the time runs out.

Brain Exerciser is available for free to download

  • Mental Math Free

Solving mathematical equation with pen and paper is easy but doing it mentally and paper-free is harder. Mental Math Free helps to strengthen the imaginative power of your child’s mind. This app also provides useful tips for solving difficult mathematical problems.  Times table training in the app helps to sharpen multiplication skills. Improve mental math with “hide question” and train to remember numbers in mind.

  • Falling Math

Falling Math is a simple game that helps to enhance the mathematical skills effectively. Before dropping off the screen, the correct answer should be chosen from the right side. Being super fast in calculation is important in the game. If the answer is right, choices will fall faster for the next problem. Time managing skill is developed with the app. Challenge the capability of the brain with Falling Math. The app is free to download.

Students find it fascinating to assess information using technology they are comfortable with. Around 83% of Internet usage is expected to be through mobiles. Hence it is clear that mobile app is a technology students use on a larger scale. Fun, education and technology is a mix that works wonders.

Why apps?

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”- Arthur C. Clarke

Application has revolutionised the method of teaching and learning. There are now possibilities round the corners. The ability to learn anything anywhere and anytime can make learning easy as well as simple. Apps make it possible for the children to learn Maths with fun.

Advantages of apps in education

  1. Maintains privacy and security
  2. Foster Collaboration
  3. Saves Cost
  4. Encourages High Adoption
  5. Boosting Student Motivation and Performance
  6. Go Green – Environment Friendly

With blended learning becoming popular, there has been a huge rise in popularity and production of educational apps in the market. Educational apps tend to give the otherwise boring classrooms a makeover. The students who were once too ignorant to your lectures will turn interested in classes with these interactive and informative educational apps such as the smartapps for preschoolers.

However, to choose the best from the never ending list of educational apps is not an easy task. Majority of the apps may be good at only some aspects. They may lack in some aspects that may affect their popularity with time. Therefore, you must be extremely careful when you choose the apps for your classrooms.

With technology entering classrooms, there have been notable changes in the curriculum and in what is being taught in the classroom. Lessons have been reduced to games and storytelling in order to instil interest in students and to change the atmosphere of a classroom into a lively one.

Here is a list of 7 Splendid Apps that can be really helpful to you, as a teacher and suit the needs of your classroom:

1. Adobe Voice

Adobe Voice is a digital storytelling and presentation app from Adobe. The app enables students to narrate stories using a series of digital images. The images can be shown collectively like a montage and the app has various in-built templates and a library of music and images that the students can utilize to build and narrate their story.

2. iMovie

iMovie is a video tool that can be used in ipads or apple laptops. Students can use iMovie to edit video clippings and create short movies of their own. Students can insert titles, add effects and add soundtracks of their choice. At the end, you can choose a day to showcase their works in the classroom.

3. Pixlr Editor and Pixlr Express

Pixlr Editor and Pixlr Express are online photo editing tools that students can use to manipulate an image creatively. They can crop, add effects and overlay the image which can then be used for project works, assignments etc.

4. Aurasma

Aurasma is a popular augmented reality tool and is available free of cost. With Aurasma, teachers can tag a physical object to a video or 3D scene related to the object and students who checks out the object with a mobile device can see the attachment. For example, students or teachers can create videos about the books they recommend and attach them to the books. This can act as suggestions to other students who are in search of a good book to read.

5. StripDesigner

StripDesigner app encourages students to improve their creative side. The app enables students to create comic strips using images and templates available within the app.  They can also add dialogues to their comic strips and present them in front of fellow students.

6. edWeb.net

This is an app meant for educators. It is a community where educators can discuss about different teaching techniques and tips to improve classroom conditions, online. The site also hosts webinars for teachers occasionally.

7. Too Noisy

You can’t expect a classroom to stay silent for long. The volume gradually increases with you screaming on top of your voice at the end. Too Noisy is a Classroom Management app apt for such instances. Teachers can set a volume limit using the app. Then, the app notifies the teachers and students when the classroom volume goes beyond limits. This helps you to have a control over your class and gradually, you can see your classroom atmosphere turning peaceful.

Give these apps a shot and you will be amazed for sure on having better control over your class. Learning becomes fun and entertaining and you can see your classroom bubbling with enthusiasm for that is all you need to have a better classroom.

Apart from the apps given above, there are many apps available in the market that can also help in the management of a school as a whole like the time table management software, work force management system etc. These software help you to reduce manual efforts while increasing the productivity and save schools of the unwanted expenses. 

“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow” – John Dewey

Technology has revolutionised the whole concept of education. Children remain connected to technology even when outside classrooms.

Ever thought of introducing technology to classrooms? Education can be elevated to new heights. Be the kind of teacher, your students always want.

Not only kids, but teachers can also depend on technology to enhance interactive classroom experience. Think of school apps, EYFS software, and you would get the idea.

Every teacher should be proficient in the use of technology. It’s a fact that 80 percent of computer users know only 20 percent of what a computer can do.

Be the change. Introduce technology to your students; make them stay connected to studies.

Instill in them the thirst for knowledge through technology.

1) Planboard

Planning is really essential for each academic year. The right plan can reduce stress and things can be much smoother. Planboard is a tool that helps make smart plans. Planboard helps to easily plan and view academic year. Items can be added for each class very easily and quickly. Synopsis on weekly schedules can be obtained by a hit at the week button. An overview of the day is just a click away.
Ensure your students have the knowledge they need. The best lesson plan can be created for a particular subject. The system also allows provision to collaborate between teachers worldwide. Public lesson plans can be searched with keywords or the exact standard codes

2) Edmodo

Edmodo is known as a “social learning platform”. Teachers, students, and parents can use the website. Edmodo is known as the Facebook for schools and is marketed as the same. With the website, teachers can provide signup code for students which can later be deactivated once all students have signed up. Students can share the code with their parents allowing them to monitor their own child’s activity. Intruders cannot access in to the classroom.

• Students can be invited into private groups by the teachers
• Private groups can be used for online classroom discussions
• The format keeps the teacher firmly in control
• Private messages cannot be shared with other students in class
• Teacher can moderate group messages

3) Timetable Management software

At the beginning of a new academic year, timetable management is a big headache for schools. There might be issues such as two teachers being alotted to the same class, or a teacher might have two classes allocated at the same time. Such issues might require hours of careful work to sort out when done manually.
But why go for manual management of timetable when there are high quality software ready to help you? By incorporating this simple time table management software, Schools get to save a lot of time and confusion.

4) Pinterest

Pinterest is a personalized media platform which offers visual discovery, collection, sharing, and storage tool. It is both web and mobile application company. Users of Pinterest can create and share the collections of visual bookmarks, they can also upload, save, sort, and manage images also known as pins as well as other media content like videos through collection known as pinboards.
Content of others can be browsed on the main page. Individual pins can be saved by users using the “Pin It” button with Pinboards typically organized by a central topic or theme. Pinterest provides a personalised experience for the user. Many teachers use Pinterest as a place to collect great lesson plans and projects.

5) TeachersPayTeachers

Teachers Pay Teachers is an online market for teachers. The website helps teachers to sell their original lesson plans and other course materials to other teachers. They can share for free also. Many teachers are earning significant income on the site. Most relevant resource for education is often available from teachers. Bringing together educators can form a powerful community. Students are benefited by the quality and availability.

6) Prezi

Prezi is presentation software. Ideas can be presented on a virtual canvas. The Zooming User Interface allows users to zoom in and out of their presentation, media allows users to display and navigate through information.
• Surprise your audience by zooming through your story
• Freedom to build presentations from anywhere with the co-workers
• Explain how ideas are related each other visually
• Enhance presentations with images and videos

7) Creaza

Creaza is an educational toolbox with more than 600 000 users all over the world. It helps in expressing knowledge and skills, creatively in the classroom. Technology to create movies, cartoons, mind maps, presentations, soundscapes and much more are provided by the website.
• More than 500 curriculum based exercises
• 30 built-in themes along with content
• 9 languages
• Online toolbox
• No installation needed

8) Jing

Share images and short videos of the computer screen through Jing. Jing gives the power to add basic visual elements and to share them fast. The website is useful for work, home, and play.
• Capture easily what you see
• Record what you do
• Quick and easy sharing
• Eliminate confusion

9) Educreations

Educreations is simple, powerful and fun to use. Explain any concept with any content with annotation, animation, and narration. Short instructional videos can be created by the teachers and can share them instantly with the students.

Capturing the ideas

Record voice and iPad screen to create dynamic video tutorials that students and colleagues, as needed could be accessed any time.

Use the content

Educreations empowers the freedom of importing pictures and documents from Photo Library, Dropbox and Google Drive. Within the app, search for perfect image.

Instant Sharing

Along with sharing videos with other Educreations users, videos can be sent over email, post to YouTube, Edmodo and Twitter.

Automatic saving

Finished videos are saved automatically to Educreations account. The videos are instantly ready to be viewed online and can be shared with others. The power of controlling what you see is ensured by the website.

10) Google Earth

Equipped with a visually distinct extensive database of satellite imagery and 3D models, Google Earth can provide amazingly effective classroom.

Google Earth offers endless possibilities for history teachers. Rather than textual knowledge, the visit to historical places can enhance the interest of learning for the students. The latest version provides geographic context to historical events.

A better understanding of subject makes things clear and transparent.

Google Earth proves itself useful for geography classes. It actively teaches geography and mapping in geography and social studies classes. From geography projects to learning about geological processes, Google Earth can be an amazing and fast way to show students anywhere in the world.

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Childhood is supposed to be stress-free. But unfortunately they are not so in the present world. School goers experience a significant amount of stress due to their busy schedule, school activities, exams,  results etc. Parent being busier than children, it is very hard to find time for managing stress in their children. So the best alternative is to prepare them to reduce  stress themselves. We can also help them to an extent. Here are some tips to manage stress.

  1. Power naps: Taking a nap in the afternoon will help a lot to reduce stress. So advice them to practice it. It should be around half an hour. A prolonged sleep will spoil the purpose. A short nap will increase concentration and memory.
  2. Visualization: Helping children to visualise planned activities will help reduce stress and makes it easier to complete each activity. Visualization helps to calm down and detach from what is stressing.
  3. Exercise: Exercise regularly. That will make their mind and body strong and stable. A healthy body will surely have a healthy mind. There are simple, easy to practice exercises such as breathing exercises which can strengthen children’s mind and help reduce stress.
  4. Music: Listening to calm music will reduce stress and stimulates our mind. It gives us pleasure and motivates us sometimes. Playing calm music in background while engaged in activities will have a soothing effect on children’s mind.
  5. Stay organized: being systematic and staying organized are the two best steps to reduce stress. Once on the right track, we don’t have to worry about preparation. Staying organized means having an order in everything; in the activities and in keeping  belongings or study materials.
  6. Eat right: Eating on time is very important to have a healthy mind and body. Eating the right thing at the right time will help us a lot. Eating a lot of junk food and oily food will inversely affect our concentration and make us feel dizzy. Drinking a lot of water and having a planned diet will reduce our stress and make us energetic.
  7. Positive thinking:   The habit of positive thinking and optimism should be cultivated from childhood to  reduce stress and increase peace of mind. It will keep us happy and refresh our mind. It will result in good performances and high grades.
  8. Student friendly classrooms: The classroom or school atmosphere shouldn’t be stressful to children. It must be a favourite hangout for children. To make the classroom friendly, teachers and school authorities should work hard. For early years education, adopting EYFS curriculum is a good option. EYFS supports child-centered education and it isn’t stressful to children. Employing EYFS managing software can help teachers and parents to make the classroom a student friendly one.
  9. Learn through fun:  Traditional classroom system insists more tension on children. Its mode of evaluation, exams and gradation can be stressful to children. This teaching method was a successful method. But in keeping with the changing times, a less stressful method needs to be adopted. Let them learn things through fun and games. Adopting EYFS or School Apps is a better method for this.  Children will love to use Smart Apps. It will make learning interesting and reduce the stress that cause by intensive learning.
  10. Effective parent- teacher communication: Parent- teacher communication is necessary to reduce unwanted stress from the minds of children. If a teacher knows the family background of a child, it will be a blessing for the child. Both the parents and the teachers can share their views about the child’s development. It will give a better idea to both parties about the best way to nurture their child.  Parent Portals are technological advancements  that enhance parent-teacher communication.

 

To make childhood more colorful and stress-free, parents and teachers should be an active part of children’s life. Avoid unhealthy comparisons and declaration of grades in public. Family should be supportive, which in itself would make students more relaxed. Only a stress-free mind can become creative. So for the development of a creative new generation, let’s help our children to wipe out all their worries and tension.

‘Bullying’ is not a strange word now. Everywhere, children are facing bullying. Majority of the students in the world are facing bullying from school, from home or through online.

Definition

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has a potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as threatening, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally and excluding someone from a group with purpose.

Bullying in schools

It’s a type of bullying that takes place in an educational institution and it can be physical, sexual, verbal or emotional nature.

Main characteristics of bullying at school

  1. It is deliberate and with an intention to harm; not accidental.
  2. It may cause psychological, social or physical trauma in varying degrees to the victims.
  3. It has a potential to happen again and again; it is persistent.
  4. It is motivated by the perceived benefits of their aggressive behavior.

 

Types of bullying that happens to students

Physical bullying: Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim. It can be identified easily.
Examples: punching , pushing, kicking, tickling , inappropriate touching, fighting or using any object as weapon.

Emotional bullying: It won’t harm the body but the mind. It causes damage to the psyche or happy mood.
Examples:

  1. Spreading rumors
  2. Keeping someone out of the group
  3. Avoiding or ignoring someone purposefully
  4. Harassment
  5. Making fun of others

Verbal bullying: It includes any statements or accusations that cause distress to someone.

  • Using foul language at someone
  • Using derogatory remarks or terms about a person
  • Making negative comment on the person’s appearance
  • Mocking, teasing, belittling etc.

Cyber bullying: It is the most threatening type of bullying and difficult to find out.
“ Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipments such as cell phone, computers and tablets as well as communication tools including social media, text messages, chats and websites.”

How is Cyber bullying different?

  • It can happen at any time and anywhere.
  • Messages or images can be sent anonymously
  • It threatens the victim about publishing pictures or messages to a wide audience. It is very difficult to find out the source unless we inform the authority.
  • Once the bully deletes the message, it is difficult to catch them.

Sexual bullying: it is also a very dangerous type of bullying that happens to school going children. Sexual bullying is “any behavior, whether physical or non physical that is based on a person’s sexuality or gender.”
It is commonly directed at girls but boys are also not spared from this nowadays. It is very difficult to detect this kind of bullying because of ignorance and fear about the threats from the bullies.

Power imbalance : a main cause of bullying at schools

Power imbalance is always there behind every bullying. The bully might have supremacy over the victim with size, gender, age or colour. Children find motivation to bully others in their weakness like not fitting in, physical weakness, short temper, who their friends are, overweight, facial appearance, the clothes they wear,academic status etc.
Students who bully others usually have an unpleasant atmosphere at home. The suffocation that they feel at home and the attempts to make them over disciplined will make them more violent. A bully is often someone who was bullied in the past or has witnessed bullying.

Role of children in bullying

Children have different roles in bullying:

  • Children who bully others
  • Children who are bullied
  • Children who witness bullying
  • Children who assist or support bullying
  • Outsiders who just watch bullying
  • Children who defend

How to identify the victims if they are unspoken?
There will be drastic change in the behavior of the child if he/she is bullied. Some of the following symptoms can be noticed:
• Injuries
• Anxiety
• Change in eating habits
• Declining grades
• Self injury
• Sitting alone
• Insomnia

How to deal with it?

• Talk about bullying. The parents and teachers must be very friendly to them. Their talks should enable them to identify the situations of such harassments
• Talk to them about ‘what is bullying?’ and ‘how to escape from it?’ Make them understand it is not acceptable. Make sure that they know how to get help
• Always listen to them, know their friends, activities and interests
• Promote them to follow what their mind says
• Be a role model for your kids
• If any of the signs are visible in your kids, inform teachers about it using Parent portal. The teachers also can do the same so that they can give more attention

Prevention at Schools

• Find out bullying in schools and take necessary disciplinary actions against it.
• Create rules to report bullying.
• Choose a good School app with which the parents and teachers can trace the bullies
• Build a safe environment.
• Arrange supervising cameras if necessary
• Find out those who are bullied and bring back as normal students by counseling etc.
It is best if we can find out bullying at the earlier stage and find a solution to it. If we can create a safe surrounding where bullying won’t occur, it is far recommended than finding a remedy.

There is an English proverb that says, “The soul is healed by being with children”. What if the very lives of these children are in jeopardy? It is a fact that ragging has been in the society for some time now and its intensity worsens every year. Though numerous anti-ragging squads and bodies exist, we haven’t been able to eliminate these practices completely.

It is hard to believe that bullying has tormented Indian school students for some time now, and it is just recently that we have started taking it seriously. What is the difference between bullying and ragging? None, they are practically the same. While there are strict laws and punishments against ragging, bullying has none whatsoever. And it is this very fact that makes bullying far more dangerous than ragging.

Other than the lack of laws against it, the fact that a very young age group, mostly in between 12 – 16 years is affected makes it more hazardous. It is said to be the very age which nourishes mental capability and invokes behavioral build up in children. Bullying is said to cause psychological traumas, from which children find it difficult to recover. In some cases, they even find themselves mentally scared for life.

5 Steps to Curb Bullying

1. Know your children

Parents need to maintain an open and deep relationship with their children so that they will be the first to know if something goes wrong. In most cases of bullying, the victims are traumatized for months before the parents or teachers come to know about what was happening. The lack of confidence that they will be helped is what holds them back. Children should feel free to talk to their parents at any time.

2. Know your students

School is said to be the second home for a student. If so, then teachers occupy the roles of responsible parents. This means he/she has not just the role of a teacher, but also a parent. So, just like parents they must also possess a sincere relation with their students. The student should feel safe and confident in talking with the teachers on his/her issues. The large number of students in a single classroom, probably beyond what the teacher can keep track of and the lack of good teaching staff, has only made it difficult to build teacher-student relations.

3. Friends can also help

In situations where a student finds it difficult to disclose the issue to a parent or teacher, he/she could get the help of a dear friend. The friend could in turn address the issue to a teacher or someone in charge. For this to happen, children should first be made aware of the seriousness of such situations.

4. Actions need to be taken

Laws against bullying will take time to come to full effect. Within that time, schools can play it’s part to help the cause. Schools across the world have adopted several methods to cope with the issue of bullying. Once bullying was at its worst in the USA. Ensuring participation of students in open discussions and conducting seminars on possible bullying problems and how to tackle them has brought down bullying to a large extent. So the question is, if they can do it, why can’t we?

5. Social awareness

Bullying and ragging are social issues. So, the society itself needs to come together for the purpose of fighting against it. Rather than thinking of it as another person’s issue, think of it as an entire society’s responsibility. Educate and prepare your children to hold on their own under risky situations.

Policies Taken

Recently, former HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju had formed a committee of academic and mental health experts to review the scale of ragging in schools and recommend preventive measures.

The committee headed by CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi is learnt to have submitted its report to the HRD Ministry. It has described bullying in Indian schools as a serious problem and recommended regulations to bar the menace in schools on the lines of UGC’s regulations to curb the menace of ragging in Higher Educational Institutions notified on June 17, 2009. The committee commissioned a survey of schools and found the extent of bullying to be “serious”.

Bullying is an issue that comes into existence at the school level and needs to be dealt with in schools itself. Otherwise it may result in a socially handicapped and mentally injured generation.