Audio Files for case studies and poetry

Have added some amazing assorted content to the library today.

Space Quiz for chidren

Quotations for Mothers - Part 1

And this one is beautiful.. an anonymous letter written to Erma Bombeck by a mother. I have loved this letter for years and am happy to convert it to audio today.

Assorted poetry - Punjabi
Lohri

Tu mere naal bai ke haan deya

Hindi poetry
Tere Jhooth

For those of you looking for Case studies for MBA Entrance prep, have added a good 3 part case study today.
The link is only to part 1.
 

Enhancing the Tactile Intelligence of children

 Have you ever wondered why, from the age of 5 months or so, children reach out to TOUCH everything? I have wondered about it a lot. What is it that makes all children, irrespective of where they are, do certain things at a certain age, instinctively. They automatically know that chewing on something will help with the teething process and put everything in their mouth.

Sure, we keep stopping them from doing it, we child proof the house. But the question is, WHY do they do it?

And i think, the answer is, that at that age, children are instinctively trying to enhance their tactile intelligence - the ability to touch a thing and understand it.
How do we respond to this very natural, very important need to develop a kind of intelligence? By child proofing the house and running around with, "dont touch this, dont touch that. stay away from that."

What happens to our children when they are deprived of this very important learning? While doing research on this post, i read up a few studies on the link between tactile learning and intelligence. What i found was SHOCKING, to say the least. There is significant correlation between tactile learning and cognitive ability of a child.

Quote from FamilyEducation:
Most of the school population excels through kinesthetic means: touching, feeling, experiencing the material at hand. "Children enter kindergarten as kinesthetic and tactual learners, moving and touching everything as they learn. By second or third grade, some students have become visual learners. During the late elementary years some students, primarily females, become auditory learners. Yet, many adults, especially males, maintain kinesthetic and tactual strengths throughout their lives."(Teaching Secondary Students Through Their Individual Learning Styles, Rita Stafford and Kenneth J. Dunn; Allyn and Bacon, 1993)



And again from a study by Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, USA.

Factor analytic results suggest tactile measures have a significant relationship with measures of cognitive ability.

For more, please see this:
https://www.google.co.in/?gws_rd=cr&ei=Lts7Uv-pIKapiALPtoHIDw#q=studies+on+the+importance+of+tactile+intelligence

Why was i doing this research? Because last night, i was making these tactile mazes again. And wondered how children will really benefit from these toys? So i googled to find out if there is any linkage between tactile learning tools and a child's intelligence?

The evidence was so overwhelming that i had to pause whatever i was doing and call a friend who is an educational advisor, and share this with her.

YOUR CHILDREN NEED TACTILE LEARNING. Please, please, provide it to them.

I am going to write a post on how you can do this at home - Enhance Tactile learning in your children.

You can also use Esha's new toys in that segment. But please remember, its not necessary to use Esha toys for tactile learning. These are just tools. Tactile learning is all around us. 

3D touch maze for 4-5 year olds. You cannot solve this maze easily by looking at it. Tracing your finger makes it much easier. Try it!



This tactile learning tool has 5 different textures you can teach a child with. The red crystals mark "corners" - very important lesson for 2 year olds. The pearl finish, the stones, the 3D color and the outline of a fish that can be felt by a child. In this maze, you have to reach all the raised elements of the puzzle using only the raised lines as your "highway" Try it!


 

Esha Achiever of the Month - Mamta

Question :  “Tell me the story of your life in your own Words.”
Answer :
I am a visually handicapped girl, aged 29 years. I was born premature with no vision on July 27, 1984. This barrier did not stop my growth & development in any way as I am a person of strong will power, determination & positive attitude. Right from childhood I have been very independent learning swimming, music, Casio & making new friends. I follow the example of Helen Keller who overcame all the barriers in life in spite of her disabilities.

I am a topper in B.A. Education from Mumbai University & have completed my M.A. in Education. I have thorough knowledge of computer & computer software with JAWS. With the help of JAWS I use the computer independently although there are some barriers as JAWS is not compatible with graphics, images & codes.  I undertook training for Medical Transcription, Reiki, Typing, Music & at present am working in the State Bank of India, Andheri (West) branch. I look forward to the responsibilities given & accept challenges & don't give up until I succeed.  I have an immense thirst for knowledge. I am always looking for more exposure to learn and grow personally. I would like to bring into the mainstream the knowledge possessed by myself for the benefit of the Blind & the common man working in society.

In spite of my disability I travel independently using all modes of public transportation. I always arrives before time and am very punctual. I independently handle the inquiries of the customers at the branch efficiently. I am very helpful, kind natured, hard  working, ambitious, thoughtful & efficient in my work.  Always open to learn for growth & able to handle all the responsibilities given, I am truthful, trust worthy and honest.

 
Question : How do you motivate yourself to face the world every morning?
Answer :
I am very courageous, confident and motivated.My family has taught me to be self dependent since from childhood. I enjoy tackling any and all challenges head on.


Question : The kudos palls after a while – so why go on?
Answer : I believe that success is achieved when I am happy with myself, not when people appreciate me and show me pity. I will only be happy when I have achieved my full potential.

Question : It is so easier to accept the pity you are offered than to soldier on at an equal footing. What makes you choose the tougher route, and where do you get the energy to do it?
Answer :
 I do not like anyone showing me pity. Given my belief in my self and self dependence, I know I can achieve anything and everything. I continue to work hard, fight, and grow on a personal level. I want to be the best I can be and this thought continues to motivate me daily.

Question : Do you not often encounter cynicism (external as well as internal)and if yes, how do you cope with it?
Answer :  Yes often people may not wish me well, but that doesn't bother me. As is the case with everything in life, there is the good and the bad. I choose to ignore the bad and solider on with all good thoughts pushing me forward.

Question : What is your current goal? Where are you headed?
Answer : I am aspiring to grow more and more in the banking industry and reach the top of the corporate ladder.

Question : What is your preferred pastime?
Answer :  Watching T. V. Listening to music. reading books. surfing the net, and helping others.

Question  : What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Answer : Hindi songs, especially from the 90's and marathi also clasical as well.

Question : who has been the one significant influence on your life and how,
Answer : I Believe in God and he will do the best for me.

Question : Do you feel loss of vision has been a debilitating factor, in your personal or professional life? If yes,
how do you deal with / overcome the shortcomings?"
Answer : I do not feel so as I can cope with everything or do anything my sighted counterparts can.

Question :How does it feel to encounter blind students?
Answer : They are all like family. We support each other and help each other grow. Often, we serve as motivators for each other as we are all having to deal with similar issues on a daily basis.

Question : Can you say something motivational for our audience, to wrap things up?
Answer : Disabilities create barriers but determination breaks them.

 

Life Taken for granted - Guest post by Vipul Murarka

Vipul is  a student from SOIL - School of Inspired Leadership. He joined Rosemary, Sabarish and Sahil this week for the Esha project. On Sep 13th, was his first ever visit to the Blind School. I requested him to write what he felt.
This is his experience, in his own words, unedited.
******************************************************
I am not sure how many avatars have we taken or will take after the present life ends. But what I know is that we tend to take things that come to us easily for granted. Blessed are we for having functional sensory organs which makes are lives easier on this Earth. But what about those who are not so fortunate?

I got an opportunity to visit junta school, a place for blind people. This school trains visually impaired people in several aspects of life be it technical or vocational. I was amazed to see how a blind student created a new folder on a desktop in no time. I had heard about such places where blind people are taught computers but seeing it myself gave me Goosebumps.  The students apart from this, were also taught to read and understand Braille. The way these students were sincerely reading and paying attention to whatever is being taught to them was something that touched me. Sometimes in life we tend to procrastinate believing that we will finish it tomorrow. But the dedication of these guys was so high that it seemed to me that they wanted to learn each and everything today itself for they might not know what may come tomorrow.

Fit physical body, resources, friends and family are some of the blessings that have been showered upon me. And still I feel that I have not achieved much in life. Whereas the people whom I interacted with today are true leaders who not only were making full use of whatever they were being taught, but were also more humble and polite then I am even when my achievements are nothing compared to what I witnessed today. 

I am reminded of lines by Allama Iqbal
“Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqdeer se pehle
Khuda bande se yeh pooche bata teri raza kya hai”

-Vipul Murarka