The Right Kind of Wrong - Book Review

 Book Review

 

 Title               -          The Right Kind Of Wrong

Author           -           Shilpa Suraj

Format          -          Kindle

Pages              -           165

 Genre            -         Thriller / Romance

Link to buy   -         https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08T21GQZ5/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_glt_FXWZSRWFBQB8488RHSVX

Blurb :

 He's dangerous, damaged and doomed but he's hers...

With no name, no medical history, multiple gunshot wounds and enough security to rival the Prime Minister’s, Dr Aria Dubey’s new patient is something more than she asked for. And everything she might just need.

Intelligence Officer Karan Bhatnagar has only vengeance on his mind. Nothing will stop him from seeking justice for his murdered parents.

Not even almost losing his own life. And certainly not the doctor who healed but couldn’t save him. The woman he can’t afford to fall for. And the killer's next target.

There's only one thing left to do...find the killer and end him before he ends them. Will Karan and Aria risk everything for a love that is all kinds of wrong? And yet, is the right kind of wrong.

Why did I read this book ?

I love mystery and thriller novels. Lately, I have read a lot of thriller books by Indian authors and I quite liked their writing. I read the blurb and it seemed very interesting. I wanted to read how the mystery unfolded. Also, I wanted to read how the romance played a part in solving the mystery.

My Review :

This is my first book that I have read by Shilpa Suraj and I really enjoyed reading it. 

I loved how she added an element of humor in an intense thriller. All the characters are very realistic. They have been described in detail. One can vividly imagine the scenes while reading the book. I am a die hard Bollywood movie fan and this book seemed as if I was watching a super fun movie, with all the elements of romance, action ,drama and comedy! Dr. Aria's and Karan's past explains the reason of their fears and inhibitions. I loved the romance between both of them. It is a very easy read and the pace of the book is fantastic. I loved how Aria called Karan , Mr. X when she didn't know about his details. The author has beautifully managed to maintain a balance between romance and action. The climax of the book was a surprise which one could have never anticipated. I didn't get bored at all and I finished reading the book with a smile! I definitely recommend this book. Get it and you will definitely not put down the book until you finish reading it. After reading this book, I would definitely read other books by Shilpa Suraj.

About the Author :

Shilpa Suraj is an author and has written a collection of 7 books; she was also a panellist at the Women’s Writers Fest and New Age Literary Festival. She is a proud mother who is fond of corporate life. Shilpa Suraj believes in writing stories that move people and create a character that everyone can relate to. She is a romantic fiction author, compulsive reader and general day dreamer.

You can follow her on Instagram : www.instagram.com/shilpa.suraj

Her facebook page is www.facebook.com/shilpasuraj

Her website is www.shilpasuraj.com

Rating : 4/5

#bookreview #review #bookchatter #blogchatter 

How does Phonics help in reading for pleasure ?

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In simple terms, phonics means teaching letter sounds, so that the children can read and write words easily.

The traditional way of teaching the English Language involves showing children the whole words and asking them to memorize them. All of us are brought up with the traditional way of learning the English Language, i.e the whole word system. The traditional way is also not wrong but if a child learns the language with the help of phonics, he can read faster and become proficient in reading.

In Phonics, the first step is to introduce the letter sound. When the child sees the letter, the child can speak both the name of the letter and its sound.

After the letter sound, the child is taught how to blend two letters together with the help of sounds.If the child knows the letter sounds, he will definitely try to blend and use the phonics rules to read the word. This also gives him the confidence that he can read because he will definitely try to read more words. 

The next step is to segment a big word and read the word. 

There is no guessing of words when a child reads with the help of phonics.Children who learn phonics are able to decode the words which aids in the development and recognition of words.The more words they recognize, the easier it becomes for them to read more words.

A child who know phonics rules and blends becomes an independent reader faster than the one who is not aware if the phonics rules. The reading fluency helps in reading comprehension. When they read independently they are able to understand easily what they are reading.

Children love story books. When they are young, we read aloud to them but once they learn the letter sounds and blends, they pick up a book themselves and read on their own. They even try to join letters and words which they do not know. 

Reading for pleasure opens up new worlds for children. It gives them the opportunity to use their imagination to explore new ideas, visit new places and meet new characters.

Reading for pleasure also improves children’s well-being and empathy. It helps them to understand their own identity, and gives them an insight into the world and the views of others.

#phonics #readingbooks #readingforpleasure #childrenbooks #books 

Principles of Montessori Education

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Montessori method of education was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900's. She observed that children learnt better in a prepared environment when they are given the right opportunities. Based on her observation and research, she outlined five important principles which are necessary for Montessori method of education.

Treat and respect the child as an individual :

The first and foremost principal of Montessori method is to treat a child as an individual. Subconsciously, we set rules and boundaries for children, which we expect them to follow. If they do not follow, we become rude and this effects a child's behavior. Children imitate what they see. If we shout at them if they do not do a particular thing in a certain way, they too will think that shouting is the sight way to behave.We do not realize but we do not give them enough freedom to the their cognitive abilities. In a Montessori Curriculum, the children are provided with learning resources but instead of giving instructions to them , we let them use the materials and explore in their own. Montessori method is completely child led. Treating them as an individual, brings out their personality and uniqueness. This also helps them to become strong and confident individuals.

Absorbent Mind:

Children's minds are like sponges. From the time of birth, till they are 5-6 years old, children have the ability to absorb learning from their environment. This implies not only to the spoken languages but they pick up traits of their family members, friends, relatives and the community in general. 

Dr. Montessori divided this into two stages :

1) The Unconscious Stage ( 0-3 years) :

During this stage, the babies and toddlers learn various things consciously and unconsciously. For eg, The children learn to crawl, sit, stand, walk, talk. During this period the children absorb and imitate from their environment. 

2) The Conscious Stage ( 3-6 years) :

During this period, the children become well aware of their surroundings. They consciously show an interest to learn new things. They try to put their toys in order, try sequencing of things, learn letters, numbers, reading and writing skills. During this stage they also want to be independent and do everything themselves. This independence is very important because if they make an error, they learn from it and try to rectify it themselves. 

Prepared Environment :

A Montessori classroom is very different from a traditional classroom. The children only need a prepared environment or works stations with all the necessary materials. They sit alone or in groups on a floor. A prepared environment helps children to prepare, discover and create different things. The children should be provided with materials which are within a child's reach. The atmosphere is bright and colorful. They also have a plant or a pet in the classroom for the children to take care. They sit in mixed age group room where they learn from their peers rather than a teacher.

Role of teachers :

The teachers in a Montessori classroom is only to guide. The teacher ensures that everything is in order in the classroom and all materials are there. She acts a role model and constantly responds to the queries of the children. She motivates them to do better and be independent.

Sensitive Period :

Sensitive Periods are the periods of psychological development in children. They are very powerful as the child is able to learn maximum during that period. Order, language , movement, all become an integral part of the sensitive period.

The most easiest may to know about a child's sensitive period is when a child repeatedly shown an interest in doing a particular thing. The teacher guides this interest and motivates the child to individually complete the task without interruption. The children become independent and progress naturally.

These are the five essential elements of the Montessori curriculum which becomes a strong base for the formative years of a child's life.

#montessori  #montessoriprinciples #mariamontessori

TIPS TO TEACH CHILDREN TO RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT

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In simple terms, Environment sums up of everything which surrounds us. As much as adults need to take care of the environment, it is equally important to teach our children to take care of the environment. Teach them that all the resources like water, soil, electricity are scarce and it is our responsibility to take care of the environment where we live. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach them to protect our mother earth.

One should start early and teach children simple things which go a long way in conserving the environment.

Not to waste water :

Tell them to turn off the tap when they brush their teeth or wash hands. Even when they take a bath, tell them not to run the tap unnecessarily.

Keep the surroundings clean:

After eating a candy, tell children to throw the waste wrapper in the dustbin. Teach them not to litter around. If they do not find a dustbin, bring the wrapper back home and throw it in the dustbin. If they see any waste paper lying in a park, ask them to pick it  up and throw it in the dustbin.

Ask others not to litter :

If the children see other people littering around, they should go up to them and tell them not to litter.

Avoid using plastic :

Plastic is very harmful for our environment. Teach them from the beginning not to use plastic bags, cups, plates and spoons. Get them into the habit of using cloth bags when they go to buy something.

Conserve Electricity :

Tell them to turn off unnecessary lights and fans in a room. Get them into the habit of not turning on the lights during the day time.

Recycle :

Recycling is one of the best ways to conserve the environment. Teach them which products can be recycled and and which cannot. Explain them the harmful effects of non  recyclable .

Give them the opportunity to enjoy Nature :

It is very important for children to go outside and play. Encourage children to go out and play for at least an hour. Show them different plants, leaves and flowers. Let them explore different textures of leaves. Let them play with mud.Ask them to water the plants. Get different seeds and sow with them. This would help them to respect and love their surroundings where they live. They would want to take care of the plants and keep them healthy.

Motivate them :

Even if children follow 1 out of 5 rules to conserve the environment, motivate them and encourage them. Use phrases like , "good job" ," I am very proud of you". 

Read books on environment :

Children love to listen to stories. There are are a lot of books available in the market  on Environment. Read aloud to your children and ask them after each book what did they learn. Then ask them if they would like to do the same in their house too. 

Lead by example :

Children are very observant. They observe what everyone does around them. If you want your children to be good responsible citizens then you have to be one too. Do whatever it takes to protect the environment. If you follow these steps, children will automatically get used doing their bit to protect the environment.

Children are our future of tomorrow. We need to inculcate good habits in them in order for them to take care our the planet that they live on. 

This article is a part of Blogchatter's Cause a chatter

 #environment #conservetheenvironment 

How is Montessori Curriculum different from the Traditional Curriculum ?

How is Montessori Curriculum different from the Traditional Curriculum ?

 

Montessori Method of Education was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900's. She believed that education should prepare a child for all aspects of life.Montessori  method of education focuses on the child. It is completely child centered and all the activities are child led. Maria Montessori believed that the children learn better when they choose what they want to learn. It is an approach which values the human being as a whole. Equal importance is given to a child's emotional, physical,social and cognitive growth.

How is Montessori Curriculum different from Traditional Curriculum:

Classroom Structure :

In a Traditional classroom, all the students sit in rows of desks whereas in a Montessori classroom, the students have their workstations. They work in groups or individually and also sit on the floor for group lessons. They have a freedom of movement.

Age :

In a Traditional classroom, the children are are grouped chronologically where as in a Montessori classroom, it is non graded. Children of varied age groups sit in a room. for eg. 3-5 years, 6-8 years students sit in a room.

Subjects :

In a Traditional classroom, one subject is taught to everyone where as in a Montessori classroom , children learn at their own pace and decide what they want to do everyday. They can learn individually or in groups. 

Cognitive Skills:

In a Traditional Classroom , the students are not challenged enough to think and work whereas in a Montessori classroom, the children are given the freedom to think and explore various things. This leads them to try and experiment different things. By the time, the children are six years old, their cognitive skills are already developed.

Concentration :

In a Traditional Classroom, the timetable and the schedule is fixed. The frequent interruptions and breaks hamper children's involvement and focus. In a Montessori Classroom, the children are not bound to a specific time table and a schedule. They have enough time to concentrate and work on a single activity. 

Learning :

In a Traditional Classroom, the teacher corrects the students mistakes or errors but in a Montessori Classroom, the children learn from their peers and are given opportunities to self correct their errors. The teacher acts as a role model and a guide. Children learn through their own discovery and make their own choice.

Dependent on teachers :

In a Traditional Classroom, the students are dependent on teachers, where as in a Montessori Classroom, the children learn on their own.

Subjects :

In a Traditional Classroom, each subject is taught individually and very less practical knowledge is given to the students. In a Montessori Curriculum, all subjects are interrelated and are taught are given practical training.

Student to Teacher Ratio :

In a traditional Classroom, student to teacher ratio is very high where as in a Montessori Classroom, the student to teacher ratio is either 8:1 or 10:1.

This article is an attempt to make people aware of the differences of both the curriculums. Parents have to think and decide which curriculum is best for their child. 

I didn't Expect To Be Expecting - Book Review

 Book Review

Title  - I Didn't Expect To Be Expecting

Author - Richa S Mukherjee

Publisher - Black Ink

Genre - Fiction / Comedy

Book Type - Paper Back

No. of Pages - 348

Blurb :

Tara is living a blessed life in the maximum city with her husband Abhimanyu, the love of her life. At the pinnacle of her career, she is the apple of her parents' eyes and hasn't spotted a wrinkle yet - so far, the 30s are looking great!Nothing fazes Tara - not a foul-mouthed best friend or a food-burning arch-nemesis in the form of her maid - not even a landlady who chats with ghosts.And then, Tara discovers that she's pregnant, and suddenly, all that well-honed composure crumbles. It doesn't help that she's got an equally jittery (if supportive) husband by her side. Now, Tara must face her anxieties about parenthood as she navigates friendships, marriage and career, all the while dealing with the fact that her body and mind are steadily feeling like they belong to someone else.An irreverent, honest and funny journey down the road - potholes and all - to (accidental) parenthood!

Why I read this book :

The blurb of the book seemed to be really nice and relatable as my pregnancy was also not planned but when I became pregnant everything changed for the good! Also, I had heard very good reviews about this book from my friends and I wanted to read a light, fun book.

My Review :

Abhi and Tara are the millennial couple who work hard, have very good jobs and love to travel. They have been married for the last five years and Tara's career is roaring high when she finds put that she is pregnant.Tara went through exactly what a woman in her thirties , with a successful career would do if she finds out that she is expecting. She is completely unprepared for it. The plot of the book is very well executed. I loved the humor in the book. Certain parts will absolutely crack you up! 

Richa has given an equal importance to all the supporting characters as well. The language of the book is very simple and it's a quick read. The cover of the book is apt to the title. All in all it's a light, fun read for all !.

About the Author :

After spending years in advertising, selling shampoos and juices to unsuspecting housewives, also chasing after a few criminals and their lawyers as a journalist, Richa finally decided to write a book of soul searing poetry called- A Penchant for Prose, followed by a few funny blogs. Then came her first novel- I Didn't Expect To Be Expecting, which is a humorous take on pregnancy and the fireworks it brings with it. Her next book is due this year. She now lives in Mumbai juggling work, writing, and often, her 5 year old daughter as well.

Rating -4 /5