CHINMAYA MISSION CHICAGO TEACHERS TRAINING SEMINAR

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CHINMAYA MISSION CHICAGOTEACHERS TRAINING
SEMINAR

• MODULE I
• A TYPICAL BAL VIHAR
• CLASS SESSION

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1. CLASS SET UP

• ALTAR SET UP
• SEATING ARRANGEMENT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
• HELPFUL HINTS FOR THE TEACHERS

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1. CLASS SET UP (cont)

• ALTER SET UP
• Install an alter preferably to the extreme right
  side of the class room, above the eye level of
  children for their easy visibility.
• Place an attractive picture of any Hindu deity
  worshipped by the household or the ashram center.
• Light an oil lamp or an agarbatti if possible.
• Dress up the deity with attractive clothes, a
  garland, or loose flowers if possible.
• Place a photograph of Pujya Gurudev Swami
  Chinmayanandaji.

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1. CLASS SET UP (cont.)

• HELPFUL HINTS FOR TEACHERS
• Both the teachers should face children, always
  visible to all the children for consistent eye
  contact, to ensure order and safety, attention,
  to watch over all that goes on and help kids
  follow instructions.
• Seating in rows - helps towards neatness and
  discipline.
• Smaller children in the front, taller in the back
  for better attention through eye connection with
  teachers.
• Per Gurujis suggestion encourage children to
  sit in the same rows regularly helps cultivate
  awareness towards responsibility and to keep the
  place clean, orderly.
• This also helps teachers to familiarize and
  remember the students names and class structure.
• Cleanliness at the end of the session
• Reinforcing regularly a sense of respect towards
  class room facilities and reverence towards
  ashram environment.

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A TYPICAL (B.V.) CLASS ACTIVITY STRUCTURE

• PRAYERS
• ATTENDANCE (ROLE CALL)
• LESSON TOPIC (per monthly lesson plan).
• CONCLUSION

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2. A TYPICAL (B.V.) CLASS ACTIVITY STRUCTURE

• PRAYERS
• Invocation prayers
• Guided meditation
• Daily prayers
• Chanting
• NOTE AVERAGE TIME UTILIZED 20 MINUTES

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A. PRAYERS

• INVOCATION
• 3 TIMES OM
• HELPFUL HINTS- GUIDE CHILDREN GENTLY AS FOLLOWS
• Sit up straight
• Eyes gently closed
• Think of the Lord with deep reverence
• Breathe deeply through the nostrils each time and
  in a long, vibrant voice chant OM three times.

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A. PRAYERS (cont.)

• INVOCATION
• SHANTI MANTRA
• Om sahanaa vavatu, sahanau bhunaktu
• A BRIEF GUIDED MEDITATION
• A brief mental quietude exercise (guided
  meditation through simple imagery/thought
  massage).

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A. PRAYERS (cont.)

• INVOCATION (cont.)
• Ganesha mantra vakra tunda mahakaaya
• Saraswati mantra saraswati namastu
• Guru stotram
• (Up to grade 4 teach and chant clusters of 3
  verses each time until all verses completed. 5th
  grade onwards chant all of the verses).

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A. PRAYERS (cont.)

• STANDARD DAILY PRAYERS
• Karagre vasate Lakshami
• Gange cha yamunechaiva
• Om Bhurbhuvah svaha
• Brahmarpanam
• Ahamvaishvanaro bhutva
• Shumbham karoti kalyanam
• Kayenavaachaa
• Karacharana kritamvak
• Tryambakam yajaamahe
• Helpful hint Teach clusters of 3 verses at a
  time in subsequent session chant learnt verses
  first followed by new ones.

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A. PRAYERS (cont.)

• STOTRAS Per the prescribed grade level syllabus
  see handout in folder)
• Shree Ganesha stotram
• Shree Ganga stotram
• Shree Guru paduka stotram
• Shree Madhurashtakam
• Shree Sharada stotram
• Lingashtakam
• Nirvanashatkam
• BHAGAVAD GEETA CHANTING-chapter 3 for year 2004

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B. ATTENDANCE (role call)

• Ideal timing soon after the prayers
• Reasons for formal role call activity
• Indirect incentives of regularity and punctuality
• Statistical records resource
• An indirect source of discipline instillation
• An opportunity for teachers to share positive
  strokes for good record.
• Opportune moment to gauge morale (mood) of each
  child through insightful mental observation of
  response to role calling.
• Note average time utilized 05 minutes

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C. LESSON TOPICS

• Plan your work and then work out your plans
  Swami Chinmayanandaji
• Strategize for success.
• In order to succeed have a clear vision, a
  defined action plan, a clear alignment within the
  team to generate true service as teacher to the
  self and all.
• LESSON TOPICS PER MONTHLYLESSON PLAN
• TO BE COVERED BY SWAMIJI MODULE 2.

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D. CLASS SESSION CONCLUSION(QUIETUDE AND
CONCLUDING PRAYERS)

• Alertness to ensure that lesson topic ends 10
  minutes before the class time.
• Winding down with a brief quietening exercise
  (meditation)
• Encourage children to keep all of the room area
  neat and organized (rather than teachers to
  return later (?!) to do so!
• Conscientiously practice and encourage from day
  one of the term to collect all of personal
  belongings and place them in personal hand bags
  to avoid litter and lost/found collection.
• Reinforce regularly the sense of respect and
  reverence towards the sanctity of the Bala Vihar
  location as well as the main shrine.
• NOTE AVERAGE TIME UTILIZED 05-10 MINUTES

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CHINMAYA MISSION CHICAGOTEACHERS TRAINING
SEMINAR

• MODULE III.B
• PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

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THE ART OF STORY TELLING

• Why tell stories?
• It is a creative mode of instruction - works
  invariably far better than formal teaching
  methods.
• All children (and adults too) relate
  instinctively and spontaneously through verbal
  and animated character portrayal.
• Encourages verbal self confidence in the teller.
• Fosters an awareness of ones own unique
  imagination.
• Enhances listening skills in children.
• It is an interactive community fun activity.
• Can contribute to student success and emotional
  well being.
• The ancient art of story telling is well suited
  for student exploration.
• It is accessible to all ages and abilities no
  special equipments beyond imagination and power
  of listening and speaking is needed.
• It is a learning tool towards expressiveness,
  ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, be
  articulate, and be empowered to relate.

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THE ART OF STORY TELLING (cont.)

• Skills for success
• Careful selection of stories.
• Diligence in developing the theme and plot
  narration.
• Focused progress without winding wavering.
• Flexibility towards situational occurrences.
• Never teach, only tell a story.
• Mindfulness towards listeners receptivity.

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THE ART OF STORY TELLING (cont.)
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CHINMAYA MISSION CHICAGOTEACHERS TRAINING
SEMINAR

• MODULE IV.B
• BAL VIHAR TEACHERS RESPONSIBILITIES

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BAL VIHAR TEACHERS RESPONSIBILITIES

• Punctuality
• Regularity
• Simple tips towards dynamic role modelship

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BAL VIHAR TEACHERS RESPONSIBILITIES (cont.)

• Discipline with dignity
• Be creatively challenging
• Be motivational
• Be insightful
• Be practical

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BAL VIHAR TEACHERS RESPONSIBILITIES (cont.)

• THE 10 TIPS
• Always treat youngsters with respect and preserve
  their dignity.
• Always do what is in the students' best
  interests.
• Seek solutions, not blame.
• Model tolerant, patient, dignified, and
  respectful behavior.
• Use the least intrusive intervention possible.
• Connect with your students and build strong
  personal bonds with them.
• Instill hope for success (otherwise there is no
  reason for kids to behave in your class). NEVER
  do anything disrespectful, illegal, immoral,
  ineffective, bad for health/safety,or you
  wouldn't want done to you.
• NEVER give up on a student.  Be perturbed with
  the actions of a student, but keep believing in
  his/her ability to change for the better. CATCH
  KIDS BEING GOOD . . . A LOT!!