Be Curious and Instill The Same
Kalyani Chaudhary is a teacher at Delhi School of Excellence who takes up english for classes 7th and 8th. She always aspired to become a teacher and hence has been teaching for more than 20 years now. She has taught in many places across the country and even in Sri Lanka and feels that students all over the globe have same inquisitiveness. She excitingly shares her experience with Next Gurukul.
Q. How should a teacher use digital education to her advantage while teaching?
Digital education as we know is really helpful not only in making the curriculum concepts clear for the students but also teaching them instantly about various other things. I’d like to explain this with an example. I was recently teaching my class a short story by O. Henry which had a mention of broadway. So, I immediately browsed the internet from the classroom itself for information on broadway like what is it and where is it. Hence, along with increasing the subject knowledge, we should try to update the students with such things as well with the help of digital education. In fact, the students interestingly take part in such information, especially is it is not subject related and such moments work as a tiny break for them too.
Q. How do you maintain balance between the mindset of a strong student and a weak student?
I make sure that a bright student in my class is given regular challenges, which will keep him going and motivated. I believe if such students are tested regulary then even weak the students learn from them, may be not everything, but something yes. At times I even pair both to help learn from each other. A weaker students might not be able to take in everything instantly in the company of bright child, but he surely observe his partner, which will instill him with the feel to study.
Q. What is the key to motivate students?
The first step towards motivation is encouragement. I always encourage every student to post question, even if the question seem to be silly. It might be silly for a strong student, but then it is a doubt and if it is brought up by a weaker student, it becomes extremely imprtant to be answered. GIve them life examples of poeple who have done great things but only after failing umpteen numbers of times; even Thomas Alva Edison failed 1000 times before he invented the Bulb.
Q. What is your say on giving homework?
HOmework is an essential part of studyng, irrespective if gven by teachers or done as self-study. However, teachers shoudl ensure that homework is not becoming a punishment and a burden for a child. Give students that much of homework which is sufficient to make him understand the concept, don’t expect him to do everything on his own through homework. This is when homeowk becomes a task and students tend to run away from it or ignore it, especially those who are less interested in studying in the first place.
Q. Qualities the upcoming teachers should possess?
Having good subject knowledge and proper planing is a must, in addition to keeping one’s self updated with whatever is happening in not only the respective subject but mostly around the world. Also, reading is one habit which every teacher should have, so that you can inculcate the same within your students too. If you are curious to read and learn about new things, then only you can spread the vibes and instill the quality in your students.
Being pateint, polite and fair with students is equally important to be present in a teacher. One should never take out personal grudges, children do say something wrong at times, but being an adult you should act like one too.
Q. Advice for parents and students?
Student: There is no substitute for hard work, irrespective you are a bright or weak student, both require the key of hard work and practice to succeed.
Parent: It is a triangle, techers-students-parents, parents need to connect with the teachers too. Leaving it just to the teachers will not bear the desired results. It is a two way communication. Monitor your child, see what he has done and what has been taught. Your child needs your time, he might know everything but may be wishing that you sit with him, while he studies. Spare some time.
