Today is the auspicious Guru Poornima day, when we prostrate and offer our salutation to all our Gurus who have imparted knowledge to us in various fields and our Guru Parampara.
The GYM Foundation was started on the auspicious Guru Poornima day 2021 with the blessings of all my Gurus and teachers who have been instrumental in making the person I am. My humble pranams to my Gurus.
I started The GYM Foundation with the sole purpose to make “Math Learning journey – both enjoyable and enriching” by following Inquiry Based Learning and Guided Discovery approaches and thanks to all parents and students who believed in this learning approach.
STEPS in MATH program utilizes the Inquiry Based Learning approach which empowers children to think and ask questions to understand any concept or a problem. Asking questions provides greater benefit to kid’s learning as it shows the curiosity, inquisitiveness to learn and articulate what they KNOW and DO NOT KNOW. Children develop clarity and good conceptual understanding by asking questions and finding their answers. Besides they go beyond what is intended to be taught by asking questions and expanding their knowledge. These are very important traits for an effective and life-long learning that impacts even in one’s college and work place. Developing such traits at an early age certainly makes children to be confident in Understanding and Solving Problems in Math (and other subjects).
Children are naturally curious, unfortunately they are not provided enough time and space to ask questions and understand better. STEPS in MATH program facilitate kids with techniques to ask purposeful questions and approaches to learning, thinking, and doing Math.
Inquiry Based Learning has been the approach to a keen learner since ancient times. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna did not jump start teaching his student Arjuna with the Dharma to be followed at first. Krishna asked Arjuna to tell about his state of mind and ask questions about what Arjuna wanted to know. In Chapter 4, Shloka 34 mentioned below, he says a keen learner should prostrate Guru, ask questions with an intent to learn (Pariprashna) and do service.
Wearing the hat of “Asking Questions” will start kid’s learning from their own place of understanding something, instead of being in a receiver mode of learning from the teacher’s place of understanding! Think what would happen if a teacher goes on, on and on while the student is still on the start line!
With this note, I want parents who are keen to know where their kid’s stand in learning and curiosity to just try asking kids, “Do you have any questions that makes you wonder about learning Fractions?”
You may hear, “No doubts – everything crystal clear”, “Nothing specific!”, “Many questions but I don’t remember” or even “Yes I have a train of questions here they are!”. It would be great to see your kid’s responses. Please share them here. Thank You.
Want to have a sneak peak of the “Aha, learning moments of Inquiry Based Learning” by STEPS in MATH kids?