Love Learning vs Hate Learning

 

Learning Forward Saturday

To read and reflect on Chapter 3 of “Wanted Back-bencher Last-ranker Teacher” by Kavita Ghosh. Narrated by Brinda Ghosh and Sandeep Dutt

Key Takeaways

• Create a “classroom without walls” by replicating the joy and positive social dynamics students show outside. This requires shifting from a rigid, fear-based environment to one that fosters engagement.

• Prioritise patience over perception. Judgmental labels (e.g., “Supriya does not want to study”) are ineffective and disrespectful. Instead, treat students like your own children, focusing on their potential and providing support.

• Understand the neuroscience of stress. Cortisol, the “stress hormone,” blocks memory and learning. Humiliation and fear create “test trauma,” which is a major barrier to student success.

• Make reflection a daily habit. This is the core practice for professional growth, distinct from simple note-taking. Share thoughts in the WhatsApp group to build a reflective community.

Topics

The Problem: A Disengaged Classroom

• The chapter’s protagonist, Roma, observed that her students were happy and well-behaved only outside the classroom.

• Insight: This contrast signals a need to bring the positive energy and social dynamics of the outside environment into the classroom.

The Challenge: Judgmental Attitudes & Poor Performance

• Roma’s class performed poorly on weekly tests:

  • 15 failed math

  • 10 had single-digit science scores

  • 8 performed miserably in social science

• A former teacher, Sumita, dismissed these students with judgmental labels, blaming their personalities and past failures.

• Principal’s Counter-Directive: “We don’t give up on our own children, so why give up on our students?”

  • Principle: Treat all students with the same patience and belief in their potential as you would your own children.

The Solution: Empathy & Brain Science

• Roma’s past as a struggling student provided critical context for understanding her current students.

• Neuroscience of Stress: Cortisol, the “stress hormone,” is released during stress and anxiety, blocking memory and learning.

  • This explains “test trauma” and why fear-based teaching is counterproductive.

• Roma’s Experience: Humiliation from a teacher who publicly shamed her for a math failure created a lasting aversion to the subject.

  • Rule: Never humiliate students or publicly announce their marks.

Logistics & Future Sessions

• Next Saturday (April 4): Guest speaker Rahul Chug (Learn PF app) will present to The Teachers Academy.

• Saturday After Next (April 11): The group will resume reading Chapter 3.

• Reflection: All participants are encouraged to share their reflections on today’s discussion via WhatsApp or email.

Next Steps

• Brinda:

  • Coordinate with Rahul Chug for the April 4 presentation.

  • Share her LinkedIn post on “failure as a great teacher” with the group.

All Participants to share reflections on today’s discussion via WhatsApp or email.

Fathom AI-generated notes, read with care.

My Good School Retreat 2024 - Gyanoday Vatika 2024

I learned a lot of new things in this retreat, some of them are:

• Good Leadership quality
• Communication skills
• Collaboration
• Management

No one has become poor by giving, so always help needy people at your level.

Kunal, Teacher-in-charge

We learned that sometimes, our minds and hearts think differently, but we should follow the path that will be good in the future. We also learned communication skills and how animals survive in forests.

Garvit Kumar, Grade 9th

मैंने माई गुड स्कूल रिट्रीट से सीखा कि दूसरे की मदद करनी चाहिए| हमें अपनी टीम के साथ काम करना चाहिए| हमें दूसरे से अच्छे से बात करनी चाहिए। हमें हर चीज़ में भाग लेना चाहिए| हमें समाज सेवा करनी चाहिए | देने का आनंद का मैंने असली अर्थ समझा | The Inner Life Of animal book से मैंने  जानवर कैसे जीवित रहते हैं वो सीखा हैं |

Ruddraksh, Grade 6th

Courage and Patience - Rectifier BHIS

‘‘Patience and Courage conquer everything.’’ – Ralph Emerson.

Samar was a poor boy, who lived in Mumbai in a small house with his grandmother. Their only source of income was his grandmother’s pension, which was barely enough for his school fees and other daily expenses. Samar’s school was far from his house. In spite of this, he used to walk to school, to save some money.

It was his first day at school as a 6^th grader. He reached school late. When he entered his classroom, all students were already in their places. His new class teacher was sitting at his desk and was noting down the attendance.

After Samar entered the class, the teacher called him over to his desk. He asked the boy the reason for his late coming. But Samar remained silent. The teacher just scolded him – this being his first day of a new academic year – and warned him to be on time. Samar listened patiently and went to his seat.

The next day, once again Samar reached school late. This time the teacher was angry, and as a punishment, he hit Samar on his palm with a ruler. Samar took the punishment silently and went off to his seat.

This carried on for a few days. Everyday Samar would be late and his teacher would hit his palm with a ruler as a punishment. Samar took his punishment silently and patiently.

One day when the teacher was on his way to the school, he saw Samar escorting an old lady, in a wheelchair, to a Daily Care Center. At that time the teacher understood the reason why Samar always came late to school. The teacher went ahead to reach the school on time.

Samar entered the classroom, late yet again. However, the teacher did not punish him. He recalled what he had seen on his way to the school. He asked Samar about it. Only then did he come to know that the old lady in the wheelchair was Samar’s grandmother. She had met with an accident two weeks prior to the start of the school, due to which she was unable to move around on her own, and had to use a wheelchair.

Hearing this, the teacher felt very sorry for punishing the boy without understanding his circumstances. He knelt next to the boy and hugged him with teary eyes.

The teacher's actions expressed his silent apology for his mistake. He openly praised Samar for his patience and efforts.      

In the end, Samar won over his teacher by his patience and relentless courage in facing the adversities that came his way.

It takes courage to accept one’s mistake and to praise someone’s efforts.

Rectifier @ Billabong High International School, Thane
- Pallavi Harkare, Kalpana Dodia, Mahalakhmi Iyer, Priyanka Iyer, Rajeshri Mohite, Prerna Khanna

Poor English, computer skills make graduates unemployable - The Times of India

Poor English, computer skills make graduates unemployable 
Of the five million odd graduates that India produces annually, only a little over half are employable in any sector of the knowledge economy. Inadequate English and computer skills are key factors holding back students, especially those from smaller towns.

The National Employability Report by Aspiring Minds, an employability solutions company, revealed this, based on the computer adaptive test on 60,000 Indian graduates. The students were tested communication skills in English, computer knowledge, analytical, cognitive skills and basic accounting knowledge.