Courage and Patience - Preeti Mahajan

A Fearful Student

Observation 

I was teaching English in class 6. The children were new to the senior wing and were trying to adjust to the new environment. One boy used to occupy the last seat always. He never made any attempt to answer the questions. His reading skills were also poor, and when talking to teachers, he used to stammer.

Action taken 

The child was handled politely and told that all the teachers were there to assist and guide him. They are not to be scared of. His classmates were sensitized to help him overcome his fears and apprehensions. He was given positive reinforcement quite often. After a few weeks, a good change was noticed.

My advice to the educators

1. Observe the child's unusual behaviour for at least one week 

2. Establish a good rapport with the child.

3. Talk to him and allow him to open up.

4. Sensitize his classmates about his fears and apprehensions.

5. Make the classroom environment happy and comfortable.

6. If the need arises, talk to the parents.

7. Scolding and snubbing are a complete no-no for such children.

8. Friendliness and politeness can do wonders to make a fearful child a confident one.

An impatient student

Observation

I noticed a child in class 7 who exhibited fidgety and restless behaviour. He never waited for his turn to

answer the questions. He did not allow others to speak. During recess time, he also pushed others to make his way to the canteen.

Action taken

After observing him for a few days, I approached and counselled him for the misbehaviour. He was told about the invaluable virtual of patience in our life by giving examples. Regular follow-up was done to check his mannerism. In about a month, a positive change was noticed in his behaviour.

My advice to the educators

1. Observe the child's behaviour for at least one week.

2. If the child exhibits impatient behaviour or restless attitude, try to know the reason

3. Counsel him and state the disadvantages of being impatient in life.

4. Give him some extra work to occupy him.

5. Mind games and puzzles can also be employed.

6. Most importantly, don't lose your own patience while handling an impatient child.

Preeti Mahajan
Ahlcon Public School 

Simplicity and Trust - Innovators BHIS

To simplify complications is the first essential of success. 

- George Earle Buckle

Ruchi was a very diligent student and took a keen interest in academics. There was only one subject in which she was not very interested, and that was Mathematics. Maths seems to be a tricky subject for some students mainly because they are unable to clearly understand the topics, and so it was with Ruchi. She was so scared of this subject that she dreaded attending the classes. Somehow she managed to pull herself to get the passing mark, every year.

Ruchi was very apprehensive as she started her new session in grade VIII. She knew that it would not be possible to keep up her average scores if she was not able to fare well in Mathematics. Little did she know, that her new Maths teacher in school would change the way she looked at the subject all these years. 

The way the teacher approached the class on the very first day, made the children feel at ease with the subject, even before she had started on the topics. The way she explained the sums in class, their underlying concepts, made all the children realise how simple they were. 

Ruchi was surprised that she could understand even the difficult problems easily, given the manner of the teacher’s explanations. She gained confidence in herself as she started solving problems on her own - just by following the processes taught at school. To her disbelief, 

Ruchi found herself willingly practising Mathematics at home whenever she could. Her parents, too, noticed this change in their daughter. She felt comfortable in having her doubts cleared by the teacher. Ruchi confided to her parents that she had developed an interest in Mathematics and was no longer scared of it. She was sure that her new teacher was a Maths wizard as she made every problem unravel in a simple manner. She also mentioned to them that the ever-smiling teacher never seemed to get annoyed by the various queries that the children flooded her with. She patiently answered every one of them. Hence, their class trusted this teacher a lot. 

Simplicity is a way of life. Simplicity makes for easy-going life and takes away the unnecessary worries and baggage that we carry. Trust can be built, easily, by people who have a simple yet firm outlook on life.

 - Innovators @ Billabong High International School, Thane

  Bhumi Punjabi, Vaishali Phatak, Krishnakshi RaviShankor, Smita Bhobate

Courage and Patience - Penta BHIS

It was a breezy afternoon when I asked my excited learners:

“Who was the first Prime Minister of India?”

Even though Cather knew the answer, she always seemed hesitant to respond. When I beckoned at her, she could only mumble. Cather wanted to answer. I could see that eagerness in her eyes. However, under the waiting gaze of all the other students in the class, she felt anxious and scared. Having got nothing but silence from her, I asked Cather to sit down. As though on a cue, the lunch bell rang. Everyone rushed out to play, except Cather.

She sat in the class alone and quietly ate her food. I called out to her; she did not move for a second. Then very slowly she walked up to me. Cather was apprehensive of being pulled up for not answering. She knew where she was lacking and thus felt anxious and unsure. I handed over a slim book (from my little collection in the Teacher’s drawer) and requested her to read it.

The name of the book was ‘Courage’. It narrated a story about a seagull who wanted to fly but feared to do so. Despite the best efforts of its family and loved ones, the seagull was terrified of using its wings. It thought that it would fall if it ever tried to fly. I was certain that Cather would relate to the seagull, as I saw her settle down with the book. In 

In the story, the seagull mustered courage, moved up towards the edge of the cliff, near its nest, and jumped off it. Initially, the little bird nosedived straight down, sure of a rather painful injury, if not death. However, just when it was about to touch the ground, something magical happened.

Something inside the seagull made it spread its wings and fly; and fly it did – really high! The seagull had patiently borne its weaknesses and had finally mustered the courage to overcome them. It perfectly embodied the values of patience and courage, which could magically transform lives.

Cather now knew exactly what she had to do. When the class returned after the break, she raised her hand to say something in front of the class. As I encouraged her with a nod, she took a deep breath and answered with conviction: “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India”.

The entire class clapped with joy, seeing this new confidence in Cather while she grinned with the radiance of self-discovery. Just like the baby seagull, she had gathered courage at the opportune moment. Just like Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam had said “The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation.”

Penta @ Billabong International High School, Thane
-Jeeji Sanjeev, Sanika Joshi, Arpita M.G., Muskaan Menda, Radhika Anand, Supriya Naravankar & Bhavani Swamy.