Student Almanac Importance and Benefits for Ensuring Quality Education
Student Almanac is an effective tool for student, teacher and parent for keeping information for a long time. ‘Student Almanac’ is abridge for connecting among student, class teacher, subject teacher, school and parents. Proper use of ‘Student Almanac’ ensures quality learning. Teacher and parent can ensure effective learning using Student Almanac. Proper use of‘Student Almanac’ can bring overall massive change in student’s learning outcome. ‘Student Almanac’ is basically a reminder tool. It is generally observed that active learner uses ‘Student Almanac’ properly which reflects in his overall personality.
Intensive Observation of ‘Student Almanac’
When we were going through‘Student Almanac’ in a surprise check, we found that homework which was written by the student on daily basis; that was not in uniform manner. All sincere students of the class write all the information given by concerned teacher on proper place. If a student is writing all the information properly and clearly;it means that s/he is sincere about his/her learning. Since s/he wrote all the information, it means s/he will try to complete it also on time for showing to their concerned teacher. This type of student is ready to take pain at home for completing his/her teachers’ assigned work.
Finding of Student Almanac Observation
Going through the ‘Student Almanac’ of class 4th; we found that 20/40 students wrote all the information date wise i.e. homework given by all teachers in detail, 10/40 students wrote the homework however it was not written systematically, 3/40 students could not bring their ‘Student Almanac’ regularly, 2/40 students brought ‘Student Almanac’ but could not write homework for a long time and 5/40 students have not ‘Student Almanac’ due to several reasons. We found horrible condition in class 6th where so many good students have not been maintaining their ‘Student Almanac’ properly for a long time. Subject teacher and class teacher have not noticed their faults.
After going through more than thousands ‘Student Almanac’ in several ‘academic session’, we noticed so many general characteristics among learners. These are as follows:-
Good students maintain their ‘Student Almanac’ properly i.e.
- Write complete information on Information page
- Write homework on daily basis
- Write all subject homework given by subject teachers
- Show ‘Student Almanac’ regularly to his parent
- Bring ‘Student Almanac’ on daily basis
- Get his/her parent’s signature wherever it is required
General Students maintain their ‘Student Almanac’ halfheartedly i.e.
- Do not write complete information on Information Page
- Do not write homework on daily basis (alternate day or leaving 1-2 days )
- Do not write complete homework (may leave 1-2 subject)
- Do not show his Student Almanac to the parent
How ‘Student Almanac’ is an effective tool for teacher and parent?
Since, student note downs each and every activity on daily basis in his ‘Student Almanac’ which can be seen by teacher, class teacher, principal and parent on any time. Principal can also verifies completion of syllabus with teachers’ data. Parent can help his wards for mentioned activities in ‘Student Almanac’ according to learners’ age and class. Parent can see the current status of syllabus i.e.
- Which lesson is being taught by the teacher?
- Which lesson has been completed by the subject teacher?
- What types of homework is being given by the subject teacher?
- How much homework/other assignments have been given by different teachers?
- What is dead line for completing different assignments given by differentteachers on different occasions?
Why Student Almanac is an effective tool for teacher and the principal?
A wise educator can identify several personality and learning characteristics of a learner through ‘Student Almanac’ i.e.
a. Students’ regularity
b. Students’ punctuality
c. Students’ Sincerity
d. Students Attitude towards learning
‘Student Almanac’ can be used more efficiently and beneficially by the class teacher, subject teacher and the parents. So many students return back to school and announce that they did not get homework and they have completed all tasks. When parent checks it,s/he finds that there is no homework, however the student has not written the homework. Next day if a teacher asks her about completion of home work; student gives some ready made excuses i.e. could not bring his notebook due to this reason. Most of the parents are facing same problems. Students do not share school activities report with parents. Parent feels helplessness due to non cooperation of students. This helplessness can be overcome with the help of ‘Student Almanac’.
“How we can do it” is a big question, however regular check of ‘Student Almanac’ by the teacher, subject teacher and parent can solve all problems.
I. If the class verifies‘Student Almanac’ on daily basis
ii. If the subject teacher verifies ‘Student Almanac’ on daily basis
iii. If the parent verifies‘Student Almanac’ on daily basis
It is prime duty of subject teacher, class teacher, school principal and parent to investigate and inquire about the day to day activities of student for keeping eagle eyes on the learners’ progress. Good academic performer always shows attentiveness in almost all class activities. The way a learner maintains his/her Student Almanac, is the way the student’s performance can be observed. Concerned subject teacher, school principal and parent can use this tool effectively for monitoring poor academic performers. In fact, “Student Almanac” can be effectively used for monitoring different types of learner. So let be 1st to keep an eagle eye on your students!