Art of Restoring Attention in the Classroom

If a student loses attention from a topic, what can a teacher do to restore it? This is where the teacher can use the art of stimulation.

An interactive session to learn the art of stimulating attention is organized with Mr Pema khandu, a teacher of Dewathang Primary School. The session is a part of professional development for teachers of Lhomon Education (LME), Chokyi Gyatso Institute (CGI) lopons, and students make the learning fun and interactive. It is also to address the inattention of students, particularly in this era, where the use of modern technology is on the increase and the attention span of humans is on the decrease. Partially, the session is also to make use of local human resources.

Therefore, the brain break session is organized for educators to understand the importance of making the classroom environment interesting, fun, inspiring, attractive, and worthwhile for both teachers and students alike.

We thank CGI lopons and students for taking part in the session. Not to forget Mr Pema Khandu for your time and presentation. We look forward to seeing you all again in the next set of fun activity.

Team Misty Terrace with Lhomon Education Students

Lhomon Education (LME) students and teachers sincerely thank Mr Tandin Wangchuk (Well known as Misty Terrace) and the team for your time with us. Our students were very excited to see you all in person, listen to your inspiring story, and of course your beautiful songs. The informal interaction session gave us the opportunity to learn about your singing journey, your interest in music and the stories of your songs.

For LME, music and song are mediums, what matter is how we use them. The singing of song and playing music is a fun part of the study. This art is something we can flexibly use to create with the right motivation. We hope to use music as a medium to educate about the values that we usually can’t teach through normal teachings. This is one modern tool that suits the need of the modern trend of listening to music and watching the music video, especially the younger generation. The profound concepts such as interdependence, inclusiveness, karma, kindness, etc. can be taught through music and videos. Further, as a social art will enhance teamwork, cooperation, brings people together and makes oneself relax.

We thank team Misty Terrace for its commitment to helping us in the music facility and its technical support. Thank You All!

Art With Embroidery Threads!

Using cardboard, embroidery threads, and scissor students learn to make a friendship bracelet in no time. The process is simple, we need a compass and a pencil to draw a circle on cardboard. Draw four lines on the cardboard through its centre in such a way that it divides it into eight equal parts. Make a small cut in all eight points. Make an opening in the centre of the cardboard. Next, put together seven different colours of threads through the opening in the centre. Make a knot at one end. On the opposite side spread out the threads into each cut on the circumference. Then we interlace to make it into a beautiful bracelet pattern.

The artwork is simple but rich in process for students. The whole process from beginning to end is fun integrated learning that has a development aspect in it. As students hold a compass to draw a circle and divided it into equal parts, they are thinking and learning math. The quick decision to make a big or small hole on the cardboard is a quick estimation they are making. 

For young students to be able to hold scissor and make a cut on the line are the development of gross and fine motor skills. The whole process of weaving the threads into the pattern is all about hand-eye coordination. In fact, there is a sense of coordination happening now and then throughout the process. Once they are done with the bracelet they have a sense of achievement. At the least, they now have the skills to make more bracelets.

The teamwork and cooperation are very visible as students help each other hold threads, share tools, and ideas throughout the process. Further, as the students interlace the threads, they pay careful attention to the patterns, so they are in some contemplation mood.

Anyway, by the end of the art class, many of the students have an idea to strengthen their friendship and make more friends by giving their own hand-made bracelet.

Start with practice!

As we restart the classes, it is time to remind ourselves of the importance of one’s own mind and its practices. More than 60 students and teachers of Lhomon Education took part in three hours of mindfulness practice. The program is to create an environment for students and teachers to remind ourselves of the importance of mindfulness practice and undergo practice experience in a group. This is also a reflection time for us. The participants are reminded that, of the body, the speech, and the mind, the most important entity is the Mind. The mind is more important than anything else. If we don’t recognize it, there is something big missing in our life. They are briefed that one’s own mind is the most precious asset one will ever have. Thus, we have to be generous with it by giving time to practice.

The practice program is interspersed with a photo presentation of mindfulness activities carried out in different schools of Bhutan. The photos collected from the camp participants (teachers) of 15 schools are presented to encourage our students to practice more and appreciate them. Few video messages about mindfulness are also screened to highlight the technical aspect of the practice and its importance to the participants.

The mindfulness practice has become an indispensable part of LME from its inception. The practice will continue every day in class.

What makes the community strong?

There was a short presentation on "Community Mapping" (CM) organized for the teachers and students of the Chokyi Gyatso Institute and Lhomon Education. An hour-long session was to briefly introduce the concept of Community Mapping and to help them understand the importance of creating a responsible community. 

These are some of the questions presented to the audience: What is a community? What makes the community strong? And How can we make our community stronger?

The CM is about creating a participatory community through group decision-making, thereby inculcating a sense of ownership and responsibility for one’s own community.

We thank Mr Ugyen Kelzang, the presenter, Mr Yeshi Tenzin, the SJI staff, CGI lopons, and all the participants.

Mindfulness practice at Bartsam, Tashigang

Alongside the Sera Khandro empowerment program at Bartsam Chador Lhakhang, Tashigang, the LME team created a platform for meditation practice. The practice session was to offer an opportunity for those who are interested in group practice and to enhance their practice at the holy site. We were very happy to see many interested people take part in the practice session including foreigners, monks, teachers, lamas, laypeople and youths. We did a practice of one hour every evening after the empowerment. An hour session was divided into 5 minutes of practice and a 1-minute break including prayer recitation and dedication prayer.  There were some discussion and reflection on practice experience.