This may not be directly linked to TFI, but as it happened during the same journey, I want to share with you what I would call "The most content day of my life". Yesterday, I was riding back home after school at 1 o clock. The sun was comparatively harsh for a winter afternoon. An old dark man caught my eye when I was on the Sinhagad road flyover which goes towards Chandni Chowk. The man was wearing a soiled white kurta and pajama with a traditional Indian white cap. He was gasping and walking snail speed. I stopped to offer a lift. He said no thanks initially and said, the mere thought of me stopping by and offering a lift was more than enough for him. I insisted him a bit and after a little hesitation he got on the bike holding his small pink polythene bag. He said he wanted to go to Dehu road.
I did not know where Dehu road was. To my surprise one of the milestones on way said "Dehu road - 23 kms". I asked the old man whether he was going to walk all the way to Dehu road. He said yes. To add further to my surprise, he came walking from Katraj ghat (10 kms+ from where I offered him a lift). I was puzzled and asked him why he did not take some bus? He said he had only 50Rs. with him which he had to save as he was going to see a doctor for some treatment. I was taken aback and decided not to go home (Chandni Chowk) and drive further to Baner so that the man had to walk a little less towards his destination. He said drop me wherever you please.
On way it came to light that this old man was quite a wise person. He had flunked in 11th grade because of English. He expressed his irritation towards his school for promoting all kids even if they did not do well in English exams. He said he would have cleared 11th and studied further if his school had detained him for not doing well in English at the right time. He would have worked hard if he failed. He was working as a peon in an accounts department somewhere but now retired. He was going to Dehu road for a cataract surgery of his eye which was free under some policy post retirement. While riding, I was constantly thinking of how far Dehu road still was. I wished to drop this man all the way to where he wanted instead of Baner. But I was dreading that my bike would run out of fuel and there were no fuel stations around. We reached the Baner square where the man got down and touched my feet. In the bright sun, I could now see his blue colored cataract infected eyes filled with gratitude. I also noticed a thin bed sheet in his bag which he probably used to rest up on during his long walking journey. This old man, who was by now like my own grandpa, blessed me, wore his cap and started walking. I was in pain to see him walk again!
I started riding towards Nikhil's house in Baner; still thinking if I should find a fuel station, refill and go back to help the old man. When I reached Nikhil's house he was a bit surprised and asked me how come I was at Baner at that hour? When I told Nikhil about the whole story he wasted no time and took out the car to help the old man. We hit the highway again. The old man had not walked too far from where I had dropped him earlier. We found him at a roadside juice vendor drinking water. I told him "Aaba (grandpa), we have come to drop you to Dehu road". He was surprised, delighted, confused, thankful all at the same time. We all had pineapple juice and Aaba sat at the back seat of the car.
Nikhil asked Aaba where exactly was the hospital at Dehu road? And I was further surprised to know that he actually had to go to Mumbai and Dehu road was a destination from where he would get cheaper bus ticket to Mumbai. We were more shocked to know he started his journey on 2nd from Satara district (his home) to reach Mumbai on 10th for the operation. Yes! He walked in stretches everyday with only a cup or two of chai in the day. As he had not had lunch we took him to Hotel Tamanna at Hinjewadi. Nikhil and I were keen to know more about Aaba. We looked at each other with raised eyebrows when we heard that Aaba was 75 years old. We could notice and sense his age when his hands shivered as he held the glass of water. We spoke about his family and his work. Aaba observed the people and the hotel in amusement and told us this was the first time in his entire life when he had a meal at such a place. We exchanged our addresses and he said he would surely visit us when he came to Pune again.
After the lunch we went to Neeta Volvo office at Hinjewadi. We bought some biscuits and water and also gave him some money. In 15 minutes the bus arrived and we said goodbye to him. Aaba left...but he left Nikhil and me with countless thoughts. Here was a man who had the courage to walk from Satara to Mumbai...Here was a man who knew what saving 50Rs. meant...Here was a man who had dignity and was not asking for lifts or help and was hoping to reach safely to his destination on time...And here we were spending grands over useless things at times. I asked Nikhil if it was wrong to spend money on oneself. And I agreed to his reply "It is not wrong to spend money on oneself. But it is wrong to spend it on unnecessary things which could otherwise be used for a better cause."
Yesterday was a day when my mind was so so calm. It felt as if someone poured cold water on my head and wiped off all the unnecessary thoughts and worries. There are so many things in the world other than yourself to think about. Doing a bit for Aaba and making his day easier made me feel a rainbow in my heart! Some may find it funny and irrational to do such a thing...But only when you give whatever little you have, you experience what it means to be content. Don't even think you can change the world...Don't think how much difference your small bits can make...With no extra efforts just giving your little selflessly can make you feel the rainbow in your heart!!! :)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Ahemdabad Retreat 2010...
I was in Ahemdabad for 3 days for a retreat...it has left me with so many things to ponder on. Let me take you on a quick ride through what I saw and felt...We did quite a number of things at Ahemdabad...We met people from other NGO's like Manav Sadhna, Indicorps and Gandhi Fellowship...Each of these are unique in their own ways and has left me thinking there is so so so much work to be done around to make the world a better place. It has left me being a much more humble person who feels no work is big or small. It is your intention towards the work that makes it big or small. It took me back to my first meeting with Teach for India people where Rebecca asked us "When is the best time to plant a tree?" Her reply to which was "it was either 10 years ago or it is right now!" This whole 3 day experience has made me realise the kind of work I am into may not show immediate results and this fact should not bog me down...but 10 years from now or may be 20 years from now it surely will grow like a tree...
A lot of my take aways from the retreat were from the community stay I had in Ahemdabad. I spent a night and about a day in an urban slum with a family. It was the first time in my life that I was walking through what looked like an endless slum with tiniest and darkest of rooms but with the brightest and loveliest of smiles to welcome us in their homes. I was assigned to stay with Puriben who lived with her husband. She also had her two year old grand daughter Pooja staying with her as Pooja's mother was expecting another baby soon. Puriben lived in a two room house which was lit using a small yellow bulb. Come in she said and I sat feeling extremely hot, realising there were no fans and the house had a tin roof. Puriben was in the middle of cooking dinner. I offered to help but she said rest today and you can help me tomorrow. The evening passed by having the most amazing food of my life, meeting Puriben's relatives and playing with Pooja. I did feel a little uncomfortable earlier but in about an hour I felt as if I knew all these people since long. They all looked like a family. I had one of the most peaceful sleeps under that tin roof which seemed to be boiling earlier. The next morning started early at 5.30 when I walked towards an open land with Puriben to answer natures call. Puriben and a lot of other families did not have their own toilets and they used open space. Puriben shared how it was so difficult especially for women to manage without toilets. It did feel awkward but I was open enough to experience what most of them went through their everyday life. Puriben was treating me more like a guest initially. She wanted me to eat the best, sleep on the best mattress and watch TV. But I switched off the TV and asked her for some work. I wanted to join her husband with his work which was distributing tiffins around the city. But it was not feasible for some reason and I stayed back helping Puriben with her daily chores. I swept and mopped, washed utensils, cooked on a kerosene stove etc. When Puriben and I went out to get vegetables for lunch I realised they lived literally hand to mouth. She bought oil and spices that were enough only for cooking one vegetable. She bought flour that was enough only for one meal. The sweetest thing she did was also buying a little ghee to make some sweet as I was going to leave that afternoon. The day ended faster than I thought it would and it was time for me to leave. In a hurry I forgot to exchange numbers with Puriben. I was pleasantly surprised to receive Puriben's call on one of the volunteers phone asking for me and my number. I may have not learnt as much about life in slums in one day. But one of the things I learnt was these people are so happy and content. They live in the most challenging situations, their homes get flooded with water in rains and they move to a secure place in tents, they have enough food only for a day and yet they are so enthusiastic about life! They give their 100% and take pride in the work they do. Most important of all they have hearts of gold filled with selfless love...
Last 3 days have made one thing clear for me. I really look forward to staying in the social sector in some way. I absolutely do not know where my life is heading in terms of career and where I will be after my fellowship ends. I loved what Jayeshbhai from Manav Sadhna said in his talk "take your work like a torch light. You will see only up to a distance but, when you cover that distance the torch light will guide you further." I am so glad I am a part of Teach for India...yet again! :)
A lot of my take aways from the retreat were from the community stay I had in Ahemdabad. I spent a night and about a day in an urban slum with a family. It was the first time in my life that I was walking through what looked like an endless slum with tiniest and darkest of rooms but with the brightest and loveliest of smiles to welcome us in their homes. I was assigned to stay with Puriben who lived with her husband. She also had her two year old grand daughter Pooja staying with her as Pooja's mother was expecting another baby soon. Puriben lived in a two room house which was lit using a small yellow bulb. Come in she said and I sat feeling extremely hot, realising there were no fans and the house had a tin roof. Puriben was in the middle of cooking dinner. I offered to help but she said rest today and you can help me tomorrow. The evening passed by having the most amazing food of my life, meeting Puriben's relatives and playing with Pooja. I did feel a little uncomfortable earlier but in about an hour I felt as if I knew all these people since long. They all looked like a family. I had one of the most peaceful sleeps under that tin roof which seemed to be boiling earlier. The next morning started early at 5.30 when I walked towards an open land with Puriben to answer natures call. Puriben and a lot of other families did not have their own toilets and they used open space. Puriben shared how it was so difficult especially for women to manage without toilets. It did feel awkward but I was open enough to experience what most of them went through their everyday life. Puriben was treating me more like a guest initially. She wanted me to eat the best, sleep on the best mattress and watch TV. But I switched off the TV and asked her for some work. I wanted to join her husband with his work which was distributing tiffins around the city. But it was not feasible for some reason and I stayed back helping Puriben with her daily chores. I swept and mopped, washed utensils, cooked on a kerosene stove etc. When Puriben and I went out to get vegetables for lunch I realised they lived literally hand to mouth. She bought oil and spices that were enough only for cooking one vegetable. She bought flour that was enough only for one meal. The sweetest thing she did was also buying a little ghee to make some sweet as I was going to leave that afternoon. The day ended faster than I thought it would and it was time for me to leave. In a hurry I forgot to exchange numbers with Puriben. I was pleasantly surprised to receive Puriben's call on one of the volunteers phone asking for me and my number. I may have not learnt as much about life in slums in one day. But one of the things I learnt was these people are so happy and content. They live in the most challenging situations, their homes get flooded with water in rains and they move to a secure place in tents, they have enough food only for a day and yet they are so enthusiastic about life! They give their 100% and take pride in the work they do. Most important of all they have hearts of gold filled with selfless love...
Last 3 days have made one thing clear for me. I really look forward to staying in the social sector in some way. I absolutely do not know where my life is heading in terms of career and where I will be after my fellowship ends. I loved what Jayeshbhai from Manav Sadhna said in his talk "take your work like a torch light. You will see only up to a distance but, when you cover that distance the torch light will guide you further." I am so glad I am a part of Teach for India...yet again! :)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Reached one fourth of the journey...
I can't believe I have actually travelled one fourth of my journey with Teach for India...It has been a total roller coaster ride...when I look back I see colours of joy, pride, humility, sorry, strength and hope to name a few...My beginning of year tracker was filled with mostly zeros all over...and somewhere in between I was pretty upset over my kids not showing progress...but, I had the most amazing feeling when I saw many of those zeros change to a 100% mastery at mid of year! My kids have done exceptionally well at math...their grammar and comprehension has improved to quite an extent...we sure have a long way to go but celebrating their first success during Diwali time:)
Over the Diwali break my kids were always there at the back of my mind...it seems like yesterday that I stepped into the classroom with faces questioning me 'where is our old teacher?' and today after the first semester kids actually saying 'we are happy when you are around, sad when you are absent and angry when the other teacher comes in your place!'....yes maybe I have done some good to these children...but at the same time I feel there is nothing great in what I am doing. And this feeling probably comes because I see and know there is so much one can do and I do not know if what I am doing is really making a difference. A close friend tells me it is not a job where you can expect immediate results...I feel like I am becoming a Yogi at times...I say I am doing my best and I do not care about the rest...I do not think I would have got to see the numerous colors of life had I been sitting in a cubicle in the corporate world...I would truly recommend every person to do something like this to know the real you in you :)
Over the Diwali break my kids were always there at the back of my mind...it seems like yesterday that I stepped into the classroom with faces questioning me 'where is our old teacher?' and today after the first semester kids actually saying 'we are happy when you are around, sad when you are absent and angry when the other teacher comes in your place!'....yes maybe I have done some good to these children...but at the same time I feel there is nothing great in what I am doing. And this feeling probably comes because I see and know there is so much one can do and I do not know if what I am doing is really making a difference. A close friend tells me it is not a job where you can expect immediate results...I feel like I am becoming a Yogi at times...I say I am doing my best and I do not care about the rest...I do not think I would have got to see the numerous colors of life had I been sitting in a cubicle in the corporate world...I would truly recommend every person to do something like this to know the real you in you :)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Hitting my first long low at TFI...
For those of you who have been wondering where I got lost, I am pretty much here feeling like I am having an endless battle...without any positive outcomes...fell ill and missed a few days of school midst the numerous holidays that came and erased a lot of what the kids had mastered over the days...seems like I am back to square one! The results of their recent assessments have depressed me. I had taught them so much! They had mastered the same...but when it came to putting it on paper, it was as if I never existed...I am talking particularly about English. The kids have written exams before Diwali which will again eat up a lot of time...its more of a battle against time and a bit of my inefficiency of managing it well. Wish I had enough time to get the kids to the level of reading and writing they should be...It is a sad truth, but kids have to study history-civics, geography, science, computers, g.k. all in English when they barely know any English...I know that is why I am here...my job is to get them to do exactly that...I really want to get out of this phase of doubting things which will probably hold me back from giving my 100%...I broke down silently for many nights now...a strange fear has been gripping me and asking me "what if I fail? Will whatever I am doing, really make a difference?"
Nevertheless a lot of things keep happening in school which make me feel I am needed there. The kids need me. Even though I am there with them only for less than two years now, let me give them all the love and knowledge I can. Today, Aakanksha puked in class as she was unwell. Her entire dress was soiled. I took her to the washroom and started cleaning it with tissues and water. It was too sticky to come out and after a while I started feeling pukish because of the smell. That's when I decided to call the peon of the school to help me. She made a disgusted face as if the child had committed a crime. In front of Aakanksha she said "why do you want to bother? Tell her to wait outside class and call her mother to take her home." I could see Aakanksha needed me the most this moment! I told the peon to go and I will figure out what to do. I could here my class kids making noise and their study time being wasted. But I decided to stay with Aakanksha until her mother came. We both waited outside class. I could not help but shed a tear when Aakanksha said "thank you didi" before she left school.
School for me has become something beyond a place where I teach. I have developed emotional ties with my kids. And I realise a lot of me hitting the lows is because I care for what will happen to these kids...all of this is really not as simple as I had thought it would be. Let me be selfish and ask for all your prayers to make this a fruitful ride for me :)
Nevertheless a lot of things keep happening in school which make me feel I am needed there. The kids need me. Even though I am there with them only for less than two years now, let me give them all the love and knowledge I can. Today, Aakanksha puked in class as she was unwell. Her entire dress was soiled. I took her to the washroom and started cleaning it with tissues and water. It was too sticky to come out and after a while I started feeling pukish because of the smell. That's when I decided to call the peon of the school to help me. She made a disgusted face as if the child had committed a crime. In front of Aakanksha she said "why do you want to bother? Tell her to wait outside class and call her mother to take her home." I could see Aakanksha needed me the most this moment! I told the peon to go and I will figure out what to do. I could here my class kids making noise and their study time being wasted. But I decided to stay with Aakanksha until her mother came. We both waited outside class. I could not help but shed a tear when Aakanksha said "thank you didi" before she left school.
School for me has become something beyond a place where I teach. I have developed emotional ties with my kids. And I realise a lot of me hitting the lows is because I care for what will happen to these kids...all of this is really not as simple as I had thought it would be. Let me be selfish and ask for all your prayers to make this a fruitful ride for me :)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Filling it in...
Can't believe its been about a month that I put down my thoughts last...been wanting to write since so long! I have to admit I was not able to juggle all the things so well. So what was I up to? Where are my kids and how are they doing? Any improvements? Any interesting stuff to share? What was good and what was not so good? Gonna fill it in...Read along :)
I see a good change in my kids in terms or behavior. They have completely stopped hitting each other. They actually know the meaning of the "be nice" rule in my class. YEH!! A few of them have started speaking in English be it broken sentences or sentences that sound more like the figure of speech-inversion:) I am just glad they are making an effort. And yes! My kids love home work...they make sure they do their home work for that little appreciation from didi or an added star under their names for excellence. My biggest delight was to know from two parents that their kids do not want to stay back home. They want to come to school every day. The parents were happy to see this change in them. Another such incidence happened the other day when I was to conduct a Math test. This kid Jaideep, apparently was held back at home by his mother because the rickshaw wala did not turn up. Jaideep is not very good at Math. But he cried and cried and told his mother he has to go to school and give the Math test as he had studied for it. Jaideep's mom called me up an hour after the school started. I told her to drop Jaideep to school and he had the biggest smile on his face when he entered class:) Another incidence that touched me this morning...During assembly a kid who barely knows his alphabets raised his hand to come up and read the pledge. He completely failed but I am so proud of his willingness to try.
Yes, did face some lows too. No matter how hard I try with this kid Atharv he refuses to write. He knows the answers orally but says its too boring to write! I have tried a variety of stuff with him from changing places to being soft and hard. Absolutely nothing seems to be working! :( And the other day I reached some 10 minutes late to school and some of the kids were standing on my chair and trying to put on the lights and fans. The principal got to know about this and she yelled real bad at the kids. I was for some reason feeling low that day. And after the principal left, I burst out into tears in front of my kids. They felt sorry that their behavior made me cry. The next morning, Rohan (who did absolutely nothing the previous day) got me a flower and said "didi kal ke liye sorry"...my heart melted. Savita wrote a small chit which said "my didi is so nice...smile didi"
All in all I would say things are going okay. There is not a major change in terms of kids reading, writing and understanding English on their own. It is surely not going to come that easy. I do get overwhelmed at times. So little time and so much to do. But its the morning every day when I enter class and see kids hiding under their desks and popping out to wish me, its the parents who say there is some good change in their kids, its the kids who raise their hands and admit they have not understood, its the pride in the kids eyes I see every time I put a star in their notebooks for good work, its all these priceless feelings that keeps me going...The best part about this job is there is no jealousy among colleagues, there is no feeling like I am not getting paid enough for my work, there is no competition...its pure work! Its pure satisfaction! Yes it does have a very big weight tied to it. I do feel restless at times thinking so many kids are dependent on me. Their parents want results. It is physically very strenuous as well. Just need all your blessings and things will fall in place :)
I see a good change in my kids in terms or behavior. They have completely stopped hitting each other. They actually know the meaning of the "be nice" rule in my class. YEH!! A few of them have started speaking in English be it broken sentences or sentences that sound more like the figure of speech-inversion:) I am just glad they are making an effort. And yes! My kids love home work...they make sure they do their home work for that little appreciation from didi or an added star under their names for excellence. My biggest delight was to know from two parents that their kids do not want to stay back home. They want to come to school every day. The parents were happy to see this change in them. Another such incidence happened the other day when I was to conduct a Math test. This kid Jaideep, apparently was held back at home by his mother because the rickshaw wala did not turn up. Jaideep is not very good at Math. But he cried and cried and told his mother he has to go to school and give the Math test as he had studied for it. Jaideep's mom called me up an hour after the school started. I told her to drop Jaideep to school and he had the biggest smile on his face when he entered class:) Another incidence that touched me this morning...During assembly a kid who barely knows his alphabets raised his hand to come up and read the pledge. He completely failed but I am so proud of his willingness to try.
Yes, did face some lows too. No matter how hard I try with this kid Atharv he refuses to write. He knows the answers orally but says its too boring to write! I have tried a variety of stuff with him from changing places to being soft and hard. Absolutely nothing seems to be working! :( And the other day I reached some 10 minutes late to school and some of the kids were standing on my chair and trying to put on the lights and fans. The principal got to know about this and she yelled real bad at the kids. I was for some reason feeling low that day. And after the principal left, I burst out into tears in front of my kids. They felt sorry that their behavior made me cry. The next morning, Rohan (who did absolutely nothing the previous day) got me a flower and said "didi kal ke liye sorry"...my heart melted. Savita wrote a small chit which said "my didi is so nice...smile didi"
All in all I would say things are going okay. There is not a major change in terms of kids reading, writing and understanding English on their own. It is surely not going to come that easy. I do get overwhelmed at times. So little time and so much to do. But its the morning every day when I enter class and see kids hiding under their desks and popping out to wish me, its the parents who say there is some good change in their kids, its the kids who raise their hands and admit they have not understood, its the pride in the kids eyes I see every time I put a star in their notebooks for good work, its all these priceless feelings that keeps me going...The best part about this job is there is no jealousy among colleagues, there is no feeling like I am not getting paid enough for my work, there is no competition...its pure work! Its pure satisfaction! Yes it does have a very big weight tied to it. I do feel restless at times thinking so many kids are dependent on me. Their parents want results. It is physically very strenuous as well. Just need all your blessings and things will fall in place :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Love the way kids comprehend...
So, the other day I was checking the diagnostic papers of my kids. Most of them totally messed up at Math not because they did not know the answers but because they did not know how to read the question. They have a pretty good number sense. When asked orally or in Hindi they know the answers. If this was the case with Math, you can imagine what English Grammar and Comprehension must have looked like....sigh...Nevertheless the English Grammar paper left me smiling...especially the singular plural forms...
The way kids comprehend can be so awesome! Just check this out...you will love it! There were two columns. Column "A" had singular forms with pictures. And column "B" had their plural forms, supported by pictures. Kids were supposed to fill in the blanks. The question was something like shown in the image.
The way kids comprehend can be so awesome! Just check this out...you will love it! There were two columns. Column "A" had singular forms with pictures. And column "B" had their plural forms, supported by pictures. Kids were supposed to fill in the blanks. The question was something like shown in the image.
And this is how some of my cute little babies answer them-
One kid- Poor thing! She thinks the picture of boys on the plural side is not really visible. So she fills in the plural as "no more boys" :)
Another kid- For mango, she sees 4 mangoes on the plural side. So she writes "mango mango mango mango" :) And for sheep "sheep sheep" as there were two sheep in the picture!
3 or 4 kids- I love their sense of logic! If you notice, in the question, the 4th one is given as an oxen on the plural side and the kids were supposed to fill in the singular side i.e. ox. They actually got it correct out of logic by removing the "en" from oxen. And they added "en" to all other words. So the answers they came up with were "boyen" for boy, "mangoen" for mango and "sheepen" for sheep! :)
And these kids proudly raise their hands and say "didi finish"...I love their innocence. As long as they are not giving up and using their brain to come up with some answers! And coming to think of it, none of the answers above are illogical. I love my kids for what they are and the way they comprehend :)
One kid- Poor thing! She thinks the picture of boys on the plural side is not really visible. So she fills in the plural as "no more boys" :)
Another kid- For mango, she sees 4 mangoes on the plural side. So she writes "mango mango mango mango" :) And for sheep "sheep sheep" as there were two sheep in the picture!
3 or 4 kids- I love their sense of logic! If you notice, in the question, the 4th one is given as an oxen on the plural side and the kids were supposed to fill in the singular side i.e. ox. They actually got it correct out of logic by removing the "en" from oxen. And they added "en" to all other words. So the answers they came up with were "boyen" for boy, "mangoen" for mango and "sheepen" for sheep! :)
And these kids proudly raise their hands and say "didi finish"...I love their innocence. As long as they are not giving up and using their brain to come up with some answers! And coming to think of it, none of the answers above are illogical. I love my kids for what they are and the way they comprehend :)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
3 weeks so far...
I've been wanting to update my blog since such a long time! But was just too caught up with making lesson plans, making unit plans (for next 6 weeks), administering diagnostic tests for different subjects and analysing their results to know the exact level of every child in class etc. etc. etc...Well ya, did get an off for Bharat Bandh yesterday and Tukaram Palkhi today, but again time flew in catching up on sleep, some training and data tracking...phew!
So let me just sum it up to how the 3 weeks have gone so far. To start with, I got my 3rd grade students back. I was really happy and so were they! And I actually emotional blackmail them at times that if they do not behave I will send another teacher to their class :) and it actually works ;) shows that they do like my company...The whole analysis of data has revealed that I have certain kids in class who are at 3rd standard level whereas a couple of them are at pre k.g. level. They can barely read words like of, was, the, on...it was pretty shocking for me to see these kids in 3rd standard. A majority of my class has kids who are 1.5 years below their grade level. I will be planning and differentiating to pull each child to the level he is supposed to be at.
I am probably forgetting a lot of stuff that happened over the last few weeks but here are some of the distinct ones I remember...
1) In week two, when I was teaching less than and greater than sign, Atharv actually got up and said "didi not understood!" I was so so so happy that he did that. I told the entire class how proud I was of Atharv to have accepted that he has not understood...and the next moment just to get the praise 5 other kids (whom I clearly know understood the concept) got up and said "didi I also not understood" :P
2) I have to admit Atharv is very sharp. While teaching rotation of earth he asked me "if earth moves why don't we fall?" I surely never thought of it at that age! I was so glad that my kids actually started questioning things...
3) While I was teaching we were locked in our classroom by a 1st grader post which all my kids were at the window screaming "kholo kholo"...classroom management was a total mess!
4) Shouting on kids does not help...you need to keep them busy every minute to get their attention. Creative planning for every minute in class makes your day! Inspite of planning you may fail as you never know what kids may do!
5) Give kids some personal attention and they will do all you want them to do. They feel safe and happy to know you care.
6) I am upset over the hitting around that goes on in my class. Tried different ways but have failed miserably. Some kids just cannot keep their hands to themselves. They get into physical fights often.
7) Currently I am facing a low in terms of "so much to do and so little time"...better time management is something I need to work on immediately.
Some incidents across other TFI classes which made us laugh after class but probably made us pull our hair in class:
1) A kid got his head stuck inside the desk and the only way out was to use a saw to cut the desk open!
2) A kid did this nasty thing of peeing in a bottle and rolling it over in class.
3) A kid made powder out of lead in pencil, took it in his hand and spat on it. He put it on his partners face. He and his partner were made to wash their hands and face and five minutes later he does the same to another kid in class.
4) A kid got his head stuck in between the bars of a window. He had to be pulled out. Luckily did not need the saw this time!
5) During phonics lesson the kids were being taught the "ch" sound. The teacher gave them example of chocolate, chat, chilly etc. and asked them to think of a "ch" sound word...A kid immediately replies "chutiya!"
All in all kids are like a blank canvas...teachers have to take up the challenge and help them come out with the best colors in them! A teacher has to be patient, a teacher has to be a friend, a teacher has to be strict yet loving, a teacher has to be responsible, a teacher has the potential to make a difference to the society in the long run, there is no profession as noble as teaching! I am proud that I am a teacher and I am proud that I Teach For India!!! :)
So let me just sum it up to how the 3 weeks have gone so far. To start with, I got my 3rd grade students back. I was really happy and so were they! And I actually emotional blackmail them at times that if they do not behave I will send another teacher to their class :) and it actually works ;) shows that they do like my company...The whole analysis of data has revealed that I have certain kids in class who are at 3rd standard level whereas a couple of them are at pre k.g. level. They can barely read words like of, was, the, on...it was pretty shocking for me to see these kids in 3rd standard. A majority of my class has kids who are 1.5 years below their grade level. I will be planning and differentiating to pull each child to the level he is supposed to be at.
I am probably forgetting a lot of stuff that happened over the last few weeks but here are some of the distinct ones I remember...
1) In week two, when I was teaching less than and greater than sign, Atharv actually got up and said "didi not understood!" I was so so so happy that he did that. I told the entire class how proud I was of Atharv to have accepted that he has not understood...and the next moment just to get the praise 5 other kids (whom I clearly know understood the concept) got up and said "didi I also not understood" :P
2) I have to admit Atharv is very sharp. While teaching rotation of earth he asked me "if earth moves why don't we fall?" I surely never thought of it at that age! I was so glad that my kids actually started questioning things...
3) While I was teaching we were locked in our classroom by a 1st grader post which all my kids were at the window screaming "kholo kholo"...classroom management was a total mess!
4) Shouting on kids does not help...you need to keep them busy every minute to get their attention. Creative planning for every minute in class makes your day! Inspite of planning you may fail as you never know what kids may do!
5) Give kids some personal attention and they will do all you want them to do. They feel safe and happy to know you care.
6) I am upset over the hitting around that goes on in my class. Tried different ways but have failed miserably. Some kids just cannot keep their hands to themselves. They get into physical fights often.
7) Currently I am facing a low in terms of "so much to do and so little time"...better time management is something I need to work on immediately.
Some incidents across other TFI classes which made us laugh after class but probably made us pull our hair in class:
1) A kid got his head stuck inside the desk and the only way out was to use a saw to cut the desk open!
2) A kid did this nasty thing of peeing in a bottle and rolling it over in class.
3) A kid made powder out of lead in pencil, took it in his hand and spat on it. He put it on his partners face. He and his partner were made to wash their hands and face and five minutes later he does the same to another kid in class.
4) A kid got his head stuck in between the bars of a window. He had to be pulled out. Luckily did not need the saw this time!
5) During phonics lesson the kids were being taught the "ch" sound. The teacher gave them example of chocolate, chat, chilly etc. and asked them to think of a "ch" sound word...A kid immediately replies "chutiya!"
All in all kids are like a blank canvas...teachers have to take up the challenge and help them come out with the best colors in them! A teacher has to be patient, a teacher has to be a friend, a teacher has to be strict yet loving, a teacher has to be responsible, a teacher has the potential to make a difference to the society in the long run, there is no profession as noble as teaching! I am proud that I am a teacher and I am proud that I Teach For India!!! :)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A tough goodbye...
Last night I got an official notice to stop teaching 3rd standard kids and be a co-teacher with Pranitha for 2nd standard. On one side was this relief that I will be with another TFI fellow and it would be teamwork at play for 45+ tiny kids, but on the other hand I was feeling hollow that I am no longer going to teach the 3rd graders who just in 3 days showed so much of improvement. Thanks to all the strategies that TFI taught us, these kids had started behaving well and showing interest in everything I had to say in class. On my second day of teaching, a kid actually came up to me at the end of class and said "Didi do you take tutions? How much money will you take? I want to learn from you!". I was speechless. I could not understand what miracle did I do for him to ask such a thing on just the second day? Or was it simply that I was not being like their other teachers who beat them and follow conventional methods of teaching, for whom teaching is a way to earn livelihood and not impart true knowledge? I knew these kids got attached to me in just 3 days and so was I. But I had to accept it...Today morning I had to say goodbye to them. I heard kids shouting "Didi please don't go, didi we don't want any other teacher"...I knew I would burst out into tears if I stood there any longer...so I told them I have to leave and I will see them when I have time. I spent my day teaching 2nd standard but I was constantly missing my 3rd graders. Some 3rd graders kept coming in my new classroom and requesting me to come back. Every time I passed by the corridor I could hear screams from the windows "didi aaaoo na please!"...two kids drew pictures and gifted it to me at the end of school. One of them asked if I would at least be coming to the school everyday and not leaving the school too! It was tough to say goodbye...very tough...I still cannot stop missing them...I am feeling bad that on thier first day of school I told them we will learn a lot and have lots of fun too...But it is no longer in my hands to keep up to my words :(
Monday, June 14, 2010
My first day of school...
Today was my first day of school. I started my day early at around 5.15 am. I had to reach school before 7 am. When I reached school I had this sinking feeling. The rest of the teachers were giving me alien looks. I stood at the assembly just like the many k.g. kids who came to school for the first time. I was extremely nervous. I was desperately waiting for Pranitha, another Teach For India(TFI) fellow who was supposed to teach std. 2 (I was allotted std. 3). I was so relieved when I saw Pranitha walking in. After assembly I went in my classroom which had only 13 kids today and around a 27 were absent! Interacting with these 3rd graders brought to light that although they belonged to an English medium school they could not speak one complete sentence correctly. They were responding either in Marathi or Hindi. I could actually see the depth of the challenge I have to overcome with these kids and pull them to the level of English they should be at.
English aside, there came another shocker! The government supplies free text books to these kids. But all that my classroom got were sets of History and Geography texts. My kids did not get English, Math and General Science texts. I still need to find a way out - either go to the roots of where did these texts disappear or find donors so that I don't lose out on time; the later being a logical solution for now as I cannot get into the systems right from day one...I need to observe what all is going on first.
As the day proceeded, I was suddenly called by the principal and was asked to teach std. 4 instead of std. 3 due to some xyz reasons. After some discussion, I continued with my 3rd graders but I do not know what is going to happen tomorrow. Pranitha was in the classroom next to me. I really wanted a TFI person to know what was going on with me. And there was Pranitha, facing her set of challenges. She was in a classroom where both 1st and 2nd graders were put together with their respective teachers. Apparently there were no sufficient number of classrooms available so she had to share it with another teacher!
In short, like what last year's TFI fellow Sahil said, I too experienced my first roller coaster fall today. For a second compare our childhood with these kids...We had our own books, our own teacher, our own classroom...And here are these kids fighting for basic education from day one of school...Fighting for a classroom, fighting for books, fighting for their own teacher...It was all a big pain to see it happen and not being able to do much about it...All I know is I cannot fall apart. Though the misery is making me choke right now, I always knew it was not going to be easy. It was my first test today...I may have failed but I have to move on and fight. I will stick it out! I will do all that I can for these kids...I may not be able to change the world but I can do my little for these little kids.
I wouldn't say it was an all bad bad day though. The good part is, the principal and other staff is quite friendly. The alien looks which were given to me in the morning turned into comfortable talks over break time and sweet goodbyes towards the end of the day...Here's hoping tomorrow to be better than today...Its going to be another day, another chance!
English aside, there came another shocker! The government supplies free text books to these kids. But all that my classroom got were sets of History and Geography texts. My kids did not get English, Math and General Science texts. I still need to find a way out - either go to the roots of where did these texts disappear or find donors so that I don't lose out on time; the later being a logical solution for now as I cannot get into the systems right from day one...I need to observe what all is going on first.
As the day proceeded, I was suddenly called by the principal and was asked to teach std. 4 instead of std. 3 due to some xyz reasons. After some discussion, I continued with my 3rd graders but I do not know what is going to happen tomorrow. Pranitha was in the classroom next to me. I really wanted a TFI person to know what was going on with me. And there was Pranitha, facing her set of challenges. She was in a classroom where both 1st and 2nd graders were put together with their respective teachers. Apparently there were no sufficient number of classrooms available so she had to share it with another teacher!
In short, like what last year's TFI fellow Sahil said, I too experienced my first roller coaster fall today. For a second compare our childhood with these kids...We had our own books, our own teacher, our own classroom...And here are these kids fighting for basic education from day one of school...Fighting for a classroom, fighting for books, fighting for their own teacher...It was all a big pain to see it happen and not being able to do much about it...All I know is I cannot fall apart. Though the misery is making me choke right now, I always knew it was not going to be easy. It was my first test today...I may have failed but I have to move on and fight. I will stick it out! I will do all that I can for these kids...I may not be able to change the world but I can do my little for these little kids.
I wouldn't say it was an all bad bad day though. The good part is, the principal and other staff is quite friendly. The alien looks which were given to me in the morning turned into comfortable talks over break time and sweet goodbyes towards the end of the day...Here's hoping tomorrow to be better than today...Its going to be another day, another chance!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
All geared up...
5 weeks of rigorous training...summer school, lesson planning clinics, child development sessions, classroom management sessions, behaviour management sessions, math and language strategies, art and theatre workshops, data tracking and analysis, leadership forums and a lot lot more!! It was a total bombardment of information every minute. I worked my butt out for more than 18 hours a day at institute. But the best thing is I was not cribbing about it at all. For the first time in my life I experienced the joy of having a satisfied sleep every night even after slogging so hard.
Post institute I feel more connected to the Teach For India (www.teachforindia.org) movement. I feel more proud to be a part of this movement. I feel more responsible. I feel happier than I ever was. I also know it is not going to be a cakewalk. I am going to face a new challenge and a new hurdle everyday. But I am all geared up! All geared up to teach my set of 40 kids at a PMC school in Wadgaon Budruk from June 14th. Wish me luck guys :)
Post institute I feel more connected to the Teach For India (www.teachforindia.org) movement. I feel more proud to be a part of this movement. I feel more responsible. I feel happier than I ever was. I also know it is not going to be a cakewalk. I am going to face a new challenge and a new hurdle everyday. But I am all geared up! All geared up to teach my set of 40 kids at a PMC school in Wadgaon Budruk from June 14th. Wish me luck guys :)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Kids teach us...
I would be wrong if I said I am teaching kids. Its actually the other way round. Kids teach us every moment. They fight and become friends the very next moment. I wonder what happens to us as we grow up? And we call ourselves adults (when we hold grudges against people for lifetimes) ? Why does the innocence die out with time? A small incidence day before got a lump in my throat. I taught kids how to identify 2D shapes. And as a check for understanding, during break time I was giving out marie biscuits, krack jack biscuits, parle g and bingo mad angles to everyone after they identified the shapes. The kids were real excited and were enjoying eating the different shapes when a girl called Nusrat caught my eye. I saw that she had eaten only a tiny bit of the mad angle and was wrapping up the remaining in a piece of paper. When I asked her, didn't you like the taste? She said didi it is really nice! And I want my sister to taste it too! I was so touched...This little girl who probably ate mad angles for the first time in her life, loved it so much that she wanted her sister to have it too and she was so happy about it! This little girl taught me it is not so difficult to be happy in life. You just need to look around. Stop cribbing about what you don't have. Appreciate and love what you have. No! I am not giving any gyan. Just do it for once. You'll know how fortunate you are...This tiny girl showed me a mirror to how fortunate I am. And it gives me all the more reasons to ponder upon what am I doing after being so fortunate? What are we all doing???
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Little joys to share...
I had never thought that one of my greatest joys would be when a kid in my class who as per record is in the 3rd standard but actually is at the level of standard 1st; would get his first correct carry over addition problem after being explained over and over again! I had never thought that one of my greatest joys would be when two of my kids from class would come up to me on their own and ask me for homework out of curiosity to learn more! I had never thought that one of my greatest joys would be when three of the kids in class would raise their hands and call me at their desk just to say "didi you are so so nice!" And there are more of these little little instances that I don't remember now...I now know the joy of being in the moment and giving your 100%...and when you give your 100% to something you never feel bad for falling flat on your face...you just get up and try harder!
I don't think I have worked harder in my life. And if you think teaching is easy, I dare you to handle my class successfully for a day without pulling your hair out! You'll see kids popping out of their seats, walking around as if the classroom was a playground, you'll see kids poking and hitting each other, some want to constantly go to the loo, someone pretends he has a stomach ache so that he gets to go home, someone wants personal attention, someone just wouldn't speak up as if I were talking to the wall, someone knows not a word of English in spite of being in 3rd standard in an English medium school, someone loves to sit under the desk, someone loves to constantly tap pencil on the desk, someone has family troubles etc. etc....well there are some smart kids around too. Averagely, the attention span of these kids is 8 minutes. I constantly need to do something to grab their attention; and I am working towards it everyday. And I need to be loving and stern at the same time. It may not sound very appealing to many. Teaching, I believe is not a respected job. Its strange how everyone wants to be educated but the moment you tell them you teach primary kids they have an expression on their face which says "couldn't you have done something better in life?" But after a certain point of time you feel let the world think what it thinks. Seeing the way these kids are struggling, I feel if they are not guided the right way in their moulding age they will soon lose interest in studies and drop out of school. For those of you who do not know, 15% of kids in India never get to go to school, 50% of them drop out by 4th standard and 90% of them do not make it to standard 10! These numbers are shocking...I know it will take years of effort to flip them around. But for now I am so happy that I am a part of the solution bit of it even if it impacts only a few in the society. What is the use of education being the fundamental right of every Indian child when he does not have access to quality education just because he is poor! Till when are we going to wait for the world to be a better place on its own? I may be a drop in the ocean but like Helen Keller rightly said:
"I am only one but still I am one. I can't do everything but still I can do something; and because I can't do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." :)
I don't think I have worked harder in my life. And if you think teaching is easy, I dare you to handle my class successfully for a day without pulling your hair out! You'll see kids popping out of their seats, walking around as if the classroom was a playground, you'll see kids poking and hitting each other, some want to constantly go to the loo, someone pretends he has a stomach ache so that he gets to go home, someone wants personal attention, someone just wouldn't speak up as if I were talking to the wall, someone knows not a word of English in spite of being in 3rd standard in an English medium school, someone loves to sit under the desk, someone loves to constantly tap pencil on the desk, someone has family troubles etc. etc....well there are some smart kids around too. Averagely, the attention span of these kids is 8 minutes. I constantly need to do something to grab their attention; and I am working towards it everyday. And I need to be loving and stern at the same time. It may not sound very appealing to many. Teaching, I believe is not a respected job. Its strange how everyone wants to be educated but the moment you tell them you teach primary kids they have an expression on their face which says "couldn't you have done something better in life?" But after a certain point of time you feel let the world think what it thinks. Seeing the way these kids are struggling, I feel if they are not guided the right way in their moulding age they will soon lose interest in studies and drop out of school. For those of you who do not know, 15% of kids in India never get to go to school, 50% of them drop out by 4th standard and 90% of them do not make it to standard 10! These numbers are shocking...I know it will take years of effort to flip them around. But for now I am so happy that I am a part of the solution bit of it even if it impacts only a few in the society. What is the use of education being the fundamental right of every Indian child when he does not have access to quality education just because he is poor! Till when are we going to wait for the world to be a better place on its own? I may be a drop in the ocean but like Helen Keller rightly said:
"I am only one but still I am one. I can't do everything but still I can do something; and because I can't do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." :)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Flashback to why I am here...
I was in the so called world of I.T. for around 2.5 yrs...lived quite a comfortable life like many other I.T. people...but somewhere I always felt this hollowness inside...something that kept asking me why was I where I was and was I really happy with what I was going? The designation of a Team Leader did make me feel proud...They say if you give your 100% to any job you enjoy it...but for me, inspite of giving my 100% the satisfaction rarely touched my heart...at times I felt trapped at work...it was an endless rat race that was leading nowhere...and as if God heard and saw my restlessness that I happened to see the "Teach for India" add in the newspaper...and the moment I saw its website (www.teachforindia.org) I knew I wanted to be a part of the movement...I applied immediately along with 4000 other applicants...I was surprised to know there were 4000 other young professionals who wanted to change the way India looks, who wanted to do something for educating the underprivileged...I was amongst the fortunate 150(3.75%) people who made it to TFI...my joy knew no bounds when I got an email that I was selected...I resigned from my job the very next hour that I saw this email which gave me a sky, which gave me wings to fly, which made me feel it was time that i soared high...
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