The schools in Denkanikota Taluk (Area division), Thally Block, District Krishnagiri,Tamil Nadu, cater to children of daily wage earners, laborers and workers. The population speak three different languages – Telugu, Kannada and Tamil. Overall, the schooling experience was ineffective and bland given the challenges of teaching and learning in different languages. The Rural Poor Development Programme, responding to the needs of the schooling system, given its founding objectives to work in the areas of education, health, socio-economic development and natural resources management, provided teachers to 15 lower primary schools. They visited the homes of families to talk to parents about the importance of an enriching learning experience for the children. Trained to teach to the children in the 1st and the 2nd standard, the teachers made use of specially designed Teaching and Learning Material (TLMs) that encourages activity based learning to understand basic concepts of nature, science and numbers.

The opportunity to play with blocks of different colours, shapes and size and different types of materials give wings to the creativity of these budding minds. This imaginative initiation at the beginning of their academic experience shapes the thinking process and develops the ability to concentrate and retain among the children. Given the vibrant participation by the children, it will not be surprising if the parallel teachers are etched on the memory of the children, long after their schooling is complete.
To Sir, with love will be written but in not one, not two but in three languages!