Growth mindset in school children during the Pandemic 2020.

Pandemic has disrupted the life of not only the life of migrant workers but also thoroughly derailed the lives of the school going kids. 

School is a community of young minds, educators, parent group and management. Within no time the teachers, learnt the art of virtual classes and without batting their eyelids seemlessly transitioned into the edu tech mode. Peer learning by facilitators, IT spouses of teachers, trained their better halves with the basic meeting tools like zoom, Team and Meet .

So by May 2020, the teachers rolled up their sleeves and started the virtual classes for the secondary and senior secondary studentswhile the primary and the middle school slowing started their classes in June. 

Till March 2020 we would avoid the screen and would have hands on activity , outdoor classrooms and lab experiments. But then June we had to tell the parents to adapt to the virtual classroom and that the pandemic may be there for a few months. After convincing the parents that learning should take place and that it is a continuous process , which cannot be stalled. Children came into the virtual classroom. first few days were only light conversations, instructing the students to 'mute' while listening and 'unmute' while speaking. 

So while many children who are talented , are taking to up their passion of singing, dancing, photography and video making. Other kids are having fun doing nothing , no school so not studies and only merry making. Assignments though given via Google Classroom the kids are not keen to complete it while assessments are taken lightly. 

Here I have a well wisher, Vidushi Shetty,10 years old, who is doing so many things to bring in a smile to many of us and the COVID warriors. 

On 15th August 2020, she sent me a beautiful card and a letter , stating how grateful she is for the sacrifices made by all the armed forces personnels in securing our country. This is true patriotism. While this did not end here!

Tricolor hand painted along with the letter

This Diwali, on behalf of Desh,she sent me a hand painted Diya , ek diya desh ke naam, where in we remember all the fallen soldiers and thank them for their services and also pray for the safety of all the soldiers serving the borders and are away from home.

Diyas lit @ Lt Col Ajit Bhandarkar, Shaurya chakra's home

Then came  the rememberance day ,  11th Nov, 2020, when we wear the Marigold /Poppy flower to remember all the soldiers during the World war one and after. Vidushi spoke about the significance in her virtual classroom session. 

Diwali , being one of the major festivals in India, she wanted to show her gratitude to the housekeeping staff in her apartment. She used her own pocket money and bought sweets for them and gifted hand painted diyas to them. She thanked them for all their relentless efforts in keeping the campus spic and span. 

                      

      Diyas and sweets for housekeeping staff

Diwali goodies 

    

Vidushi is currently learning to play the violin, hone her skills in painting and taken up Calligraphy as her hobby. 

So let us all have a growth mindset and beat the blues of the pandemic by upskilling ourselves, or by learning a new language or art or by doing something constructive and productive. 

Hoping and wishing for a brighter 2021!

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind..."