Building Number Sense among Children using CRA (Concrete - Representational - Abstract) or CPA (Concrete - Pictorial - Abstract) Approach

Stage: Foundation
Group: EYFS | KG (Reception | KG 2)
Topic: Number Sense
Focus Areas: Counting & Cardinality + Subitising
Method: Play & Learn (Activities + Games)
Strategy or Approach: CRA (Concrete Representational Abstract) or CPA (Concrete Pictorial Abstract)

Curricular Goal: Demonstrate fluency in counting concrete, discrete and abstract objects up to 10.
Learning Objectives:
→ Count objects with an understanding of cardinality (understanding that the last number you say
when counting a set of objects represents the total number of objects in that set).
[Progression: One-One correspondence + correct order → last number represents total no. of
objects.]
- Accurately count objects (concrete → representational → abstract) with understanding of
cardinality up to 5 → 10
→ Subitising
- Estimate or guess number of objects shown without counting them individually (up to 5)

Please click on the following link to download and learn more about CRA Approach:

1. Building Number Sense among Children using CRA (Concrete - Representational - Abstract) or CPA (Concrete - Pictorial - Abstract) Approach.


With Hope. 

Boredom Fuels Creativity*

Do you struggle with the puzzling "Mom/Dad, I'm bored!"? 
What if we told you that boredom is actually one of the most powerful tools to unleash our creativity? 

 

This video is an essential guide for every parent and teacher who wants to unlock true creativity and problem-solving skills in children and students: 
+ Discover how to respond constructively when your child says, "I'm bored," turning that moment into an opportunity to build resourcefulness and creativity together.
+ Dive into the fascinating science of boredom and understand how the Brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) activates regions in the Brain associated with self-reflection, critical thinking and innovation. 
 

Please Remember: Finding a good balance, an optimal mix of both online and offline engagements or activities (a time to work, a time to rest, a time to play, a time to wonder, a time to learn, a time to eat, a time to discuss and share ...) holds the key to living a meaningful and productive life. It is tough, try not to be too harsh on yourself, rest assured one small step at a time will  prove good enough in the long run.    

I am sure there are Parents and Teachers out there who have tackled the "I am bored!" scenario constructively, in ways I cannot think of, putting their insights and creativity on the line. Please lend us a helping hand by sharing your ideas or experience with us in the comments and guiding fellow parents searching for ways to convert challenges into opportunities. 

Sources|Credits:
+ God, Family, Friends, Students, Fellow Educators and Parents. 
+ Article by Sidhi Kapoor with Inputs from Parents (Ishinna B Sadana, Vani M Dhall, Deepti Chhabra and Simran Taneja)| Times of India (September 22, 2025). 
+ You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why?|Professor Arthur C. Brooks| Harvard Business Review 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQKfIXMiA8 
Video Synopsis: Boredom isn’t a bug—it’s a feature. Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks explains why boredom unlocks creativity, activates a powerful brain network, and might even protect you from depression. Learn how the mind wanders—and why that’s a very good thing.
+ BGM: Created on https://www.soundful.com 

With Hope.

AI Tools for Educators: Are your Students Struggling to Manage their Screen Time? Create a Personalized Social Story with Gemini

Explore the potential of artificial intelligence in storytelling! This video demonstrates how Google Gemini's Storybook feature empowers parents and special educators to create highly personalized social stories. We'll walk through the creation of a story for a Grade 4 kid, featuring her favorite Anime character 'Gojo,' to help her regulate the amount of time she spends on playing online games. 

Learn how to harness AI to craft engaging, age appropriate and relevant narratives that support social-emotional learning of your child at home. A personalized social story on managing screen time for children.

This video is a must-watch for parents and special educators looking to create personalized impactful social stories that resonate with your kids or students.

Notes 

 
Good Websites for Social Stories:
Picture Books: https://www.booksie.org/
Audio Books: https://librivox.org/
Picture Books: https://autismlittlelearners.com/social-stories-for-school/
Audio Video Presentations: YouTube 

Dear Parents and Educators, 
- To endless possibilities: This is just one way of utilizing the storybook feature, put on your 'Creative Hat' and explore different ways to use it! We would enjoy watching your ideas in action too.  
- Figure out a way to involve your student in the process of creating the story book (it could be in the form of creating the artwork or character for the story, deciding the theme or moral for the story, or style of art for the story book).  
- Don't expect your student to fall in line after 1 or 2 renditions of the personalized social story generated by you. Bringing about behavioral change is a slow and intuitive process. Be patient with your student or kid. Top it up with other activities. Model the desired behavior regularly too.   
- Try not to share your or your kid's or student's real photos and personal details with AI powered tools.  
- Please overlook my screen recorders struggle to capture my screen without flickering!  

Dear #google, I have the following suggestions for #gemini #storybook feature (since it is in its experimental stage!):
1. Wouldn't it be better if the attribution under the title of the storybook says, "Created by ABC using Gemini Storybook"?   
2. Please figure out a way to credit or acknowledge and quote sources used by the AI model to generate the story book (similar to the manner in which your AI powered search engine, now, links or quotes sources).    
3. Provide us with an option to download the digital version of the story book as a .mp4 file. 
4. When we save the file as a PDF instead of printing it, ensure the illustrations corresponding to the write-ups (lines from the story) are on the same page (as it appears in the digital/online version of the storybook).  

Sources|Credits: 
- God Almighty + Family + Friends + Mentors + Professors + Teachers + Students (who have through their practice strengthened my belief in the power and art of Storytelling as a medium for inspire change) 
- Artwork (Sketch of Gojo): Arvin (my nephew)
- Google Gemini | Data Set used to train the AI model (which would have included ideas, stories, and artwork of artists, writers and illustrators from around the world).
- Images: https://www.aiimagegenerator.org
- Pictures: Canva
- BGM: www.soundful.com 

Please Note (as of 05.09.2025): 
- Gemini's Storybook Feature, which is in its experimental stage, attributes the prompt writer as the author of the story book generated by it. As someone, who believes in the power of words, our heart goes out to original creators, writers and illustrators on whose ideas, style and artwork the generated output is based upon (which would have been a part of the data set used train the AI model). We are hopeful, as we move forward in time, Google will figure out a way to credit or acknowledge and quote sources used by the AI model to generate the story book. So that we can use this cool feature in a transparent and credible manner. 
- The length of the illustrated storybook created by Gemini is 10 pages.  

With Hope.
 

A Special Educator's Quick Guide to Reinforcement (Teaching Strategy)

Stickers and Beyond: Reinforcement Strategies that Actually Work for Diverse Learners!

 

 

Reinforcement Strategy: Actions taken while working with a child to make a desired behaviour more likely to occur in the future or actions taken while working with a child to facilitate or increase the occurence of a desired behaviour.

+ Positive Reinforcement: Adding something pleasant or desirable (examples: toy, food, attention …) to make a desired behavior more likely to occur.

+ Negative Reinforcement: Taking something unpleasant or undesired away (examples: noise, distractions …) to make a desired behavior more likely to occur.

Reinforcer: Incentive (either a reward or the removal of something undesired) that is given to a child after they display a desired/appropriate behavior (or used while working with a child to materialize a desired behavior). 

Examples/Types of Reinforcers:

A. Tangible - Tokens, stickers, posters, noise cancelling headphones, prize from a prize box, snack or favorite food item (if appropriate), coloring page, books.

B. Activity-Based - Extra time on computer, silent reading time, partner reading, allowed to be a leader, given a classroom job, assisting secretary or teacher.

C. Social - Tell a joke, lunch with teacher, positive phone call home, game with a friend, being a peer model for a younger student.

D. Intangible - Verbal praise, smiles, thumbs-up, giving eye contact, positive comments written on work.

Source: Reinforcement Strategies (National Center on Intensive Intervention, 2016)

Acknowledgements: 

+ God (our heavenly Father) 

+ Family 

+ Friends 

+ Professors and Mentors (Anamika Ma'am, Swati Ma'am, Pubali Ma'am, Sudeep Sir, Jha Sir, Brij Ma'am and Pushpa Ma'am). 

With Hope.  

How to Prepare an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)? | Basic IEP Format and Guidelines (DoE, Delhi)

Individualised Education Plan (IEP) - It should not be 'just a document'. It should be 'a living document'!   

A simple and comprehensive video tutorial on how to prepare an IEP (Individualised Education Plan). It is based on the format and guidelines published by Directorate of Education (DoE, Delhi) & my experience of working as a special educator under the guidance of prolific educators at different mission oriented special and inclusive schools. 

I. To download the Basic IEP (Individualised Eduaction Plan) Format I (including the guidelines) published by the Department of Education (Govt. of Delhi), please click on the following links: 

1. Department of Education (Government of Delhi) Revised IEP Format and Guidelines (2022).

2. Department of Education (Government of Delhi) Revised IEP Format 2022 (as a PDF file).

3. Department of Education (Government of Delhi) Revised IEP Format 2022 (as an ODT file). 

4. Department of Education (Government of Delhi) Old IEP Format (as a PDF file).

II. To download the e-books the NCERT Syllabus and Learning Outcomes for Elementary and Secondary Stage, please click on the following links:

1. NCERT: Syllabus for Elementary Stage

2. NCERT: Learning Outcomes for Elementary Stage

3. NCERT: Syllabus for Secondary Stage

4. NCERT: Learning Outcomes for Secondary Stage
 
Acknowledgements: 
All of you have played an important role in my journey. I am grateful for everything I have learned from each one of you. This video wouldn’t have been possible without your priceless insights and guidance. Thank you for being patient with me. Please forgive me if I've caused you any pain. 
+ The everlasting Grace of God
+ Family
+ Friends
+ My Teachers, Students, Mentors | Professors and Fellow Educators | Colleagues from St. Paul’s School, IILM, Teach for India, Student Competetions, HCL, Opportunity Desk, Ufaber, ScrapLabs, CONCOR, Global Peace Chain, EVE, University of Hyderabad, Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education, Blind Relief Association, Green Field School, SAKSHAM, and The British School
+ Kivespervibo Channel Outro (Exit Sequence) Designed By: A&ACherries | Alegniv_Creations
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJaOv3c0_5GyVT-0AseIorQ
+ Background Music: Created on Soundful using AI Music Editor
https://soundful.com/

Sources/Credits 
- Team of Special Educators, Resource Persons and Teachers who worked on creating the basic IEP format and guidelines
- Directorate of Education (DoE), Inclusive Education Branch, Government of Delhi
- Revised Format and Instructions for Developing IEP - Annexure I to III [Directorate of Education (Delhi), May, 2022]
- NCERT 

With Hope.

Tactile Teaching Learning Material (TLM): Stars and Flowers Game

Tactile Teaching Learning Material (TLM): Stars and Flowers Game (an adapted version of the traditional ‘Snakes & Ladders’ Game)

 

TLM Details 

TLM Name: Stars and Flowers Board Game

Educational Setting: Special School 

Focus Group: Children with Visual Impairment 

Class/Grade: Primary 

Subject: Mathematics 

Topics: Numbers (1 to 100), Addition and Subtraction 

Method: Play-Way 

Video

 

Q. Is there any scope for improvement ? 

Ans. Yes, there is a good scope for improvement. 

Suggestions: 

1. To avoid the use of food items in preparing a TLM, instead of using cumin seeds (jeera), you can use anything (like ball bearings) that will produce an audible output for preparing the dice. 

2. You can also place the reference sheet that will be used by the kids to understand the tactile markings on the left hand side of the chart.

 

Credits/Sources

Idea: Based on the traditional Indian Snake and Ladders Board Game. 

Background Music: ‘Cloudy Day’ by Shady Dave (https://freesound.org/people/ShadyDave/sounds/273205/)

 

With Hope.