In this reflective segment titled 'It Triggered Me to Think Differently,' I am compelled to share my insights as a teacher. The revelation has sparked a shift in my focus towards a dimension that, until now, I hadn't fully recognized as being of paramount importance. This newfound perspective, encapsulated by the below theme -
Life 101: Shaping Awesome Humans, Beyond Report Cards
The Student Struggle
As I spend more time with the students, I've come to realize that this generation tends to be quite hard on themselves. When I asked them to share positive aspects about themselves, many struggled because they didn't appreciate their own qualities. I've observed that there's a significant amount of peer pressure and criticism from both parents and teachers, whether intentional or not. To address these issues, I incorporate several practices into my routine.
Quirky Practices to the Rescue!
Appreciation Station
I established an appreciation station, encouraging students to express gratitude towards each other. We make it a vocal and communal activity, clapping for each other and turning the room into a gratitude chamber.
Positive Vibes in the Assembly
At the beginning of the Assembly period, I kickstart the day by writing positive thoughts on the center of the board and initiating a discussion around them. These motivational quotes are sourced from the internet.
Storytelling Extravaganza
I spin personal stories and craft fictional tales with moral lessons. Because who said learning can't be entertaining?
Non-violence Ninja Moves
I teach the importance of non-violence and discourage bullying by narrating stories related to the law of Karma, the impact of words on plants and water (e.g. inspiring research by Masaru Emoto's Experiments on Water), and discussing appropriate conflict resolution methods.
Passion & Pleasure
I consistently emphasize the significance of following one's passion. I discuss how engaging in hobbies we love triggers the release of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, which brings pleasure. To illustrate, I share my Instagram page, ‘nehasartventure’-nehasartventurewhere I showcase how pursuing my interests positively impacts my well-being.
So, wrapping it up, my mission is clear: rescuing this generation from the self-critiquing saga! It's not just a teaching strategy; it's my little rebellion against the serious and mundane. So, with laughter as my ally and positive vibes as my sword, I will turn my class into a self-love dojo. Here's to more appreciation, laughs, fewer frowns, and creating a class where even Mondays feel like a happy story!
Section 2: "If you don't like something, change it."
Lights, Camera, Learning: Revolutionizing Education in the Digital Age
In the thrilling saga of my studenthood, school life and learning were like trying to turn a dull pencil into a magic wand. In the chapters of my own learning story, the subjects we tackled seemed more like a chore, and the mere act of flipping through textbooks felt like navigating a sea of sameness. However, the narrative took a dramatic turn as the era of audio-visual learning emerged. So my ongoing mantra has been to discover ways in making classes so captivating that students eagerly look forward to them.
It's not just teaching; it's an audio-visual revolution, a set where curiosity takes the lead, and every class is a premiere event - where lights, camera, and learning steal the show!
Now, considering Gen Z's love affair with all things audio-visual, I've dived headfirst into the world of videos as I emphasize the significance of incorporating videos into my teaching approach. This ensures that the content is not only interesting but also aligns with the preferred learning style of today's students.
The Evolution of Learning - from traditional textbooks to dynamic video-based learning.
So, why videos? Well, in a world where attention spans are shorter than a cat video, it's crucial to keep up. So I've consistently stayed informed about trending online videos that captivate students' interest. This includes content from creators like NAS Daily, Abhi and Niyu, engaging Netflix documentaries, and educational videos from StudyIQ.
After the video extravaganza, it's not game over. It's discussion time! We dissect the videos, explore the nooks and crannies of the topics, and sometimes end up in philosophical debates that even Socrates would envy.
It's a tale of my own evolution, where boredom becomes a distant memory, and each class becomes the Avenger of boredom.
Section 3: "My discoveries beyond the textbook but within the curriculum"
My exploration beyond the textbook within the curriculum is a philosophical journey as a teacher. It transcends conventional boundaries, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and real-world applications. It transforms education from mere absorption of content to a holistic synthesis of knowledge and personal growth.
Class Mentor Journey: Connecting with Each Student
This year, taking on the role of Class Mentor (Class Teacher) presented a unique challenge. Typically, in the first few months of teaching, it's easier to understand a student's personality—whether they're talkative, focused, good listeners, introverted, or extroverted. However, as the Class Mentor, I wasn't assigned to teach any specific subject, making it a bit challenging to gauge students solely based on their activities.
With the goal of getting to know my class better, I decided to connect with each student in a roll number sequence. I inquired about their likes, dislikes, friends, families, strengths, and weaknesses. I framed it as a rehearsal for their Portfolio Reflections.
The interaction turned out to be quite enjoyable. I discovered many aspects about them that I wasn't aware of, and they relished the opportunity to talk about themselves, feeling like celebrities answering interview questions. It turned into a win-win situation! Now, I can confidently say that I have a better understanding of my class students!
Overcoming Challenges
I'd like to share a case from my class about a student who has ADHD and significant social anxiety. This information was shared by his mother, along with medical reports. I actively worked with the student, providing consistent motivation and opportunities to speak. By assigning various tasks, we observed a substantial reduction in his challenges. It was particularly rewarding to witness him deliver a fantastic Portfolio Reflections presentation. He generously allowed me to record his feedback on the portfolio experience in front of the entire class. This accomplishment brought me immense joy.
Experiment with a novel approach to conclude Social Studies lesson
Traditionally, an effective closure involves reviewing and summarizing the lesson, consolidating key information, creating a link to the next lesson, and solving exercise questions or a small assessment.
For the assessment, I opted for a different method. I used an AI tool “QuestionWell’ to create a time-bound MCQ worksheet, exported it to Quizizz, and displayed it on the screen. Instead of playing the Quizizz game, students were tasked with solving the worksheet within 20 minutes, comprising 30 questions. The answer key was revealed at the end of the self-assessment.
Advantages included
quicker evaluation, self-assessment opportunities, coverage of a wider range of topics, and an engaging process of cross-checking their answers with the provided key.
Screenshot of the worksheet. Answer Key is visible only when the option is selected.
Click below to access the worksheets (Sharing the online sheet as well as pdfs from Drive)