Hope and Friendship - Jaspreet Kaur

A student who has lost all hope 

If it was a real-life situation, were you successfully helping him/her overcome their problem? 

Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. As an educator, every day comes across several incidents where students lose hope. Here I will tell one real-life incident where a grade V student lost hope and how I motivated her and brought a smile to her face. 

Incident- In Grade V, one new girl student was admitted. When she spoke something, she fumbled a lot. There was some medical health issue. When she joined our school, a group of students laughed at her in class. The next period was mine. I asked that girl, "Why are you crying?" 

She explained everything to me. Firstly, I counselled those students not to make fun of others; they wrote apology letters too. Lat,  I hugged her tightly. Then, I started to appreciate the girl whenever she gave an answer. Whether the answers were not right sometimes, all students still enjoyed her by clapping. Gradually, I observed that girl always had a smile on her face. She is an intelligent girl, and her percentage drastically improved that year. I brought candies on her birthday in Grade V and distributed them in class. I told her that her father had sent those candies for her. When she went back home, she came to know the truth. Now, the girl is on senior campus in Grade VIII, but she still messages me on special occasions and always calls me if she needs help. 

Outcome- I acted as a facilitator and friend and was ultimately successful in helping her to overcome her problem. 

A student with no friends in school 

What is your advice to educators who want to inculcate these values in their students? 

Friendship is a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust between two people. In all cultures, friendships are important relationships throughout a person's life span. 

Incident- In the middle of the session, one boy got admission to Grade V. He came from a village. Other students are studying together in Grade Nursery. 

This new admission student boy could not adjust to the new environment in a new place. He is below average student. I have already made a buddy system in my class. I made buddies and seating arrangements for new students with the class monitors. Now he can read all languages with confidence. It's near about three months now. Now all students in my class talk to him in a  friendly way. He shares all his problems with his new friend. He is very delighted to be here in our school.  

Advice- The teacher should appreciate and always try to motivate students for their excellent work. They should also encourage them to develop pro-social behaviour. Students should be taught to help and be kind and honest with others. Values-based education is an essential part of student's lives; it establishes an environment that allows them to grow in their academics, social and expertise. Values help in the formation of positive thinking. It helps in developing understanding and relationships between students and teachers. It also enhances attitudes and ways of looking at situations that allow them to achieve their objectives and success in all the ups and downs. Values-based education is an essential part of students' lives; it establishes an environment that helps them grow in their academics, social and expertise.

Values help in the formation of positive thinking. It helps in developing understanding and relationships between students and teachers. It also enhances attitudes and ways of looking at situations that allow them to achieve their objectives and success in all the ups and downs.

~Jaspreet Kaur

Kamla Nehru Public School

Responsibility and Cooperation - Engaging Minds BHIS

Stone soup for the Teenage Soul. 

The real deal Friends.

Once upon a time, there was a distant village which was experiencing extreme famine. Villagers did not have much to eat and each villager even guarded what little food they had.

One morning Nishant thought of an idea. He stood in the village square and pulled out his bag, all the villagers closed their doors thinking that he may ask for food but Nishant announced loudly “Oh! It is breakfast time, I must make some delicious stone soup”.

People felt he was just mocking, and they paid no heed to him but two of his friends Vansh and Sameer came up to him. Nishant said something in their ears and soon they began to call out - “Let’s make the stone soup!” 

Beginning of Cooperation with Responsibility

Vansh brought a large cooking pot, Sameer brought some wood and they lit a fire. Children started clapping with happiness.  Hearing the cheerful sound of their kids, the villagers came out.

Nishant sniffed the broth that was only water and said “Oh! this smells delicious! If only onions were added to it!” The villagers began to overcome their mistrust. Few villagers ran and brought onions from their house. Nishant tasted the broth again, and licked his lips saying, “If only it had some tomatoes!”. Soon a villager ran to his house and brought whatever he could find and so it went on. 

Soon the big pot was bubbling over and steaming. When the soup was ready, everyone in the village drank the soup to their hearts' content. 

The villagers, curiously,  asked Vansh and Sameer what Nishant had whispered in their ears. They said, our masterji has taught us in school “Coming together is the beginning of Cooperation as it always seems impossible until it’s done with a Responsibility”.

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything and it takes both sides to build a bridge.

Engaging Minds @ Billabong High International School Thane 

- Ginny Franklin, Yojana Suryarao, Ishita Thakkar, Kiran Pandey, Nilka Gandhi, Geeta Mali, Meenaz Khan.

Courage and Patience - Adapters SHS

Patience and Courage leads to Victory

Raghu was very excited and happy to present a beautiful necklace to his mother with his first salary. He was on his way home from the jewellery shop, when he decided to take the shorter route home crossing the paddy fields.

The thought of his mother’s reaction overwhelmed Raghu, he once again took out the necklace to admire its beauty. The necklace shone in the sunlight, it sparkled and this blinding light reflected by the necklace made Raghu lose his balance.

He dropped flat on the field. As he recovered himself and got back to his feet, he noticed that he was no longer holding the necklace. He looked around in vain and finally he noticed a sparkle coming from one of the ditches in the field.

As he walks towards the ditch he finds the necklace but to his shock, there was a snake sitting in the same ditch! Raghu was very nervous and did not know how he should retrieve the necklace.

He instantly starts throwing stones hoping that the snake would slide out of the ditch. This did not work instead it seemed to aggravate the snake. Raghu felt helpless and afraid yet he decided to sit and wait patiently for the snake to leave the ditch.

Minutes turned into hours nut the snake did not move. Finally, Raghu came up with an idea. He collected a few sticks, twigs and straw from the field and placed them near the ditch. He took out a matchbox from his pocket and set the pile on fire.

The smoke and the heat generated by this fire forced the snake to slide out of the ditch bringing great joy to Raghu. He happily takes out the precious gift for his mother and walks home rejoicing.

This short incident shows how in life we are faced with many challenges and for which patience and courage are key to overcome the challenges. Raghu used his patience to escape his problems but when it did not work he used his courage to fight through his problem.

Sometimes in order to enjoy the fruit of life, we need to learn how to “Sow” the seed of patience, “Grow” the plant of courage which will bear the “Fruit” of victory.

- Shraddha Dewan <shraddhadewan425@gmail.com> -Adapters Sacred Heart Siliguri

Courage: Shivani Rao

It means making an effort to do something that frightens one. It most important value that should be taught to students. This can be done by setting a good example in front of them, many kids try to copy their teachers.

The teacher should encourage student  by saying things like, “You can do it—I know how brave you are,”  to show your child how you see her.

Giving permission your student to mess up things, and encouraging them to perform better next time.  Also, tell your child that it’s okay to fail. Remind your child that every time you fail at something, you learn what doesn’t work.

Encourage your child to try new things. Share stories of times when you felt scared or nervous or had to stand up for yourself against others’ opinions. Discussion on what kind of difficulties you face when you stand is right.

Sharing stories of freedom fighter, how they took a stand when everyone was against them, how they overcome difficulty. Also giving them a comfort zone to discuss any topic with their teacher.

Shivani Rao

The Fabindia School, Bali