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It is the method of learning used in the Kajoli model that makes it very attractive to the children. [See......] No books, paper, pencil or pen are used for this purpose. A pocket board and pocket cards replace books, while blackboard and chalks replace paper, pen and pencils. Fun and games take a big chunk of the time spent at the center. In addition, children learn a large number nursery rhymes and poems to recite, songs to sing and stories to tell. The following provides brief descriptions of the material used in the Kajoli Model:

1. Pocket Board and Pocket Cards:

Pocket Board is the main teaching/learning tool in the Kajoli Model, which is made of cloth. It is called “Pocket Board” because when the piece of cloth is stitched it makes a large number of pockets in which “Pocket Cards” are inserted. The Pocket Board and pocket cards are used to help the children recognize alphabets, letters/sound, and numbers. The board and the cards are also used for the children to construct words and sentences on them. The size of a Pocket Board is normally about 6 feet in length an 4 feet in width. In the Kajoli Model, pocket board and pocket cards replace the use of books in learning.

 

2. Pocket Card with Picture:

Pictured below is a sample pocket card with a picture of a mango or Aam in Bengali. From day one, as the children settle down in class the teacher would ask the children to identify the card with Aam and similar other words with pictures of the object on them. At this stage only words that do not need the use of vowel signs are introduced. Gradually words with vowels are also use. The children can identify the cards very easily as they are acquainted with the objects drawn on them and know their names. They enjoy this exercise very much and think that it is a game. In the process, unknown to themselves, they also learn how the words representing the pictures are written In scientific term it is known as the direct method of learning. In other words, without learning the alphabets first as is done normally. In all, 127 pocket cards with pictures are used in Kajoli model. Pictures used in these cards are picked-up from the known environment of the children.

 

3. Pocket Card without Picture:

The card below is another sample pocket card which contains the word Aam (mango) but without any picture. Children who had earlier seen the word Aam written next to the picture can easily identify it even if the card with the picture is removed or hidden behind in the same pocket.

 

 

 

4. Black Board :

Each Kajoli Centre uses a number of Blackboards, normally four of them which are made from two 8 feet by 4 feet plywood boards split into two and painted black.  Each child is provided a space on the blackboard for him/her to write upon, draw or do math, using a piece of chalk. Soon the children become experts in writing on the blackboard.

5. Sound /Letter Card :

Sound or letter cards are alphabets with or without the vowel sign which have been used to make the words children have already learnt. These are usually placed at the bottom of the pocket board so that children can pick them up when the teacher asks them to make, for example, the word Aam with them. These cards are also used to make other words than those used in the lessons. At this time children would also start writing them on the black board and learn what each alphabet sounds. There are 13 sets of pocket cards with pictures, without pictures and with sound or letter cards.

 

6. Counting Card :

Counting cards are used for learning the numerals.  In a set , there are 10 (ten) cards containing numbers  from zero (0) to nine (9)

 

 

 

 

7. “Math War” Playing Cards:

This is a set of playing cards used by the children for playing a card game called “Math War”. There are 56 cards in a box making a set for playing. Two of these are Joker cards, one an equation card, one for rules and the rest 52 cards are for playing. The objective is to make the children add and subtract, as indicated on the cards, while playing with them. This is very popular game with the children who are happy to play it without realizing that it is used as a  learning mechanism.

 

 

 

8. Story Book :

The story book GALPO SHUNE PORTE SHEKHA (Learning to Read through listening to Stories) is an interesting story book with excellent illustration that makes it attractive to the children. This book is introduced in last two months of the academic year. Since Kajoli model does not use books and writing materials to learn to read and write, the teacher introduces the children to this story book to make them used to handling books and also to inculcate in them a habit of reading story books. Additionally the children are introduced to the books they would use in the primary schools. Usually children read these books of the centres and don’t take them home.