In today's competitive world, the knowledge of English is essential. Even in Pakistan, it is almost impossible to get white collar jobs without knowing the language. In fact, in Pakistan, most universities rely on the medium of instruction of English after the Matriculation levels.

It is vital for Urdu medium students who have to learn English at the under graduate level while coping with the rest of their studies. Most professional fields such as Engineering, Medicine, Accounting, Trade and Commerce, Economics, the Civil Service and Computers require the knowledge of English.

The New Vision School has English as its medium of instruction. We have designed an extensive English curriculum, giving the students as much exposure to the language as possible. The students of this school have transformed into confident students who are actively involved in decision making and expressing their views.

Teacher Training

A long term teachers training was initiated by Mrs. Awais Leghari with special focus on:

• English language improvement
• Student-centered activity-based teaching at the primary level
• Preparation of lectures with regard to class ambience
• Timetable management
• Preparation of question papers and work sheets
• Monthly planners

A workshop by Dr. Ayesha Leghari was conducted for teachers on how to deal with below average children. Our teachers enrolled into a one month course in English proficiency. The Divisional public school in D.G.Khan arranged a workshop for our teachers with focus on how to conduct science practicals at the Metric level. An art workshop was also conducted by a teacher of the Divisional Public School. We intend to have a long term continuous teachers training with strong emphasis on English, Math, Science and Art with the help of distance learning programs on the computer.

In addition to these activities, we shall emphasize on teaching practices based on classroom observation and simulation techniques. A dynamic approach to education enhances the learning process as well as develops the personality of students.

The Needs of the Curriculum

The curriculum has been designed keeping in consideration the rural background of the students. The curriculum document included aims, goals, activities that were translated into a work plan and a syllabus. The syllabus was drawn keeping in mind the level of income of the area. Therefore, the school tried its best to have books that are affordable for the majority of the people. The school is currently using the English, Science and Math text books of the Oxford University press with additional lesson plans and readers, grammar and creative writing worksheets and activities pertaining to relevant topics. There is also a comprehensive plan of activities, games, arts and crafts, dramatics, audio visual aids, computers, quiz competitions and field trips that lead to the building of healthy and full personalities. The educational program is based on the idea that students learn better when they:

1. are actively involved in meaningful exploration of ideas
2. have an interest in the material
3. understand the need for the material.

The curriculum embraces individual as well as collaborative learning.

S.Z.NEW VISION SCHOOL
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROFILE OF NURSERY
REVISED FOR 2006-2007

AGE GROUP: 4-5
The ages of rural children are difficult to establish because of no concept of birth certificates. However, the general age group that studies in nursery is from 4-6.

The personality of a child begins to develop from two years onwards. The children in nursery are therefore extremely significant regarding the development of a curriculum that would be positive for society building. We Endeavour to create an atmosphere that is not only enjoyable for the children but also cohesive to personality building.

ENGLISH: We have our own curriculum which has been devised by us after evaluating the ability level of the age group that we tackle. The first term starts with teaching the sounds of various alphabets. We use audio cassettes by Zara Mumtaz for young children to reinforce sounds taught by the teacher. Along with this we also start teaching the children writing of small ABC. By the end of the first term the children have learnt how to recognize the alphabets and to more or less write them. At this level we use the method of fun and games, matching alphabets with shapes, showing picture cards, coloring, drawing, making shapes with play dough.e.t.c. All these activities encourage the children to apply their minds. Making shapes with play dough helps the children to exercise their muscles and therefore improves writing. Songs and nursery rhymes are also a significant part of our syllabus. We encourage the children to speak in English as much as possible. However, there are some problems because the children are not exposed to English at all. Even the cable services provide mediocre Indian entertainment and there is nothing educational for these children. Along with this, concept building is started with simple concepts like big /small; long/short e.t.c.Capital letters are introduced.

In the second term the children are taught capital letters and they get to practice the small letters too. They are introduced to colours, shapes, days of the week e.t.c. They are given fun exercises in which they match alphabets with pictures, identify beginning and ending sounds. They are taught the concept of sky, grass, and root letters to help them in their writing. Towards the last month of the second term small at words like cat, bat e.t.c are introduced. Similarly, words like can, man e.t.c. are also introduced. It has to be remembered here that the age group of these children is slightly more than the usual ages in the urban areas, so it is easy for them to absorb these small words. However, our motivation is to just introduce these words, which will be reinforced in Prep.

In the third term, the children are introduced to reading. Their writing is reinforced. They are taught new words like the en words (hen, men e.t.c) Easy words like apple, ball, in, out e.t.c are also used. By the time the year ends the students know how to read and write ABC as well as small words, but more focus is on reading. At this level the children's' reading is slow because they are taught to join sounds and recognize small words. The students find reading an enjoyable and novel experience. We use books with a lot of pictures which fascinates the children.Choti Zereen does not have a bookshop with any reading material so the first time the kids see any book is at school.

MATH: We introduce number concepts and teach the children counting as well as introduce them to practically count objects. Gradual writing of numbers is also initiated. The concept of dates and days of the week is established. Exercises with matching numbers to pictures and counting and writing numbers are educational as well as enjoyable because with each page the child feels he is playing a game. Our motivation is to introduce math in such a way that numbers should not look terrifying but should be regarded as a tool for facilitating everyday life. The children are taken to the canteen with two or three rupees and are taught to use that amount of money in the canteen. They are taught various shapes as well.

URDU: Similarly in Urdu the same pattern is followed The children start with the Qaida which is full of pictures and fun exercises. There is a strong focus on sounds. Audio cassettes by Zara Mumtaz are used. By the end of the year students can read and write alphabets as well as join certain alphabets.

SCIENCE: Science is introduced with the concept of the self and body parts. Pictures are shown of various animals, transport vehicles, flowers and trees e.t.c.the children are also taken out for walks and are shown different leaves, grass, flowers, insects e.t.c.By the end of the year the children have an excellent idea of water, air, living things and non living things,colours, food and fruits, the flag of Pakistan, hygiene, the seasons, names of the months E.T.C.

The school usually arranges a trip to the airport in D.G.Khan or to the post office or to a bird farm that belongs to Jamal Khan Leghari, which has a large variety of Pea-cocks, parrots, ostriches, pheasants, ducks, swans, turkeys E.T.C.

ISL: We help the children understand the concept of love and magnanimity associated with God. The basic foundation of our Islamiat syllabus rests on the belief that good Muslims should be good human beings who are willing to love other humans and treat everyone, rich or poor with love and respect. The teachers read out stories to the students and teach them Islamic songs. They are introduced to the personality of the Prophet p.b.u.h.They are taught little prayers and are encouraged in acts of kindness .e.g. they are taught to help one another in class.

ARTS AND CRAFTS: We have a lot of coloring and drawing in the English, Science and Math workbooks. Along with this there are three Art classes in a week. The children are taken to the Art room where they do a lot of pasting, cutting, coloring, drawing, modeling with play dough E.T.C

SPORTS AND GAMES: The children are taught how to throw and catch a ball. They are encouraged to play games like hide and seek. They are taught how to make a queue and to wait their turn. They are also encouraged to jump, hop and participate in races. Indoor games like Ringa Ringa Roses and songs with various actions are a lot of fun for these children.

BOOK LIST
English and Science workbook compiled by Mrs.Awais Leghari
Peter and Jane 1a 1b 1c Ladybird reading scheme
Math workbook compiled by Mrs. Awais Leghari
Oxford Urdu Silsila Jugmug 1
Islamiat Miss Nayer-referred by Al-huda branch-Choti

The New Vision School sends out terminal evaluation reports to the parents with marks entered on the report card. At this level it is extremely difficult to evaluate children in this way. However due to lack of education of parents this pattern is comprehended more by the parents and is therefore used. However we send out a detailed grading sheet along with the report for parents at the end of the year. This detailed report sheet covers our entire curriculum.

NURSERY - FINAL REPORT
Name
Class teacher