Program Relaunch & Book Reading

Learning Forward Saturday February 14, 2026  •  56 mins Action Items  Share WhatsApp no and email in the Learning Forward Saturday group for submissions. Harshita Dalawat Collect teachers’ Chapter 1 reflections; publish on www.happyteacher.in Harshita Dalawat Download chat log w/ names and schools Harshita Dalawat Meeting Summary  Hosts: Brinda Ghosh and Sandeep Dutt To launch a book reading on teacher development and assign the first reflection. Key Takeaways New Book: Launched a monthly book club using Wanted Backbencher Last Ranker Teacher to explore teacher development. Program Goal: Shift the teacher paradigm from “perfect” to “relatable” by focusing on reading, reflection, and relationships, rather than just training. First Assignment: Teachers must submit a reflection on “What goes into the making of a teacher?” by next Saturday. Resource Hub: www.happyteacher.in It is the central portal for all program content, including session recordings and participant reflections. Topics Program Relaunch & Book Reading Context: The “Staff Leadership Development” program was relaunched to address low school participation, focusing on a new model. New Model: A monthly book club using Wanted Backbencher & LastRanker Teacher to drive teacher development. Rationale: The book’s depth is proven by its having been read with teachers 5 times and by its sales of ~1,000 copies. Format: One chapter per month → discussion → reflection assignment. Program Philosophy: Focus: Reading, reflection, and building relationships. Goal: Shift the teacher paradigm from “perfect” to “relatable.” Output: Create open educational resources (OERs) on happyteacher.in. Chapter 1: Conventional vs. Contemporary Management Theme: The conflict between conventional and contemporary school management, sparked by a CEO’s ad for an “unconventional” teacher. Core Concept: The “backbencher” is an idiom for the “last child in the class”—the one who needs the most engagement. Teacher’s Role: Be smarter than the smartest child to ensure everyone is involved. Engagement Tactic (from book): Teacher Roma disguises herself as a bison or plays basketball with students to build rapport. First Assignment: Reflection Prompt: “What goes into the making of a teacher?” Format: Flexible, allowing for diverse expression: Video Blog post Graphic/image Submission: Method: WhatsApp or email to Harshita Dalawat. File Type: Word document is preferred. Group Posting: Reflections can also be posted directly in the “Learning Forward Saturday” WhatsApp group. Support: Harshita Dalawat is the program coordinator, managing submissions, publishing, and certification. Next Steps All Teachers: Submit a reflection on “What goes into the making of a teacher?” by next Saturday. Post the name and school in the chat for attendance. Harshita Dalawat: Share WhatsApp number and email in the group chat. Collect and organise all reflection submissions.