Musings of an inconsistent mind

This is my 100 th post-my last post-The post that celebrates my victory-my proof to myself that if I set my mind to something I can do it. It has been one hell of a journey..some days I was brimming with ideas and in a few others I was practically BLANK-nothing to write about or think about or talk about..But I made it. This is more a reiteration..a conversation with myself…a celebration of myself ..of conquering my weakness and inability to be able to do anything consistently. This journey has also been about a lot of learning -that one needs to persevere and fight the inner demon of doubt and laziness -that one needs motivation –from within and outside -One can never be sure where motivation could come from-so be observant-be sensitive -that sometimes perfection doesn’t matter as much as effort or task more than anything I have realized today that consistency is important but what is more important is growth. It is also time for gratitude-for all the people..t...

It is so true that inside every teacher of the new, alternate method of education, is a very traditional teacher who likes being respected and treated superior. We all were educated in a quite beurocratic system ourselves and so, no matter how much we may be trained in a system, our heart years for the same treatment that we rendered to our teachers-of fear and respect. Today I experienced the pain of children saying a “NO” to me. And the teacher in me just couldn’t accept it. I was angry and helpless and even though I couldn’t show any of these emotions, I tried finding out from the children why they did not like to receive presentations. I invited a boy for a presentation and he said the dreaded word-NO. It was categorical and resolute. I asked him..Why? He asked me back “Why should I?”The sales person in me took over and so I asked him..”Why do you come to school?”. He said “To play”. I had to give up my efforts and decided to let go of this child. Sometimes with children, we...

It is one thing to understand and know a subject well enough to be able to teach..and it is a completely different thing to be able to live with children. I pride myself of being very good at delivering a lesson but my ego takes a hit with some children who are completely disinterested in what I have to say in spite of the fact that I am actually delivering it to the best of my ability. To be with children and steer them into learning is a skill that one needs to acquire slowly-with a   lot of perseverance and patience. If there is one skill that we educators must definitely acquire –it is patience without losing hope. One can never say when children will take to a topic/subject and dive deep into it. But until they do it, one must keep at it…trying various strategies and methods. We cannot ignore the part that “time” plays on this entire process. Some children are just ready and some are not. Until they live up to your expectations of being that eager..curious…child, stay calm....