NOTE FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS

Why this Note

Teachers and parents play a crucial role in initiating and creating continued interest in reading among young children. This page is useful for both teachers and parents, and helps them to facilitate this early reading process in the classroom and at home. It gives information and suggestions to promote early reading for all children, including children with special needs.

Introduction to Barkhaa: A Reading Series for ‘All’

This reading series is an adapted version of the original Barkhaa Series and consists of 40 booklets across four levels and five themes. It is an attempt to provide material which has additional features incorporated to cater to the needs of all children in inclusive settings. This print version has the text in both print and Braille. The Braille used is invisible and long lasting. In order to make the visuals accessible to all, salient features of the visuals in print are made tactile. The key visuals on each page are also made in high resolution to help focus on the important events of the story. A story introduction has been added in each booklet to arouse curiosity and motivate the children to read. Some of the other features are flash cards of difficult words as picture windows, green and red dot to indicate beginning and end of sentences, black border on all four sides to draw focus to the text and visual, arrows to go to the next pageand appropriate thick sheets with page gradation to make it easy for children to turn pages. This adapted version aims at giving multi-sensory experiences to the readers. Barkhaa: A Reading Series for ‘All’ is also available in digital format.

Overview of Level 2 of the Series

Level 2 in the Series has two stories Hich- HichHichki and Oon Ka Gola under the theme ‘Relationships’. Rama and Rani are the central characters of the theme. This theme is based on two sisters who are warm and affectionate, and pay attention to the finest details of activities and actions in their surroundings.In this story Rama gets hiccups after eating Kachori. Rama, along with her family members, tries different ways to stopher hiccups.

Reading the Story

Teachers and parents can encourage children to read the story. Some exercises are suggested to help the child read with meaning and pleasure. In order to further ensure reading with comprehension, a list of key words and concepts from the story are also provided.

• Connecting with the Child’s Experiences
  Given below are exercises consisting of story introduction, warm up activities and sharing time. These exercises are meant to provide real life experiences and help the child connect with the story.
  • Story Introduction (to be read out to the child before he/she reads the story)
    दोस्‍तो! आज हम सब रमा और रानी के घर चलते हैं। उनके घर आज कचोरी बनी है।...हम्‍म्‍म...रमा तो कुछ कचोरी खा भी चुकी है। अरे ! अरे ! पर यह क्‍या? रमा को तो हिचकी आ रही है... कैसे रूकेगी ये... चलो, चलो पढ़कर पता करें कहानी ‘हिच हिच हिचकी’ में।
  • Warm up: The child can perform activities such as clapping, singing, marching, etc. while making sounds of hiccups. Role play can also be done as per the story.
  • Sharing time: Facilitate discussion on why we get hiccups and the child can share his/her own experiences.
• Key Words in the Story
  Teachers and parents can introduce and explain the key words and concepts from the booklet to make the process of reading more meaningful for the child. Some of the suggested key words and concepts are listed and include:हिचकियाँ, ताली, सिर के बल, कदम-ताल, ज़ोर-ज़ोर से, गायब, खूब,उल्टा, एकदम
• Reading Kit Items
  Teachers and parents can use the following reading kit items to give concrete experiences to the child. Suggested reading kit item includes: कचौड़ी, जग