From the Teachers’ Loom
If you are a parent and reading this you will be in a better position to answer this question-Doesn’t learning lose its sheen when boredom sets in? Who could agree more than you, right?
Modern learning is viewed as an educational approach that seeks to carve a learning experience that prepares students for the realities of the modern world. A variety of methods have proved effective in this context. Project-based learning, classroom discussion, cooperative learning, and demonstrations, as well as using diverse learning materials, are all examples of methods used in adaptive teaching.
But our teachers do not halt at it as we have witnessed them decoding the method of boosting the teaching-learning process, validating it by educating the mind and heart at the same time. And who could do it better than them since they are at the forefront with the ‘cherubic little hearts’.
Today, we gladly want to share a few innovative techniques carved by the teachers themselves which is nothing else but proof of their commitment and love for their students.
Herewith, we would like to share a few novel and out-of-the-box methodologies that have been invented by our ever-engaging teachers and have flared the same out in their classrooms to the benefit of the vivacious students.
- Pass the Good Word-Upon asking a question to a student, the answer was passed on to the others as well. If the answer was correct the other student extended the answer. In case it did not match the expectation or was incorrect then the others amended it with a polite preamble- “I would like to add or rephrase my friend’s answer” or “I would like to answer in another manner”, by not summoning the classmate at all. In this manner, a healthy bond was fostered among the students along with learning of content and basic etiquette.
- The Erroneous Teacher!!!- The teacher intentionally sprinkled a few erroneous or ambiguous answers for the students to react and check the facts. By doing so the teacher not only checked their involvement and agility but also tactfully carried on the formative assessment.
- Mindfulness Matters– By assigning the task of ‘learning by doing and observing’ the teacher entrusted the students to be mindful of the surroundings and come up weekly twice with their keen observation of learning something by either doing it themselves or observing the others. This is a two-fold involvement where the student simultaneously observes and learns while our teachers play the true facilitators and let the students steer their ships.
- The Jar of Good Things- everyday practice of adding a good word into the ‘Jar of Good Things’ was initiated by a teacher who posts values at the pinnacle. Students followed a ritual of coming up with a word that had either helped them in the past or was important to them and their families. Once the student chose the virtue they were meant to speak a few lines on the same.
While we would love to share all the candid conversations of our cherubic students but to begin with we are sharing one the other day when the students were populating the jar: Cherub said, “I got the word- ‘honesty’ to discuss. But one day when my mother asked me if I had broken the glass I denied it. Now I feel I should go and tell her the truth.”
This is not only a testimonial for the student in the moment of honesty but also can be seen as building a strong foundation for his coming-of-age image. Moreover, he is setting an example for others as well.
Voilà! The teachers at NPS are unleashing the academic and holistic potential of the students and are truly standing tall to the acronym – Talented Educated Adorable Charming Helpful Encouraging Responsible who teach with their heads and hearts to shape not only the future of our country but also the shape the shape-makers of tomorrow!
