The latest class on the Indian curriculum

canada goose store Breaking away from more traditional math, science and language classes, the new happiness curriculum buy canada goose jacket aims to impart emotional intelligence through meditation, storytelling and activities in which the focus is on students' emotional and mental needs. These skills are intended to reduce stress and anxiety and manage any depression. canada goose store

Their teacher guides them as they close their eyes and listen carefully to sounds around them. They are asked to note the sounds they can hear and then to isolate one. Eventually, they pay attention to the sound of their own breathing.

canada goose coats Suraj Sharma, 12, is in seventh grade of the boys' school in Canada Goose Jackets Ghittorni, one of the over 1,000 schools canada goose black friday canada goose outlet sale in Delhi that began teaching this daily 30 to 45 minute lesson on Monday. canada goose coats

Suraj's first impression is promising. "If I do everything with mindfulness, my knowledge will increase," he learned on day one, he said. Mindfulness includes meditation canada goose coats and breathing exercises that help relax the mind. Being mindful or conscious and aware he canada goose clearance feels, will allow him to pay closer attention to things he's learning at school.

canadian goose jacket The program groups children into three age categories: kindergarten to canada goose grade two, grades three to five, and six to eight, according to Rajesh Kumar, head http://www.mycanadagoosejacket.org of the state committee formed to design the curriculum. canadian goose jacket

To avoid further burdening students, the class carries no grade and Canada Goose online will have no textbooks, tests or homework.

Canada Goose Outlet The class has long appealed to state education officials, Kumar said. Delhi's education minister, Manish Sisodia, had envisioned this project and announced the launch of the program in February. Canada Goose Outlet

Sisodia highlighted the concerns facing schoolchildren in the city this month. "It will address the ever growing concern levels of happiness wellbeing are decreasing, while stress, anxiety depression are increasing," he tweeted.

Canada Goose Jackets According to the World Health Organization, Canada Goose Parka one in four Indian children age 13 to 15 struggles with depression. Canada Goose Jackets

canada goose uk shop Happy kids are more able to learn, as they tend to sleep better and may have healthier immune systems, Sisodia said in a tweet July 1. Happy kids learn faster, think more creatively and tend to be more resilient in the face of failures, with stronger relationships. canada goose uk shop

canada goose clearance Training sessions were held with an estimated 21,000 teachers, school principals and administrators at a large stadium in Delhi last week, with course leaders and instructors taking turns explaining what "happiness" is and is not, and how it can be imparted to students. canada goose clearance

canada goose clearance sale Children learn from their teacher's behavior and outlook, especially in a course like this, Kumar said. canada goose clearance sale

canada goose coats on sale "You must enter with a smile. How can a teacher who knows no Hindi teach Hindi?" he asked, illustrating that it takes happiness to canada goose deals spread happiness. canada goose coats on sale

Teachers were taken through the curriculum's many components, such as mindfulness, value based activities and self expression.

cheap canada goose uk Mindfulness will enable children to spend time in the moment, making them less distracted. Stories and activities are supposed to help in developing values, making them Canada Goose sale more centered, and self expression will help self esteem and confidence, giving students a voice. cheap canada goose uk

Canada Goose Parka Monica Kashiwal, who teaches fourth grade at a school for girls in south Delhi, said that she has tried to teach mental well being in her class but that a lack of curriculum made the process difficult. Canada Goose Parka

Canada Goose online "We can benefit from this institutional framework," she said. Canada Goose online

canada goose Another buy canada goose jacket cheap primary school teacher, Apra, who goes by her first name, feels that the program will benefit students, especially those from economically weaker families that may face additional troubles at home. "The class will give them some time to be happy," she said. canada goose

buy canada goose jacket According to Puroitree Majumdar, a clinical psychologist at Children First, a Delhi based provider of mental health services, children face a lot of stress in terms of academics. Now, "we are looking at a value based education, where the focus canada goose clearance sale is on values in general, focusing more on the process of cheap Canada Goose things rather than the end result," she said. buy canada goose jacket

canada goose uk outlet According to WHO, 11% of India's adolescents (13 15 years) are distracted and have a hard time canada goose coats on sale staying focused on their homework and usual work most of the time. Moreover, estimated suicide rates amongst 15 to 29 year olds in 2012 stood at 35.5 per 100,000, a measure of suicidal behavior in the past 12 months. This was the highest rate in the WHO Southeast Asia region, above neighboring Nepal at 25.8 and Bangladesh at 8.1 per 100,000. canada goose uk outlet

In doing something like the new class, Majumdar feels, teachers will start looking at different areas of a child's development, canadian goose jacket not just academic success.

Taking it to the classroom and Canada Goose Outlet life

The challenge for the teachers will now be translating what they have learned for their students.

uk canada goose The Delhi state government has established a happiness committee, with 200 mentors to keep an eye on day to day functioning of the courses in the schools. uk canada goose

uk canada goose outlet "They will guide and facilitate, making sure that teachers are canada goose store sensitive toward students," Kumar said. uk canada goose outlet

canada goose factory sale The Government Boys' Senior Secondary School students are already feeling the impact. After mindfulness on Monday, they were told stories with discussions on Tuesday and Wednesday and will participate in activities on Thursday and Friday. Saturday is a day of self expression, when they will speak their mind. canada goose factory sale

Canada Goose Online One student, Piyush Sharma, hopes the classes will benefit him. "If the mind stays cool, we can concentrate on our studies," he said. Canada Goose Online

Majumdar said that depression and other mental illnesses among children are on the rise. "Something like this is going to help alleviate children's mental health concerns in general."

canada goose black friday sale Underprivileged children are most vulnerable, she said, since they face additional troubles. "Someone talking about their emotional needs will be a healthy change," Majumdar added canada goose black friday sale.