Pick up learning resources

It is time to learn new things. Traditionally the Vijayadasami day sets the kids and the not-so-kids to a new beginning.

And for those who wished a resource guide to learning various things in Chennai, YOCee's Chennai Kids Directory is already out and available in the market, a very few copies though as of now.

The Hindu Metro Plus has put it out for the public again.

Read Anusha Parthasarathy's piece here.

On Expresso, the Chennai supplement of The New Indian Express

Chennai Kids Directory - Now on sale!

March has been a busy month.
In schools, it was exams that kept the students and teachers busy.

In companies and banks, it was annual accounts closing time.
And at YOCee, it was a collection and verification of data for Chennai Kids Directory.

A project that began in February went on till the last day of March.

The entire experience was a new and educative. While some were quick to understand what a directory, some needed a more elaboration to make them comfortable to share their contact addresses and numbers. I mean the providers of hobby classes and after school activity centres.

Once everything is collected and verified, the data looked amazing. It ran to 100 pages. The final product is now on sale.

The directory is humbly priced at Rs. 20, though the information in the directory is invaluable.
You can contact YOCee for buying, gifting and bulk orders.

Chennai Kids' Directory

It was more fun than task making the directory at YOCee.

Task because, we gathered details of learning places and activity centres from all over the city.

Fun because, the verification of details over phone calls connected to a variety of people.

Some thought we were another Credit Card marketing company and disconnected the calls. Some others thought, we were competitors to their centres and didn't want to 'disclose' the details. Some were really sweet to share info of not only their place, but of others who are also engaged in similar activities. But those people were from the unusual hobby centres like the The Hobby Club and the Anglers Club.

A few parents called up and shared the goods and bads of the classes their kids went to.

It was a great experience making the directory.
But we are waiting to see the output in front of our eyes. Release on April 2, 2010.

By the way, do you want to book a copy? Check out at http://www.yocee.in/directory.php

A new kid on the block - Copernicum

This post is for the Science buffs.
A new element with atomic number 112 is officially named. And this is the new element added to the periodic table.
Named after the 16th century scientist Copernicus this is the heaviest element known element with a name now.

Read the full story here - http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57303/title/FOR_KIDS_Heaviest_named_element_is_official

Reporters' Blogs

If you have been reading the stories filed by YOCee's student reporters, you will be knowing what and how they can present their stories.
Do you know how they express informally?
Here is where you can catch up with them through their blogs.
We have added their blog-links on this blog.
Check the right sidebar and find a section 'YOCee reporters' blogs'
You can read their posts now.
Do post your comments there and encourage these little bloggers!

Get to sunlight; prevent rickets

Travel by schoolbus, less of physical education periods in school, back home and relax in the sofa watching TV and to bed in a a/c room!

Sounds nice. But beware you could be diagnosed for rickets! Lack of vitamin D that mostly come from the sunlight is the cause.

Read here to know more. Scientists world over are more worried about this situation.

So make it a point to play out in the open in the evenings and go for a walk in mornings.
The more protected from sunlight, the more is chance to fall victim of rickets!

Catching up with critical thinking

Is your memory good? Or you just go about thinking of applying the common sense to solve problems?

Some do this and some others do that. But finally the education system realises that only memorisation does not help in daily life. Only marks do not count. You need to think critically.

Here is an article from The Hindu Education Plus that would interest you.

So, the State Board students are catching up with the rest of their peers in cracking exams like IIT JEE, AIEEE etc. No more just percentage! Think critically!