Education Research and Teacher Professional Development

Learning Forward Saturday

To review education research and motivate teacher professional development.

Key Takeaways

Research-Backed CPD: The session drew on findings from a multi-partner study (Tata Trust, HP Foundation, etc.) to establish that continuous professional development (CPD) is a research-backed necessity, not merely a school mandate.

Classroom Gaps: The study identified key gaps: inactive print materials (73% of classrooms), rigid seating (73%), and limited use of home languages (9%), despite high teacher proficiency (73%).

Feedback & Differentiation: Teachers' current feedback is often superficial (e.g., "Good"), and differentiation is rare (30% of teachers). The research recommends targeted strategies like flexible grouping and scaffolded tasks.

Oral Language Focus: The study found that language teaching relies on rote copying. The group discussed shifting to open-ended questions that require inference and prediction to develop critical thinking.

Topics

Motivation for Professional Development

The session's goal was to shift the perception of Learning Forward Saturday from a mandatory event to a research-driven necessity for improving teaching.

The discussion focused on a study by partners including Tata Trust, HP Foundation, and Quality Education Support Trust to provide an evidence-based foundation for this work.

Classroom Environment & Interaction

Findings:

Print-rich materials are common but often at inaccessible heights.

Seating is rigid (73% in rows/columns), limiting interaction.

Student talk is minimal, with few opportunities for free conversation.

Home languages are rarely used (9% of teachers), hindering comprehension.

Recommendations:

Place print materials at eye-level and use them actively.

Adopt flexible seating to foster collaboration.

Strengthen teacher-child relationships to build student confidence.

Consistently use home languages to improve participation.

Discussion:

Brinda noted the NEP also recommends using mother tongue for clarity.

The group agreed immersive language exposure is more effective than translation.

Brinda shared a personal anecdote of a child learning four languages simultaneously through immersion.

Lesson Planning & Delivery

Findings:

Teachers rarely monitor work during tasks.

Feedback is superficial and lacks guidance for improvement.

Questioning is often whole-class, eliciting choral responses.

Differentiation is rare (used by only 30% of teachers).

Recommendations:

Use regular observation to identify errors and adjust instruction.

Provide specific, actionable feedback with clear steps for improvement.

Use varied checks for understanding (e.g., asking individuals to explain).

Implement targeted strategies like flexible grouping and scaffolded tasks.

Discussion:

Sunita shared a feedback system using "Good," "Very Good," and "Increase Effort" stamps.

Brinda stressed the need for clear instructions to prevent misunderstandings.

Manjula suggested seating struggling students at the front for more attention.

Brinda advised investigating the root cause of learning difficulties and challenging bright students to prevent boredom.

Neelashi suggested having students create puzzles to develop problem-solving skills and foster compassion.

Language Teaching Practices

Findings:

Oral language activities rarely use real-life experiences or open-ended questions.

Decoding instruction is unsystematic.

Independent reading lacks teacher guidance (only 18% of teachers provide it).

Writing tasks are mostly rote copying (blackboard/textbook).

Recommendations:

Connect oral language activities to familiar contexts.

Use open-ended questions to encourage prediction, inference, and deeper thinking.

Discussion:

The group defined open-ended questions as those with no single "right" answer, requiring students to explain their reasoning.

Minakshi gave an example: "Why do we need to study school?" vs. a closed question like "Is this right or wrong?"

Next Steps

Neelashi: Share the research document link with all teachers.

Neelashi: Schedule the next session to continue the discussion.

Minakshi: Share the "Kachua and Khargosh" (Tortoise and Hare) story video with the group.

Learning Forward Saturday

Lesson Planning Strategy - hosted on Friday the 31st of October 2025!

Neelashi and Minakshi discussed various teaching activities and lesson planning strategies, focusing on incorporating games, memory exercises, and interactive methods to engage students and improve learning outcomes. They emphasised the importance of structured lesson plans that accommodate different subjects and activities while considering students' learning styles and needs.  the importance of structured lesson plans that accommodate different subjects and activities while considering students' learning styles and needs. The conversation ended with plans for teachers to develop lesson plans in groups, with a focus on incorporating Hindi language instruction and coordinating activities for implementation.

Next steps

• Lalita, Sakshi, and Rahima: Submit two items to Neelashi - finger ring and original storybook
• Lalita: Start creating lesson plan for the coming week
• All three teachers : Create lesson plans for five days covering Hindi, Math, English, Activities, and Games
• Minakshi ji: Send picture of Lalita's lesson plan to Neelashi and post it on the group for documentation
• All three teachers: Exchange and review each other's lesson plans
• Lalita: Decide which story to tell and prepare questions in advance, including critical thinking questions
• Lalita and Sakshi: Use Rahima's activities in their classes
• Sakshi: Prepare materials for counting activities before class
• Rahima: Prepare questions using internet resources for introducing the number 1 concept
• All three teachers: Decide together when to send completed lesson plans to Neelashi by tomorrow

Summary

Word Association Game Discussion

Neelashi and Minakshi discussed a game activity involving word association and memory, where participants were asked to recall words related to a theme. Minakshi clarified that the game involved recalling nouns and verbs, while Neelashi explained the rules and encouraged participants to focus and maintain a steady heart rate. They also discussed the importance of a structured lesson plan, with Neelashi emphasizing the need to improve plans based on past experiences and the specific needs of different subjects and activities.

Lesson Planning and Implementation Strategies

The meeting focused on lesson planning and implementation strategies for the upcoming week. Neelashi and Minakshi discussed the importance of creating detailed lesson plans that incorporate activities for body coordination, reading, math, and English, as well as incorporating games and drawing. They emphasised the need to observe students' learning styles to tailor teaching methods effectively. Minakshi and Neelashi also addressed the importance of implementing lesson plans consistently and reflecting on their effectiveness to improve future planning.

Game-Based Teaching Strategy Discussion

Minakshi and Neelashi discussed plans for a teaching session, focusing on using games and activities to engage students. They decided to divide the teachers into groups and have them develop lesson plans, with an emphasis on incorporating Hindi language instruction. Neelashi suggested that Meenakshi would circulate among the teachers to provide support and gather feedback. The session was scheduled to last 10-15 minutes, with plans to reconvene later.

Lesson Plan Progress and Challenges

Neelashi and Minakshi discussed the progress of a lesson plan, with Arthur noting that while it would be beneficial in the long run, the current implementation was challenging due to the participants being "raw" to the process. Arthur mentioned being occupied with work related to the Anvil Day function, which Neelashi confirmed was not a problem.

Art Corner Lesson Planning Discussion

मीनाक्षी and Neelashi discussed plans for an art corner and lesson activities. They agreed to review a lesson plan with Lalitha and discuss potential improvements. Neelashi requested that Minakshi send a picture of the lesson plan to the group for documentation purposes. They also briefly touched on ticket availability and a new experience related to a project.

Lesson Planning and Teaching Strategies

Neelashi and Minakshi discussed lesson planning and teaching strategies, focusing on incorporating activities and questions to enhance student engagement and comprehension. Arthur was tasked with preparing and presenting a lesson plan, which Neelashi emphasized should include critical thinking-based questions and factual content. They also discussed the use of visual aids and interactive methods to teach numbers and counting, with Neelashi suggesting the use of internet resources for additional support. The conversation ended with Neelashi asking Minakshi to coordinate with other teachers to finalise the lesson plan and activities, with a plan to review them before implementation.

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Unity and Caring - Nitin Sharma

When you have unity, it’s fantastic. When you don’t, it’s awful. Unity lightens the heart and brightens the day, an abundant source of joy and optimism, allowing even the most difficult tasks to be enjoyable. Unity represents togetherness. Therefore, it is standing together for every thick and thin matter. When we work together, we are motivated and encouraged to work harder. Also, we push each other to accomplish our goals, which is a significant motivational factor.

In this context, we have done a challenging activity in our classes IX and X. The move was that some groups were made from classes IX and X, and students were supposed to decide the best place for an excursion. All groups were given one week, and each group leader was supposed to prepare various pros and cons for an excursion to that place along with all the details. To my surprise, students had prepared excellent information for that place, such as location, travelling expenses, and refreshments. They beautifully linked that excursion to the related topics mentioned in their curriculum. So an excursion to Maple Camp was decided, full of adventurous activities. This excursion was full of joy and excitement, as this was possible only because of the unity of the students.

I am very thankful to the JOL Cohort for allowing me to share the experience of this beautiful activity.

Caring:
No other experience better than this excursion can be there to share the best example of caring for each other. Each group leader was very concerned about his/ her team members and their teachers. It was a tremendous hand-holding for all of us. Each student came ahead to help another student, and how they motivated each other.

In the end, I would like to end with a quote -

Thanks!

Nitin Sharma Kamla Nehru Public School, Phagwara

Tomorrow is not today, Today is not yesterday - Swabhi Parmar

 

Courtesy: es.wikihow.com

The great Buddha once said, “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly” Unfortunately, humanity today doesn’t always conform to that statement. The human race generally hates chaos and disorganization in any shape or form. That being said, humans love to plan ahead and look to the past to avoid future mistakes. Typically this is fine to do, since everybody does it at some point in their life, but its when you begin to overthink the events of the past or the future then it becomes a problem. 

When you overthink and stress about events in the past then you are unable to move on and it begins to control what you say and do every day in your life. While overthinking the future doesn’t have such dramatic effects, it does create more stress, which is not good for both your mental and physical health. Life moves too fast to be worrying about the past or the future, so just stick to the present because you may end up regretting it later on in life. If you’re always planning ahead and making plans for what you are doing tomorrow, then you are probably doing today what you had planned yesterday, meaning that you aren’t actually living for today, but for tomorrow. That's not living in the moment, not even remotely close.

The past is something that we all dwell on once in a while, but there are some people out there who cannot let go of the past and thus are controlled by it. A normal person typically moves on from the past and leaves it behind them, but some may become traumatized by something that may have happened in their past or may feel like they may be judged because of their past. But this thinking is untrue. As we cannot go and rewind to change the things in past. So nothing to regret about it. Just let go of it. Breathe, restore, reshape and come back harder and stronger. Live every inch of the moment in the present. Be an Emperor of your own life.

Courtesy Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.123helpme.com/essay/Tomorrow-is-not-Today-Today-is-not-288422&ved=2ahUKEwjKzJi6uobuAhUbyDgGHdN3BecQFjAHegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw1FWlyEeZS1mjN79ilhuUfj&cshid=1609907680025

Swabhi Parmar
The Fabindia School

spr@fabindiaschools.in