Training for better teachers

The one day 'IPTTA-Fest - 6',hosted by IPTTA - Integrated Preschool Teachers Training Academy, was inaugurated by Dr Reeta Sonawat, former Dean of Faculty, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai and torchbearer of Early Child Education in India an Nandita Raj, at State Gallery of Fine Arts, Madhapur.

Guest of Honour Sultana Moidu, a renowned early childhood education expert; Sonal Andrews, Director, IPTTA; school principals, teachers of various schools and inquisitive parents were present on the occasion.

This event also coincided with a Book launch – "All about Teaching Aids" Co-authored by Dr Reeta Sonawat and Sonal Ravi Andrews.

The book classifies the different types of teaching aids to be employed and can be created in the Early Childhood Classrooms. More than 80 teaching aids can be made by referring to the book.

The book also illustrates outcomes, objectives and scopes of each kind of aid. The main objective of publishing the book is to make it a part of early childhood teachers training and also to make every teacher have a handy manual on the same to stimulate their creativity and making learning the fun experience for the child.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Reeta Sonawat said, "Teaching aids are the backbone to learning, they help learn a subject in depth.

The learning of the child is based on the way they see and visualize and the foundation to their learning is laid there.

In this exhibition I saw some innovative ways of teaching difficult concepts, simplifying the entire thing from the child's perspective and making him comprehend easily."

Creating a platform for teachers at Pre-primary and Primary level to learn and share innovative methods of teaching, Sonal Ravi Andrews said, "IPTTA's objective is to make class room learning for pre-primary school children, interesting and teaching aids are the foundation for a good learning.

Every year IPTTA Fest, brings more than a hundred teaching aids on one theme, to make every class interesting to the kid. With today's children being overloaded with digital inputs, for them to feel and touch things will make lot of difference and that's what teaching aids do.

More than 700 teachers are visiting this exhibition from across the city and neighborhood, to learn and share their knowledge, to evolve innovative and best practices in Early Child Education area.

This exhibition was an excellent opportunity for those in teaching profession and parents to see innovative and original methods of imparting knowledge, while being able to grab the attention and get the child interest."

MsNandita Rajsaid, "It's a wonderful fest laying foundation for a lifetime of learning to the young children. The ethods being showcased here mould and create interest towards learning in the young minds.

IPTTA-Fest is a unique platform for aspiring pre-primary and primary teachers studying at IPTTA to showcase their talent and knowledge acquired from the year long diploma program.

Around thirty participants were exhibiting their works which were innovative, easy to comprehend for child and could be replicated conveniently in the classroom."