Is it Aitch or is it Huh?
Most children in India learn at least a couple of alphabets, and seem to do so with an infant agility that makes parents and grandparents like me realise how old we are. The next stage is to translate the squiggles into sounds with meaning, but educationalists in any language argue about whether the children should be taught to decipher the squiggles into sounds by recognising the shapes and sequence of the letters, or by sounding out the noises that the letters represent.
The teachers in all seven of the Building Blocks learning Centres are a formidable group of ladies with a positively evangelical fervour for their profession.
Like James, they are dedicated to helping children to LEARN, which is sometimes not the same thing as TEACHING.
My main task will be working with the founder, James Ambat on exciting new expansion plans to double the size of the operation by 2021.
Five students are sponsored by individuals, three by a school in Devon, one by a group of friends in Lincoln and three by crowd-funding through a steady flow of donations to the BT My donate website - which accepts both single donations and monthly standing orders.
It costs £30 per month for one child - less than a pound a day.
Today there are children who are now in their final month at Building Blocks who have places on offer at a good High School, but who urgently need financing so they can take up places in their new schools in a few weeks' time.
Email me at mail@bobharvey.co.uk if you are interested in supporting a specific boy or girl and I will send you photos and details. Alternatively click the link below if you would just like to be part of the change, and help to crowd-fund a student.
 |
| Is it Aitch or is it Huh? |
The Building Blocks preschool Learning Centres have prided themselves in the way that they have been using Phonics, which is now taught in over 100 countries around the world, in many of which it is established as the official government teaching standard.
Building Blocks uses both Phonics and Word-Recognition to achieve high standards of literacy in both English and Kannada by the time pupils are in K5 at the age of 6.
 |
| A is for APPLE |
The teachers in all seven of the Building Blocks learning Centres are a formidable group of ladies with a positively evangelical fervour for their profession.
Like James, they are dedicated to helping children to LEARN, which is sometimes not the same thing as TEACHING.
Planning new Projects
Next week I fly to Bangalore, escaping the cold and rain, fleeing the politics of Brexit and returning to working with James and the team, - and the children who love to learn and the teachers who love to teach. Once again I shall come to grips with the complexities of an organisation that offers slum kids the unheard of luxury of a clean schoolroom, running water and a healthy lunch.My main task will be working with the founder, James Ambat on exciting new expansion plans to double the size of the operation by 2021.
Funding their Future
 |
| https://mydonate.bt.com/events/escape-from-poverty |
A secure future for these 12 children
The education of the 12 children pictured here is being funded through "Escape from Poverty" - the charity I set up 11 months ago.Five students are sponsored by individuals, three by a school in Devon, one by a group of friends in Lincoln and three by crowd-funding through a steady flow of donations to the BT My donate website - which accepts both single donations and monthly standing orders.
Less than £1 per day
The Project + Ten Sponsorship scheme supports children for the vital 10 years from age 6 to age 16, funding 80% of school fees and providing ongoing mentoring and coaching to ensure that these children do not fall behind in the achievements of children from more privileged backgrounds.It costs £30 per month for one child - less than a pound a day.
Today there are children who are now in their final month at Building Blocks who have places on offer at a good High School, but who urgently need financing so they can take up places in their new schools in a few weeks' time.
Email me at mail@bobharvey.co.uk if you are interested in supporting a specific boy or girl and I will send you photos and details. Alternatively click the link below if you would just like to be part of the change, and help to crowd-fund a student.
Help to Crowd-fund a child to take up a place in a good High School
https://bobharvey5.blogspot.co.uk
