Curious Tourist

Today was a half day at school as it was a Saturday. Saturdays are always more special as I get to play with my kids and do more creative things with them. Today the class librarian Samiksha distributed a book to each student based on their level which they took to the garden along with them. We all sat on the grass under the cool shade of a large tree and began to read our books. The change of surroundings really boosted the mood of my kids and hence their performance in reading. They were able to understand the text much better and it was easier for me as a teacher to give them one on one feedback. I allowed the students to keep the books with them for the weekend, well that's why we call it the library right! :) Later in the afternoon, I had a debrief with my Program Manager regarding my teaching methodology in class. It went really well as I now feel much better equipped to take my class to the next level. Tomorrow is again going to be a big day for me and my kids as I am tak

As soon as I stepped into my classroom in the morning, I was surrounded by my kiddos. Two of them had a surprise for me which they were hiding behind them. They slowly produced a beautifully handcrafted smiley band and said, "Bhaiya you are so good, we especially made this wrist band for you" I was naturally delighted to see such a beautiful thing in the morning. Then Jinal even tied it around my wrist like a Rakhi and it was the happiest moment of the day for me. Such small moments of joy really keep me going and striving for more in whatever I do for my kids. Today was also my observation when my Program Manager came in my classroom to observe my pedagogy and teaching methodology so that he can help me improve my skills as a teacher by giving me a good feedback. I taught Writing to my kids during the observation hour. I hope my lesson went well and that I will receive a positive feedback from him. :)  

I was really excited today when I woke up in the morning as we were organizing Science Olympiad in the school for the very first time and it was something totally new not only for the children but also for us. The kids had put in lots of effort during their Diwali break and their excitement and nervousness was palpable as they were getting all jumpy and ecstatic for the test. I wished them good luck and off they went to the exam hall where they sincerely did their test for an hour. By the time they got out of the hall, it was lunch time and most of them had mixed views about the test paper but one thing that made me happy was the smile on each face. They had experienced something very different and they totally enjoyed every moment of it. I also promised that we are going to solve each question together and that we will find our mistakes. It's great how kids let go of things so easily. now they have started preparing for their Maths Olympiad which is scheduled for 12th December w

It is always exciting and scary at the same time to go to your place of work after a long streak of holidays. I remember how nervous I felt as a kid going to school after a pretty long summer break. It was no different today except the fact that I am a teacher. As a student in school and college, I could never empathize with my teachers but now I know that teachers are after all humans and they go through the same emotions and feelings too. However, as soon as I entered the classroom and saw the smiling and energetic faces of my students, I lost all my initial apprehensions and just went with the flow. We  carried the momentum of learning so gracefully as if we were just continuing from where we left off a few moments ago. We shared personal stories with each other where each of us talked about how their holidays went and what were some of their special and happy moments during the vacation. We sang and danced to our favourite tunes and also learned many interesting things in Science

Being a teacher is a thing of immense responsibility. I have realized now how important it is for a teacher to be mentally prepared to perform with the best of abilities and to keep on doing it everyday with consistency. Teaching is a very noble profession and I can say with some confidence that it's not very easy and it's not everyone's cup of tea. As a student, I never understood the pains of a teacher and the countless hours of planning that goes into each lecture. Besides planning, teachers are also required to manage the class effectively so that significant learning happens in the classroom. Setting up and consistently following classroom structures and laying down rules and procedures for students to follow are some of the other important responsibilities of an educator. Obviously these rules and structures are more important for teachers teaching elementary kids as little ones are more inclined towards disrupting the class on a regular basis. Well, before I joined

I boarded an evening flight to Ahmedabad as I had to attend school the next morning. I entered the school with a big smile on my face and was brimming with vitality and energy, so eager to transfer that zeal to my kids. I was just about to climb the stairs leading up to my classroom when Raj(name changed) stopped me from going any further and started to tell me with a sad face what had happened in the classroom. At first I was in disbelief, so I continued my ascent and went inside the class. No sooner had I entered than I began to get an extremely obnoxious and foul smell from the room. Manthan was actually right, there was a dead cat covered with flies lying rotting near the blackboard. The putrid smell was burning my nose and it was just getting impossible even to move further inside the classroom. God knows how some of the kids managed to get in to keep their bags inside. I was definitely not expecting anything remotely close to this. It was not a very hopeful and  promising star

Today I celebrated friendship's day with my children. I got colorful ribbons and a delicious chocolate cake for them. We danced like crazy for the whole day and my kids had a great time tying colorful bands to each other, singing melodious songs, decorating the class together and sharing the scrumptious cake with one another.  A Throwback to my days in Korea My TFI friendship started much later as I was earlier friends with Samsung people in Korea.  Let me rewind to my days in Korea- my best pal! I want to share my friendship with Korea and how it shaped me as a person. You will get a glimpse of my 10 month long stay in Korea through the following video- a glimpse of the winter snowfall and how I am creating a Vlog for my parents back in Delhi. Cheers!! My First Snowfall in Korea

Sometimes I am afraid of entering my class in the morning for the fear of not being able to deliver my best self to my kids. My students deserve the best education in the world and I always begin my day with a feeling that I am not yet fully prepared to be that quintessential role model for them. Being  a teacher is a huge responsibility to bear on my immature shoulders. I can't even begin to imagine the influence I would be having on them over the two years of my fellowship. My very own mindset, thoughts, beliefs, strengths as well as weaknesses will start to show in them over the course of next two years. I have already started to see the influence I am having on my little stars. It makes me feel thrilled and excited when I think about all the good qualities they are going to learn from me but it also leaves me so much nervous and scared when I think of my very own limitations and weaknesses. I am very mindful of my limiting mindset and would do anything in my power to overcome

Once we had completed our institute in Pune, we were off to our respective cities. I went to Ahmedabad but not directly. My friend and I decided to visit Mumbai for sightseeing and for indulging in all the touristy affair that Mumbai had to offer. From Mumbai we boarded a plane to our destination city- the city of Gandhi, the city of peace and love, the city of Ahmedabad. Now I am staying in a rented flat with 2 lovely fellows who are just like me. Arpit and Cibin love to experiment with their lives, they like to travel and explore new places, they are foodies in a true sense and they are also highly committed towards the cause. I like them so much more because they are so very gentle and caring. They are among the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Moving to a new city initially felt so overwhelming but with their love and care, their amazing humour and their huge support, I seldom feel homesick. I have never really stayed away from my home for too long. Being at home, I alw