Compilation and Editing – Pallavi Shambharkar
Chakrighat – From Soil to Imagination – A World Built by Children Themselves
– Navinta Dongare
When children are given the freedom to explore and create something on their own, they can turn their ideas into reality. An experience I had while working with children reminded me once again of the importance of giving them this freedom.
One day, the children decided to create a small farm of their own. Using the soil, sticks, and rope available around them, they marked out and created their farm. They placed the sticks in the ground, tied the rope to define the boundaries, and gave their farm a shape. They then took responsibility for sowing seeds, watering them, and caring for the plants.
But their imagination did not stop there!
After seeing a bridge on a mobile phone, the children came up with the idea of building a small bridge near their farm. They began using soil, sticks, and other materials available around them to construct it. They discussed how to build the bridge, where to place the sticks, and how to use the soil. By listening to one another, trying different ideas, and making changes whenever needed, they eventually built their own little bridge.
Throughout this process, the children were doing much more than building a farm and a bridge. They were observing, planning, asking questions, and finding their own solutions to challenges. Working together also gave them an opportunity to understand each other’s ideas and create something new through collaboration.
This experience helped me realize that instead of creating everything for children, it is more important to give them the freedom and opportunities to try things themselves. In such situations, children do not simply follow instructions; they think independently, make decisions, and bring their ideas to life.
Perhaps, after a few days, their little farm and bridge may no longer be there. But the belief that “I can create something on my own!” can stay with them and continue to grow. The most beautiful part of this experience for me was that the children not only built a farm from soil and a bridge to reach it, but also experienced the joy of trusting their own ideas and creating something together.
Sonkhamb – Tejal’s Inspiring Learning Journey
– Devendra Raut
Tejal, a fourth-grade student living in Sonkhamb Center, is a hardworking, enthusiastic, and curious learner. Along with helping her parents with household responsibilities, she regularly attends school and continues to pursue her learning journey.
Over time, Tejal has shown encouraging progress in her learning. She is moving beyond simply reading books to understanding what she reads, reflecting on stories, and trying to express her own thoughts and opinions. Her growing confidence and increasing interest in learning reflect the positive changes in her journey.
It is heartwarming to see Tejal participate enthusiastically in different activities, from dancing to reading books. Her curiosity to explore new things, willingness to make an effort, and eagerness to learn reflect her growing potential.
Tejal’s journey is not just about academic progress; it is also about building self-confidence and moving forward with determination. While balancing household responsibilities and education, she continues to make progress at her own pace. With continued encouragement, meaningful opportunities, and a supportive learning environment, she can continue to grow and achieve even more.
Tejal’s journey reminds us that every child has the potential to learn and grow. What matters is recognizing that potential, creating opportunities for children to express themselves, and celebrating every small step in their learning journey.
Asola – A Journey of Learning by Understanding Children
– Minanath Dadmal
I am Meenath, and I work with primary-level children at Asola Center. This experience has been very meaningful and full of learning opportunities for me. While teaching and working with children, I am learning many new things about how they learn.
I am trying to understand children according to their age groups, how they learn different subjects, and the challenges they face during the learning process.
I have conducted different experiments to understand how children learn English and other subjects. I have also tried conducting case studies with a few children to understand their learning processes more deeply. This experience is helping me understand children better and explore teaching methods that respond to their individual learning needs.
My approach is not just to teach children for the sake of completing a lesson, but to think about how what they learn can be useful in their daily lives and future. In mathematics, especially, I focus on connecting concepts with real-life experiences. I am experimenting with ways to help children learn mathematics through everyday activities, familiar situations, and experiences from their surroundings.
Over the past few days, I conducted reflection sessions with children about mathematics. I tried to understand whether they could identify mathematical experiences from their own lives, express them in their own words, and recognize how mathematics is used in everyday situations. These conversations helped me understand their existing knowledge, the difficulties they face, and how I can plan the next steps in their learning.
During this process, I noticed that some children found it difficult to connect their everyday experiences with mathematical concepts. This has encouraged me to explore different ways of teaching mathematics through familiar, real-life examples so that children can understand the concepts more easily and apply what they learn in practical situations.
Through this experience, I am realizing that teaching is not just about what we teach, but also about understanding how children learn, what they understand, and how they can use their learning in real life. This journey is giving me an opportunity to grow as a teacher, reflect on my teaching practices, and continuously experiment with new approaches to make learning more meaningful for children.
Junapani – Discovering the World of Beauty… A New Opportunity to Learn Through Experience!
– Dipanshu Devase
With the aim of providing children with different learning opportunities and introducing them to various professions in their surroundings, the children got to experience something unique. My friend, who runs a beauty parlour, visited our Beda and introduced the children to the world of beauty and makeup.
During the visit, the children explored various beauty products, makeup materials, and the different tools used in a beauty parlour. Since these things were new to them, they had many questions. They eagerly asked about each item, learned about its purpose, and got the opportunity to handle some of the tools themselves.
The children were particularly curious to understand how makeup is done, how different products are used, and what each tool is designed for. Rather than simply observing, they actively participated by asking questions, observing closely, and trying to understand things through hands-on experiences.
This visit was not just an opportunity for the children to learn about a new profession; it was also a joyful experience of learning by doing. It allowed them to explore new things, ask questions, and learn through practical experiences. When children get opportunities to connect with the world around them and learn through real-life experiences and activities, it opens up new possibilities for meaningful learning.
Bothali – Beautiful Memories of the Janmashtami Celebration
– Rohini Kalbhut
Janmashtami was celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy at our school. The school children, along with the children from our Beda, put in a lot of effort to prepare for the celebration. All the children came dressed in beautiful traditional costumes and participated enthusiastically in the event.
The highlight of the celebration was a play performed jointly by the school children and the children from our Beda. Our children dressed up as Radha and Krishna and beautifully portrayed different episodes from Lord Krishna’s life through the play. All the children practised together and supported one another throughout the preparation.
This experience gave children more than just an opportunity to perform on stage. It helped them learn to work together, coordinate with one another, and express themselves confidently. The cooperation and coordination between the school children and the children from the Beda were wonderful to witness.
Activities like these create opportunities for children to learn from one another, explore new experiences, and showcase their talents. Celebrating Janmashtami together with so much joy and enthusiasm made the event a meaningful, enjoyable, and memorable experience for all the children.
Thanthan – Parents Meeting – Memories, Joy, and Stronger Bonds
– Devid Suryawanshi
Today’s parents meeting was a joyful and memorable experience for me. The children and community members already knew about the meeting, and their excitement doubled when they learned that Ganesh Bhaiya would be joining us after a long time.
The children had planned to welcome him by presenting a play. Their enthusiasm, preparation, and willingness to do something special were wonderful to witness.
Initially, we had chosen a different location for the meeting. However, when it suddenly started raining, we faced the challenge of finding another place to gather. At that moment, one of my students suggested, “Sir, we can have the meeting where the Ganpati idol is placed.” Hearing this made me feel very happy. It showed me that the children were also taking ownership of the work we were doing and were willing to find solutions when faced with challenges.
Despite the heavy rain at around 7 p.m., we decided to go ahead with the meeting. The situation was challenging, but the children and community members extended their support, and with everyone’s cooperation, the meeting went smoothly. During the meeting, we shared the children’s learning progress with their parents. The children also performed a play, showcasing their creativity, confidence, and active participation. Their performance gave us a glimpse of the positive changes taking place in them.
This experience helped me realize that a parent meeting is not just a space to discuss children’s academic progress. It is also an important opportunity to strengthen the relationships between children, parents, and teachers. When parents witness their children’s progress and children get opportunities to express themselves, mutual trust and understanding grow stronger.
Today’s meeting reminded me that when children take initiative, parents participate, and teachers make consistent efforts, the learning journey becomes more meaningful. This was more than just a parent meeting; it was a beautiful experience that brought children, parents, teachers, and the community closer together. The rain, the children’s enthusiasm, and everyone’s support will make this day a cherished memory for me.