Why we need a different pedagogy
To provide a foundation for all children and strengthen their understanding of English and Maths concepts in an encouraging and fun environment. Through our emphasis on objective based teaching of skills we want to enhance their ability to achieve greater success in their lives.
Value education, and personality and talent development programs, play a large role in our pedagogy. They help develop emotional and intellectual maturity in our students.
AXF teaching methodology
The Angel Xpress approach puts special emphasis on introducing the values of being a good citizen, helping the process of emotional and intellectual growth of our students as well as imparting essential skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
From the academic year 2018-19, we have implemented a new curriculum based on national standards suggested by NCERT in the document, ‘Learning outcomes at the Elementary Stage (2017)’. This system builds on our core philosophy and defines a detailed structure for our volunteers and students to follow.
Students enrol into the program from Grade 1 onwards and are tutored, mentored and guided through theri academic journey. In 2018-19 we began our vocational counselling program for grade 11 and 12.
Our program aims to bridge the gap between existing and expected knowledge and skills. It helps AXF students to perform better in their academic environment.
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AXF Curriculum Modules for teaching English
At AXF, we believe that language proficiency in English will help our children realize their potential and improve their circumstances.
Why English?
“English is in India today a symbol of people’s aspirations for quality in education and fuller participation in national and international life. Its colonial origins now forgotten or irrelevant, its initial role in independent India, tailored to higher education (as a “library language”, a “window on the world”), now felt to be insufficiently inclusive socially and linguistically, the current status of English stems from its overwhelming presence on the world stage and the reflection of this in the national arena. It is predicted that by 2010, a surge in English-language learning will include a third of the world’s people (Graddol 1997).1 The opening up of the Indian economy in the 1990s has coincided with an explosion in the demand for English in our schools because English is perceived to open up opportunities (Das 2005).”
(Source: NCF 2005)
Language learning requires the acquisition of skills for listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking in an integrated manner. The English Curriculum at AXF is taught using the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approach. We develop skills in the following components – listening and reading as receptive skills, and speaking and writing as productive skills. In effect, we aim to improve their functional literacy.
AXF Curriculum Modules for teaching Maths
“The fact that all Mathematics is Symbolic Logic is one of the greatest discoveries of our age”
– Bertrand Russell, Principles of Mathematics (1903), Ch. I: Definition of Pure Mathematics, p. 5
Through Mathematics, we at AXF are developing the child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
As prescribed in the National Curriculum Framework, the student moves from concrete ideas of numbers to number sense, sees the relationship between numbers and looks for patterns and applies arithmetic and algebra to solve real-life problems.
The approach of teaching this Mathematics curriculum in AXF is through the CRA methodology. Concrete – Representational – Abstract model (CRA; also known as Concrete – Semi concrete – Abstract) This instructional strategy combines effective components of both behaviorist (direct instruction) and constructivist (discovery-learning) practices
CRA uses demonstration; modeling, guided practice followed by independent practice and immediate feedback which are aspects commonly found in direct instruction. CRA also includes discovery-learning strategies involving representation to help students’ transition between conceptual knowledge and procedural knowledge
Focus on Life Skills
One of the main objectives of AXF is to inculcate life skills in our children. We firmly believe that only basic literacy and numeracy will add no value to a child in this competitive world. Through English and Maths instruction, we aim to develop core life skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and creative thinking. However, having worked with children for the past 6 years we’ve realised that it’s time to introduce an explicit life skill instruction program. In the academic year 2018-19, we developed and introduced a life skill curriculum, which encompassed all the 10 core life skills suggested by WHO.
We also focus on creating awareness for equal opportunities for the girl child, advocating higher education, career focus, equal treatment at home in terms of involvement in decision making, etc. both among the children in classrooms as well as the parent body during PTAs.
Parent Teacher Meetings
AXF centres conduct regular PTMs to stay in touch with parents. We keep them informed about the child’s progress and also encourage them to be involved in their child’s progress by maintaining a positive home environment.
AXF Assessment methodology
Through the baseline assessment, monthly tests and endline assessment we regularly monitor the understanding of the concepts taught.
The baseline assessment helps us to place the students in a group appropriate to their current level of understanding. The end line assessment helps us to understand the learning of the students through the academic year.
English assessments are both written and oral.Students are assessed in grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing in the written format. Reading fluency and speaking skills are assessed orally. Maths is assessed completely in the written format.
Angel Stories
As a teenager, I had a strong interest in teaching – more so young children. I always felt my worries taking flight when I was with children. They made me smile when I would have no reason to otherwise
In the news
The setting sun brought a new sunrise in the life of 120 young minds. These kids from slums of Mumbai, who have been part of Angel Xpress Foundations (AXF)