Train the Trainer - for adults who would liked to get trained to work with children November 26, 2007

Welcome, you are reading this because you are interested in working with kids and want to get trained for doing so or you simply want to deepen your understanding about children.

The first question we are asked what is this program all about? To get one probable answer to this question – lets hear what Anjana from 8th batch of TTT (classroom version) has to say,

“TTT is all about a program that trains you to work with children effectively...This is what I opined when I too was an aspirant.

When I was undergoing TTT program, though it was all about working with children (including feelings, emotions on one level and the thought and techniques (intellectual) on the other level) effectively.., I realized that all the learnings apply to ME first and foremost as well.
The journey of TTT started with a realization how little did I know about discovering my own potentials and capabilities. A small cat TRANSFORMING into a lioness:-) is the outcome.

TTT as expanded by ME is TRANSFORM THE TRAINER”

At Geniekids, we have been running this Train the Trainer program (TTT) for the last five years serving 10 batches till now. To serve the growing demand of this program from geographically dispersed people we are pleased to launch the first ONLINE version of the same program.So now you have two options - either attend the course at Geniekids center in Bangalore or attend the online course from anywhere in the world!

The TTT program will comprise of four components:
1. Classroom learning - twice a week classes - for Online version you attend the same through internet (you attend live through your computer - we provide you with the software)
2. Workshop assignments - work you will do before and after each session
3. Peer to peer - collaborative work for shared learning
4. Actual practical working with children (to be done with children at a school or any other group of children)

The Program is ideal for you if
>> You want to work with children like conducting programs/ workshops for children.
>> Or you want to start own play school, nursery or primary school or a center like geniekids.
>> Or you are aspiring to be a teacher in pre-primary and primary sections of any already established school.
>> Or none of the above BUT you would still like to understand and know about children – in-depth.

Your Qualifications:
>> You like to be with children. Children like to be with you, to do things with you.
>> Children not only like you, they learn from you. You are eager to provide them with opportunities to learn.
>> You are yourself open to learning. You look forward to every day, eagerly, as an opportunity to learn about children, to learn about learning and to learn whatever children are learning.
>> You have a positive, highly energetic, enthusiastic and constructive attitude toward what you and those around you do.

Your Benefits:
>> A deep understanding of children leads you to creating an environment conducive to wholesome growth and all round development.
>> A deep understanding of learning leads you to design and offer opportunities that result in child centered and accelerated and learning.
>> A deep understanding of facilitation skills helps you to offer a relationship of empowerment.

You will cover all this and more
1 Understand how children learn best: Various aspects of learning, approaches and how to design learning opportunities and how to make it happen. Specifically you understand how the following yield to wholesome learning for child:
>> Child Initiated learning - thinking skills
>> Active, Experiential and integrated Learning
>> Multiple Intelligences framework
>> Learning Styles and how to use them
>> Developing and using Habits of Mind, study skills and other learning techniques

2 How to create an exciting, stimulating, learning environment?
>> Activity, classroom and learning flow design
>> Effective ways to stimulate the child's thinking, leading to motivation to learn.
>> Creating an environment that is stress free, cooperative and conducive for child to excel
>> Methods like circle time, group working and other peer to peer learning approaches.
>> Effective design and usage of resources like Books, stories and story telling, music, theater, puppetry, materials and mediums like art, craft, clay, sand, computers etc. in learning.

3 How to be an effective facilitator of learning?
>> Effective ways of challenging and inspiring children's thinking, doing and learning.
>> Building rapport and a meaningful relationship - offering sensitive counseling and guiding.
>> Effective ways of making them self disciplined, independent and responsible learners.

Before we go on here is a view about the course form another participant:
"When I joined TTT, I joined it out of curiosity to know what is it at Geniekids that makes kids want to go back there for more. When I attended the sessions, I realized that there is so much more to learn apart from what I had already learned at college.
As the course progressed, I discovered so many things about myself that I was not aware of till now. And practical sessions, when I started working with kids, were the best tutorials: It gave me a chance to practice my learnings, to break away from some beliefs I held all this while, and also to be with kids in a very open, stress free environment. I thoroughly enjoyed the TTT program, made some great friends and last but not the least, discovered the MAGIC in myself". - Trupti (7th batch)

Program Specifics:

Classroom Version - TTT
Online Version - OTT
>> 10th Batch starts 27th Nov 2007 >> 1st Batch starts 5th Dec 2007
>> 30 classroom sessions - all sessions at geniekids center at Indirangar, Bangalore >> 30 classroom sessions - all sessions through web classroom - live at your computer
>> Classroom sessions twice a week 10 to 1pm - Every Tuesday and Thursday (and sometimes on Mondays) >> Classroom sessions twice a week 10 to 12pm - Every Wednesday and Friday (and sometimes on Mondays)
>> Training Fee: Total Rs 9000/- (any version). To register now for the program - you need to just Pay Rs1000/-. You can pay the balance at the start of the program.
>> Please note their will be no session during the two weeks of Winter break - i.e. from 24th dec to 5th Jan 08
>> You can register by coming to our center or by internet bank transfer or by dropping chq in HSBC's ATM.

How do you take this training Forward (only for people currently not working with children):
>> You can start your own center/ school and work with children.
>> You are equipped to work at any other school as a teacher or with any other child development center.
>> You can contribute to any children's NGO's efforts part or full time.
>> You can start programs for a small group of children from your home (or tie up with a school near by)
>> You may join GenieKids center (at Bangalore) as a facilitator as per our requirement

Geniekids Train the Trainer (OTT) - session - objective list
#
Session Title
Understanding Child
Understanding Learning
Understanding facilitation
1
Introduction to learning
P
P
2
Beliefs
P
P
3
Feelings
P
P
4
motivation: goal setting - learning how to learn
P
P
P
5
Understanding and Developing high Self esteem
P
P
6
Multiple Intelligence for active learning
P
P
7
Thinking skills - 1 - (teach tool)
P
P
8
Thinking skills - 2 - Higher order thinking skills
P
9
Understanding behaviour - Intentions
P
P
10
Understanding and using different Learning Styles
P
P
11
Creativity
P
12
Habits of Mind - 1 - understanding
P
13
Habits of Mind - 2 developing
P
14
Using Music for effective learning
P
15
Using Art, colour, clay & sand for effective learning
P
16
Story telling and using books for effective learning
P
17
Using Theater for effective Learning
P
18
Using Graphic Organizers for effective learning
P
19
Cooperation strategies
P
P
20
Effective Disciplining
P
P
21
Circle Time - using group dynamics for learning
P
P
22
Experiential and Integrated learning design
P
23
Program & Activity Design
P
24
Developing Success Characteristics & Thinking skills through activity based learning
P
25
Understanding how the brain works & Study Skills
P
26
Conducting Effective Sessions
P
27
Creating learning environment & using Humour in classroom
P
28
Creating strong Language foundation
P
29
Making Mathematics more meaningful
P
30
Frameworks of my mind
P
Notes:
Above also indicates the rough order of sessions. However, as the program progresses, for various reasons, primary being the group needs, the order might be changed.
There is always a lot of overlap in each session with respect to the objectives - the tick marks is only indicating the primary focus - frankly we should put a tick mark for each objective for each topic - such is working with kids !


SOME OF THE PAST PARTICIPANTS as reference

Vidya - Ph: 98450-90232 - working with Geniekids
Dr Ambar Ph: 9845283558 - runs Oasis International School as Trustee
Mini Ph: 2526-1876 - working with Geniekids
Nirmala - Ph: 9341377993 - running own school
Arundhati - Ph: 9845150295 - started own center
Komala Ph: 98459-29124 - working with Geniekids
Sunitaa - Ph: 25089369, 9886052500 - working with music with children
Sangeetha - Ph: 25282262 - teacher in a regular school
Shankari - Ph: 9845173244, 26547436 - working with blind children
..........and i can send you more if you need :-)

finally some more testimonials
“Immensely motivated by the course ... it has taught me so much more than what I've learnt over my xxx no of years. Informal, relaxed and friendly ... fantastic. --- Anupama

Your style of taking the course was flawless, as clear as crystal. The harvest has reaped the best yield. These tools will help us to avoid wastage and good usage of our knowledge and all that we gained by TTT. --- Geethalakshmi

It really opened me up inwardly. I try to change my beliefs, disassociate with negatives. --- Mini

Excellent! I enjoyed every bit of it. It was a very comfortable atmosphere and put everyone at ease. Left us all asking for more and wanting to learn more. I had given up reading, writing and thinking a long time ago. TTT has put me back on track with all the things. I enjoy doing the most. Thank You! --- Swetha Gautham

Made us open our mind to change --- Geetha Sateesh

Great process – very “student” oriented. --- Gomati

The way the program was designed is marvelous. We all are very much benefited. --- Sunitaa.

I’m feeling that I changed a lot. I am feeling more confident whatever things I am doing. --- Sucheta.

Simply Amazing!!! Loved every moment of it. --- Vidya

I was searching something like this for the last 2 years. I feel so happy and confident that GenieKids has started such a course. --- Padma

I really enjoyed the course. It really set me thinking in many areas. You gave just the right kind of stimulus – not too pushy/ not too vague – just enough! --- Sukanya.

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Would suggest you also drop in and meet us OR call us to understand the program better
Call: 25202510 or 41161575 or 98450-45833 (during office hours) Or use skype or googletalk - both username: "geniekids" or yahoo id: "adirat"
Email: ratnesh@geniekids.com
Geniekids Learning Center at IndiraNagar, Bangalore:
No 3023(corner house), 13th Main (NPS road), 8th Cross, Opposite Graphite Aptms, HAL 2nd Stage, Bangalore-08.
TIMINGS: Monday to Saturday 9 to 6pm
(Please call before coming)

Official Website: http://www.geniekids.com