Category: Blogs

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman Meet Devi and Ram with their parents Rajalekshmi and Roopak They started their journey of Interest-based learning five years back. Their journey in few words…

This happened at Senthil nagar, Bodichipalli. A mango tree which gives yummy, juicy mangoes every year in the month of July, was home for a crow with white streaked neck. Looks like it loves to wear this necklace all the time. This day was special for this crow. A liitle egg hatched (crack!) and a…

This week is lazy for me till nowI am feeling tired of doing, planning for a child, I just want to be with myself.I wanted to watch a movie so watched one Hindi movie, Apart from regular stuff ( no option available to skip it) did not feel doing any other work.When I am with…

What do Dhoni and Aarohi have in common?Think of a time you felt noticed, listened to, valued by someone? Placing you in the glare of the spotlight, that someone chose to remain in the shadows/ the penumbral glow. That’s humble/penumbral leadership. Where leaders stay in the glow and promote their team members to the glare…

What is planning? Some say its organizing learning and life Some does hour by hour planning While some are focusing on what and when and how Some want a very vigorous schedule While some are looking for space for themselves and taking as it comes Some track what they do daily Some like to let…

FROM a MOTHER’s DIARY – NityaAarohi Where “holy” means child, Brave-hearted adults “ascend”, And become a child. That’s my first-ever haiku and one of the many sprouts of my creativity thanks to Aarohi-x. Since I’m on a roll, here’s another haiku for you. Aarohi Clock ticks monotone Polytonal Aarohi Sets-a “tune” to the tick (Btw,…

I have been working with an NGO (CoAst India) to support migrant workers. It has been a very humbling experience. To begin I had an apprehension that If I call and make my phone number exposed to strangers, they will misuse it – to my surprise I have not received any prank and disturbing call.Another…

TEEN Klub with Rajesh – Sometimes there is a big silence, sometimes there is thinking, sometimes there is an expression with QUESTIONS… it’s all about just chit chat!The idea is not to convey any one message but just have a conversation to explore selfSOME GLIMPSES of the ConversationAs we reach 14yrs – Hidden or explicit…

We often work on interest, we look for resources, skills, tools, coaching, and so on. What about self and social skills? If we want these to be developed, we need to work on them consciously like any other skill.it’s not enough to say “I want to work on my emotions or relationship or my weaknesses…

RATE yourself and share One task that you rate more than 8 out of 10 on satisfaction with your efforts One task that you rate less than 3 out of 10 on satisfaction with your efforts One thing that you did that was new or needed a new skill One task in which you observed…

You must have heard this saying “When you teach your learning multiples”. Unfortunately, most of the time we as adults are multiplying our learning by teaching kids – inviting you to invite your child to TEACH something to others. Your child to teach you, friends, relatives, or simply record his/her lecture or class on video…

One child shared “I want to develop the basic skills of reading, I will be reading Suppandi Jokes”. Often there is an anxiety that if the child is deciding, the child will skip some basic skills like reading/writing or maths. One of the roles parents/ facilitators in open learning play is to bring AWARENESS and…

My journey of homeschooling/unschooling started 6 years ago. Though I liked the concept, I did not have the courage to start unschooling, my son, Skanda who was 8 yrs then (14yrs now). It was a difficult choice. All my family members were not only against but also very furious with me. A bitter experience in…

One 11 yrs old child asked, “I like electronics, but I have limited resources at this time of lockdown”.Advay, 9 yrs old advised Watch this Audio Recordinghttps://youtu.be/vJ7mORUS2AQ PRASHANT his Father sharing Shared by his father – I thought of sharing how it all started for Advay at home. Obviously its just one way to get…

Do you wonder how to bring different aspects of our planning? Can working on emotions be part of planning? Can contribution to the housework be part of the planning? Can how to go deep into my interest be part of the planning?Sharing a small framework, we shared in Aarohi-X with families – check pictures Few…

LIVE TUK MARKETpeople sold their precious candle video, a joke, a bird call recorded, greeting cards, art, paradox ideas, playing cards, skill to make flower garland, story, song, 3d drawings and many more things – listen to the recordings if you wish to buy or sell anything. ABOUT THE MARKET In Tuk market, anybody can…

Fatima and Manj Akka joined us to help us with cooking. They love kids and ensures clean spaces. They are quick to understand the working of Aarohi. Manji Akka manages the kitchen and Fatima Akka maintenance of the campus. Manji akkas Says ‘I enjoy cooking and take care of the campus. I am ready to…

Leela is one of the pillars ofAarohi. She started her journey withAarohias a parent and soon got involved in other projects and now she is a facilitator atAarohi, O-campus. She is exploring learning and each discovery brings tremendous joy for her. Ever smiling, loving and thoughtful Leela, is always open to learning – from people…

Ratnesh, our source of inspiration in many ways. He does not teach nor ask us to learn, he just keeps learning by himself. He is unique in many ways and known popularly as ‘tormentor not mentor’. His mentorship will ensure all thinking brain working and learning by own challenges. He rarely helps anyone and he…

He joinedAarohiwhile we were constructing Ambrosia, our kitchen, We needed people who would think and implement the new wayofmaking walls using mud bags. He was one of the people in the team who was very excited about the newness of the construction and also used his previous knowledge of construction. He worked as labor, soon…

Shiva, 9yrs old, very clear with what he wants to. He is full of ideas and thoughts on what he wants to do. He began his journey at Aarohi with movie-making, he did that for almost two years. He explored many aspects by himself. Then he started with exploring Butterflies, Stones, and now cooking. Ghost…

Twesha..for his ideas and imagination are not difficult, implementation is a struggle. At Aarohi he is not working on imagination, rather working on implementation to discover genie inside him. He is magical with paper and craft work, he does not follow, he crates his own. He can make a song on the spot on any…

Yashas, His journey of language proficiency is interesting – began with struggling some years back and now as if out of nowhere, he is quite comfortable with both reading and writing – especially reading. His vocabulary is growing and spellings required to write clearly are increasing. He likes to do projects alone. When it comes…

Some asked usWhat is Aarohi?​​A space to learn Some asked usWhat is your philosophy?​​We said we had none Some asked usWhat are your methods?​​A thousand and one Some asked usHow do children learn?​​All on their own In that caseWhat do you do?With them, we also learn Some asked usWhat’s the curriculum?​​Whatever is below the sun…

Another pillar ofAarohi. Popularly know as the blogger ofAarohi. Known for her clarity in what she is doing or while working with others. She is firm when required, brings balance in being firm with clarity and let go. The implementer and thinker pillar ofAarohi brings value with her reverence inwhatever she does. She says “By…

Advay 5yrs old goes around and picks to do what he likes to do. He can surprise you with his presentation on his interest map or what is an electrical fire or how to file a coconut shell. He is the wind, flow when and wherever he wants to, spend his time playing and playing…

Advik, 11yrs old …thinking and talking about sports comes very easy to him. But to be able to bring in action is that’s where he struggles. Each day working on finding rules means reading and comprehending, writing rules, able to stand through to THINK and make necessary changes to suit to the community, marking on…

Avani, 6yrs old, blessed with imagination and drawing skills. She can sketch whatever she observes keenly and she observes keenly whatever interests her. She likes when she learns anything new. Currently exploring cursive writing as one of the exploration. Also exploring painting,sand play, science experiments, drawing, cooking, music, songs, dance, rock climbing, gymnastics and jumping.…

Davin, 13yrs old. Sharp in any learning. He likes many things including astronomy,parkour, making movies. He likes to dream and dream big. He struggles to fail or others knowing that he does notknow something. Discovering self and genie inside by making things which are new and unknown to him. Working on feedback and taking up…

Dhrupad 11yrs old, He is like a river…flows in many different forms. His interest varies from origami, cooking, conducting quiz, sports, vehicles, adventure sports, reading, puzzles, movies, photography, and many more. He does not stay at one interest, he flows within the self-discovering self. He wants to create because he like inventions. Each learning story…