Happiness & Tolerance - Vandana Sharma

"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." 

This quote highlights how happiness comes from within and is not dependent on external factors. It also emphasizes how unhappiness can make life difficult by causing us to focus on what we lack rather than what we have, and how it can lead to a negative self-image and an obsession with others' opinions. Ultimately, the key to happiness is finding contentment and fulfilment in oneself and one's life. 

As an educator, I love doing my job with complete sincerity and commitment. I try my best to understand the needs of the students and deal with them most appropriately so that they succeed in their paths. Overall, being an educator can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, as it allows us to make a positive impact on the lives of the students and communities. 

There are a lot of challenges while upgrading ourselves and working day and night for our students. One of the biggest challenges is failing to understand the needs of a student. I generally overcome every challenge efficiently because of my compassionate attitude. 

In my teaching career, I came across a student who literally gave me a different outlook to understand problems. I would like to share that experience. 

I met a three-year-old student who just started his first year in primary school. He had always been a shy and introverted child who struggled to make friends. He found it challenging to speak up in class, and as a result, he needed to catch up on his studies. 

As the school year progressed, He began feeling increasingly unhappy. He felt isolated and excluded from class, so he dreaded going to school. He felt embarrassed and ashamed about his struggles and was afraid to ask for help. 

Despite my efforts to engage him in class and provide extra support, his grades continued to suffer. He started to act out in classes and became disruptive, which only made him feel worse. I noticed that he seemed unhappy. I tried speaking to him to find out what was going on, but he didn't want to talk about it.

Eventually, I reached out to his parents to discuss his behaviour and academic performance. Together, we tried to develop a plan to support and address his needs. I gradually developed an understanding and convinced his parents to cope and start engaging him in activities that he liked. With the help of his parents and a counsellor, he began making progress. He learnt new coping strategies and social skills, and he started feeling more confident and happy in school. 

In this scenario, his unhappiness is related to his struggles with socializing and academics. By working together, I, his parents, and a counsellor were able to provide the support he needed to overcome his challenges and thrive in school. He made me understand how important it is to understand the needs of a student and engage him in his interests throughout his educational journey to make him feel better and smarter. 

There could be different meanings when describing an intolerable student. To be honest, I have never come across an intolerable student. Though if I have to describe an intolerable student, I would say, an intolerable student is a student whose behaviour is not acceptable and creates a negative impact on the learning environment. 

This behaviour can range from disruptive, disrespectful, or aggressive behaviour towards peers, teachers, or school staff. Intolerable behaviour can cause harm to students, themselves, and the learning environment as a whole.

It's important to address intolerable behaviour early on to prevent it from escalating and to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for all students. Hypothetically, if I had to deal with an intolerable student, I would do the following:

1. Identify the root cause: Understanding the root cause of the student's behaviour is essential. It's important to talk to the student, listen to their concerns, and try to understand what's causing their behaviour.

2. Set clear expectations: Set clear expectations for behaviour and consequences for breaking the rules. Make sure that the student understands what is expected of them and the consequences of their actions. 

3. Use positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is an effective strategy for encouraging positive behaviour. Praising the students when they display positive behaviour can help reinforce that behaviour.

4. Use consequences: Teachers can use consequences when the student exhibits intolerable behaviour. Consequences should be clear, consistent, and fair. 

5. Provide support: Provide support to the student by offering resources and counselling. Working with the student to identify their strengths and areas of improvement can help them develop a positive attitude towards school and learning. 

6. Involve parents: Involving parents in the process can be helpful. Parents can provide insight into the student's behaviour at home and be a valuable ally in developing a plan to address the behaviour.

7. Be consistent: Consistency is key when dealing with intolerable behaviour. Students need to know what to expect and what will happen if they continue to exhibit such behaviour. 

My suggestion to all my fellow educators:

Building relationships with students is crucial for effective teaching and learning. Take the time to know your students, their interests, strengths and weaknesses and create a positive learning environment for their success. 

Encourage positivity, respect, and inclusivity in the classroom. With gradual efforts and a "never give up" attitude, every educator can achieve their goals and the students can achieve success in their educational journey.

 Vandana Sharma @KNPS Phagwara, India

Happiness & Tolerance - Sharda Pullabhatla

An Unhappy Student:

I am also one of the admission team members at our school. Every day I meet students from various schools of different classes with different mindsets, skills and hobbies. Last week I met a girl child who hadn’t cleared her grade IX final exams in her previous school.

She wanted to be admitted to grade IX in our school. Her parents were very tense and worried about her being very quiet and shy. They said that until grade 7 she was an active and enthusiastic girl. However, after the lockdown, she has changed a lot and does not want to talk to anyone. 

Gradually, she became lonely and this resulted in her inattentiveness to her studies. As a result, she could not score well in grade IX exams. While I spoke to her she expressed her sadness about not having friends. She said she was unhappy because she did not have friends to share her feelings and thoughts. 

During her interaction, I motivated her to stay happy and keep smiling. I also told her that we would make new friends for her in this school. Her buddies in class will help her settle down in this new school. She may share moments of joy and happiness with them. 

Even our school Principal motivated her very much and encouraged her to perform well in class. Be happy and do every work with zeal. She told her to forget the past and put her efforts into the present task. 

She was admitted to our school. I met her every day for one week. Gradually, I noticed changes in her. It's almost 15 days since she joined our school. She is paying attention in her class studies, sharing lunch with friends, making new friends and has started smiling as well. 

Educators who wish to inculcate the value of Happiness in their students may refer to these points:

i) We should always support students. 

ii) Lend an ear to their issues and concerns. 

iii) Make them understand the positives and negatives of the situation and then resolve the issues.

An Intolerant Student -

Early morning after the assembly while students were settling down for their periodic assignment, suddenly we heard a loud noise from a teacher. I ran towards the classroom from where the disturbance was coming. Two teachers were already scolding two students involved in the quarrel.

On investigating the matter, we found out, that one of them had posted some abusive/unwanted comments on the social media account of another classmate. As a result, the first student was irate and held his collar and asked him to apologize. Instead of apologizing he commented by saying - “I have done the correct thing”. 

We made both of them sit in different rooms, gave them a glass of water, heard the complete situation and counselled them about their behaviour and approach. We spoke to them about the method they have used to solve this situation. Also asked the students to write a realisation letter, promising this shall not repeat and they shall be more tolerant in future. I also made them say sorry to each other and shake hands. 

After a week, just went to meet them and gauge the situation. While I observed them, they were not talking to each other, but then the quarrel had come to an end. My advice to teachers who wish to inculcate the value of tolerance in their students shall be –

I) Consider every situation as separate. 

II) Take action based on a case-to-case basis. 

III)Share different stories and situations where people demonstrated 'the value of tolerance to achieve victory and succeeded with students during class.

IV)Be friendly with students.

V) Be tolerant of students.

Sharda Pullabhatla @KNPS Phagwara

Happines & Tolerance - Jaswinder Kaur

Unhappy Student:

I addressed an unhappy student because she was dissatisfied with the marks allotted to her in two questions. She expressed that the answers were absolutely correct, but the marks were still deducted. 

I listened to her very carefully, and patiently let her vent her anger. After that, I analyzed the question with her help and told her to underline the keywords to be answered in the questions. 

Then, I read out her answers that were out of context. She had not answered the keywords in the questions. She was convinced afterwards and her unhappiness at the mark allotment disappeared. 

My advice to colleagues:- 

(a) First of all, don’t become defensive when you are questioned. 

(b) Listen 100% to the query/ coup of the student. 

(c) Rather than pointing out the mistake at the first instant, be the focus of the student first on all that is correct ( eg. keyword in question).

An Intolerant Student 

There was a student in the third grade who would not be ready to sit with another student during the rotation of the seats. I called the student during recess and tried to probe as to what was the reason for his behaviour. Initially, he did not divulge anything, so I listed out the positive qualities of the student he did not want to sit with. 

The boy listened to me and then said that his parents had told him not to sit with that student. After listening to him, I arranged a meeting with the parents. They disclosed that since the other students were from a different community, they had told their son not to sit with him. 

After a few meetings with the parents, I successfully convinced them that every child must learn to accept others, whether in school, college or the workplace. After that, the boy was able to become more tolerant. 

My advice to colleagues is that you must try finding the root cause of the disruptive behaviour of a child because it may be related to family and home. 

My suggestion to all my fellow educators is to be gentle and calm with students. We should make friendly relations with our students. You have to know your students' interests and weaknesses. Your attitude should be positive in the classroom. With a positive attitude and effort, teachers can achieve their goals and help students achieve success in their lives.

Happiness & Tolerance - Baljit Kaur

This is the story of a student in grade 8 in a Social Science class who was not happy with the system of the Punjab government. I was teaching them about the importance of the Indian Constitution and its features. 

We were discussing equality and how our Constitution followed these ideas. However, one of my students said, "No, Ma'am! There is no equality in the country because our community is facing inequality as many times it did not get justice." So, he said, "I am not happy with the Constitution". 

I tried to make him understand that the Constitution is fair to everyone, but a few people in the government/system take some actions that are not good for everyone. We have the right to ask questions of the government; why are they not implementing the ideas of the Constitution? 

We should not disrespect our Constitution because it protects our interests and rights without discrimination. The child understood what I said. I explained to him that we just need to find the right reason for the problem and also make our parents alert to examine these types of situations so we can avoid communal disputes. 

Another incident is from grade 7 when students were making fun of a student because of his eating habits and also maintaining distance. In our school, students observing Zero period started discussing their favourite food items. 

One of my students said, "I love eating chicken, especially fried and grilled chicken". He was very happy to share this information, but at the same time, most of the students in my class were displeased as he was talking about non-vegetarian food. Actually, the majority of students in my class are vegetarian because of their religion as well. That student felt uncomfortable after the reaction of other students. I observed that students started irritating him. 

That's when I came forward to explain that every person has their eating habits and choices because of their community, religion and culture. We should respect each other’s eating habits. I talked with students and discussed about few non-vegetarian dishes and with others about vegetarian dishes to make them comfortable. In the end, they all were happy and satisfied. Now when we normally discuss these types of dishes they do not react negatively. 

Baljit Kaur @KNPS Phagwara (India)

Happiness & Tolerance - Pooja Seth

Dealing with a Disruptive Student

I had a student in one of my classes who was disruptive. He often interrupted the class by talking out of turn, distracting other students, and being generally disrespectful to the teacher and other students. 

I addressed the behaviour in class by setting clear boundaries and expectations for how students should behave. I also spoke with the student privately to understand their behaviour and provided them with resources for managing their behaviour, such as counselling services and strategies for self-regulation. 

I also collaborated with the student's parents to develop a plan for supporting the student's behaviour in and out of class. Over time, the student's behaviour improved, and they became more engaged and respectful in class. 

Advice to Educators:

My advice to educators dealing with disruptive students is to address the behaviour immediately by setting clear boundaries and expectations for how students should behave.

Try to speak with the student privately to understand their behaviour and provide resources for managing their behaviour. Collaborate with the student's parents to develop a plan for supporting the student's behaviour in and out of class. 

Finally, be patient and consistent in enforcing boundaries and supporting the student's growth and development.

Pooja Seth @KNPS, Phagwara (India)

Happiness & Tolerance - Rajvinder Kaur

Dealing with an unhappy student in a classroom:

In the early years, children should learn that learning is fun and that mastering academic challenges is thrilling. At this age, they are very open to whatever is going on in the classroom and at school. And, an instructor, who can bring together the twin threads of learning and play, and do it in a happy, loving way, will be very successful. 

I, being a Kindergarten teacher, would like to share my experience of dealing with an unhappy student. 

When the student got admitted to the school, he didn’t want to come. He didn’t feel happy in the school environment as it was a new experience for him. He was so attached to his parents that he used to cry in the morning when his mom came to drop him off at school; even his mom was not willing to leave him. I tried everything possible to engage him but a couple of times the parents took him back with them in the morning.  

Then I counselled his mom that until she would not be ready to leave her child, he would not adapt to the school environment, as he was facing all this for the first time. And, eventually, it worked. She started dropping him at the entrance. Though he was crying and unhappy for a couple of days, when I made him sit in the class with other little companions, he started enjoying himself with his new friends. He loved the dance and physical activity classes. To see him in all smiles was a feeling of great satisfaction for me.

Dealing with an intolerant student in a classroom:

It would be very unfair to categorize a Kindergarten student as an intolerant student. They are in a grooming stage so in my opinion we as educators/mothers should deal with them with all patience, love and care. They come to school leaving their family where they enjoy complete freedom. There might be some children who are highly pampered by their parents, so they may carry the same feeling to school, but we need to make them understand everything in a playful manner. 

We should keep in mind that they are learning everything from the grassroots level. So, to make them understand about certain things is not a difficult task. We just need to incorporate some joyful techniques and these little ones agree to what we want them to learn. 

Advice to educators to inculcate these values in their students-

My advice to the educators is to deal with the students with utmost patience and a positive mindset. Teachers must lend an ear to each and every student because ‘Every student is important’. Listening habits should be promoted and each student should be given a chance to speak. The educators should praise the efforts of a child. This motivates and encourages a child to do his best. 

Rajvinder Kaur 

Kamla Nehru Public School, Phagwara

Happiness & Tolerance - Charu Chhabra

Situation 1: An unhappy student because her teacher told her to wear her skirt to the knee.  

As the Academic Principal, I recently encountered a situation where a student was unhappy, upset and crying because her teacher had instructed her to wear her skirt to the knee, not above the knee. The student felt insulted and humiliated by the teacher's words. 

To address this situation, I discussed it with the student privately and empathetically, listened to her concerns and opinions, and assured her that it was okay to wear short skirts. I also explained the teacher's perspective on maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. 

Later, I discussed the issue with the teacher and reminded her of the importance of communication and empathy when enforcing certain opinions. 

In a real-life situation, it was emphasized that educators must understand the significant impact their words and actions can have on students' emotional well-being and act with kindness and respect towards all students. The importance of respectful communication between teachers and students was highlighted.  

My advice to educators who want to inculcate core values in their students is to lead by example. Teachers must model empathy, kindness, and respect towards all students, especially in situations that can be emotional and sensitive. They should also communicate clearly and effectively with students, explaining the reasons behind their opinions and providing opportunities for students to ask questions and express their concerns.

Situation 2: An intolerant student is upset by a negative comment on Snapchat by his classmate:

 

In a recent incident, I had to deal with an intolerant student who was outraged and sought revenge against a classmate for a negative comment made on Snapchat. The student felt sad, isolated, and angry due to the incident. 

To address this situation, I had a one-on-one conversation with the students, acknowledging their feelings and emphasizing the importance of respect, empathy, and kindness towards all students, regardless of differences in opinions, backgrounds, or beliefs. 

In addition, I organized a special session with the IT department of the school to educate the student's teachers on digital citizenship and social media etiquette. A counselling session on cyberbullying, online safety, and responsible social media use was also conducted.  

Fortunately, we were able to help the student overcome their problem by talking to them privately, validating their feelings, and providing education on digital citizenship and social media etiquette. The student learned the importance of respect and empathy towards others, both online and offline. 

My advice to educators who want to inculcate these values in their students is to promote digital citizenship and social-emotional learning. Students should be taught how to use technology responsibly, ethically, and safely, while also understanding the impact of their words and actions on others. Teachers can facilitate this learning by incorporating digital citizenship and social-emotional learning into their lessons and modelling respectful and kind behaviour towards all students. 

Dr. Charu Chhabra 

Principal (Academics) KNPS Phagwara, Punjab

Courage and Patience Part 2 - KNPS Phagwara

 Kajal Sharma

Courage and Patience: Powerful Tools

1. Courage and patience are two essential traits, Which grow within oneself to make the base.

2. Courage requires making everything settle,
   Patience can give us positivity by giving us a great battle.

3. Courage and patience give us a way towards success, As it reduces the work’s stress.

4. These traits are like magic, Making our life cool and dynamic.

5. Let’s apply courage and patience in the circle of life, To go with the flow and reduce crime.

   - Poonam Rani

Raman Sood

In the depths of trials, where darkness looms, Courage ignites, dispelling gloom. A flickering flame, bold and bright, Guiding souls through the darkest night.

Patience, a virtue, a steadfast grace, A gentle current in life's tumultuous race. With steady resolve, it softly whispers, Navigating obstacles like skilled river blisters.

Courage rises, a warrior's might, Facing fears, ready to fight. With bravery as its trusted shield, It conquers doubt, refusing to yield.

Patience, a companion, serene and wise, In stillness, it learns as time flies. It endures through trials and tribulations, Embracing delays, steadfast and sure.

Courage and patience are inseparable, Hand in hand, a testament, rare. Together they embolden the human soul, Leading us forward and making us whole.

So let us embrace these divine virtues. In courage and patience, our spirits align. In the face of adversity's wrath, We shall find strength on life's arduous path.

- Reena Sisodia

In the face of fear, courage stands tall, With a heart so strong, it never will fall. 

It whispers, "Keep going, don't lose your way, For every storm, there's a brighter day."

Courage is not about being without fear, But facing it bravely, with strength sincere. 

It's taking a leap when doubts arise, Trusting your instincts, and reaching for the skies.

Patience, a virtue, oh so profound, Like a sturdy oak tree, deeply rooted in the ground. 

It teaches us to wait, to endure and believe, That every setback, we can still achieve.

Patience is calmness, a tranquil stream, In the face of chaos, it keeps our dreams. 

It whispers, "Be steady, don't rush ahead, For great things come to those who tread."

Together, courage and patience intertwine, Guiding us forward, their light will shine. 

With courage, we face challenges unknown, With patience, we wait, and our seeds are sown.

So let us embrace these virtues each day, As we navigate life's winding way. 

We'll conquer mountains with courage and patience as our guide, our spirits will glide.

Seema Rani

Happiness and Tolerance - Siddhi RPKM

Dealing with Challenging Students
Think of two 2 situations where you as an educator were faced with (preferably natural)/ might face the challenge of dealing with:

How did/will you deal with the student?
A) If it was a real-life situation, were you successful in helping him/her overcome their problem?
B) What is your advice to educators who want to inculcate these values in their students?

Situation 1: Unhappy Student

"Happiness is contagious. Spread this among people surrounding you." -----Invajy

As a teacher, we must always teach students what is right and wrong. But sometimes children feel unhappy if they do not want to do something their teacher has asked them to do. This more prominently applies to little kids pampered mainly by their parents. That's why they need to be taken care of by the teacher according to their moods.

Recently, a similar situation was faced by one of our teachers in her class. One of her students wanted to skip the lunch. So, the child made an excuse that he was having a stomach ache and was missing his mother. Therefore, he insisted on going back to his home. The very first day, when he did that thing, the teacher asked him to finish lunch so that he won't feel the pain, and after that, he would be allowed to go back home. But then, again, on the second day, he did the same thing, and the teacher again asked him to finish his lunch without any excuses. But when on the third day, he did that thing again. The teacher realised that it had become his habitual activity, and he just made excuses not to finish his lunch daily.

On that day, the teacher told him to have some portion of his lunch to be healthy and strong if he wanted to finish only part. For that whole day, he was so happy in class; he talked to everyone nicely and didn't ask to go back home. With time, the child began adjusting to the class by interacting and observing his fellow students.

Advice to educators:
If you have an unhappy student, you must try and understand the situation he/she might be going through instead of imposing your perspective on them. According to an old saying:

"To get a better pickup, we must step back. Sometimes we must also listen to the child's perspective to make an unhappy child happy."

Situation 2: Intolerant Student

An intolerant student, the term itself should never be an impression in any teacher's mind about any student. However, we all face such an adverse issue wherein we may encounter such behaviour in a student. They may be exhibiting very inappropriate behaviour. There may be innumerable complaints against this student from a teacher and their classmates, and no amount of counselling / or any other strict action to rectify the student's behaviour seems to change their behaviour. Any behaviour or issue can never be diagnosed, judged or handled without knowing the reason behind those actions. The reason should be based on something other than any particular act. Different situations and scenarios that might have happened earlier at school and home should be considered. A child who is overpampered at home or has no listener will exhibit behaviour to gain attention. Usually, this kind of behaviour reflects a negative
outcome.

Let's discuss a situation of a student who was never interested in listening to any kind of explanation of the chapter but in spite was always ready to put up the questions whether related to the topic or not, so I, as an educator, was forced to think that if he is too curious to know every detail of every case, or he is just trying to seek the attention of everyone, so I just thought of an idea why not to engage him in something which can use his energy and hire him, so I asked him to maintain a notebook which we will discuss in class and utilise it in class activities or quizzes. So he was happy and felt confident that he got a huge responsibility. Slowly and gradually, he collected a piece of good information about many topics and used to note down the queries aside and discuss them later. This developed his confidence in the teacher; once the bond of trust sets in, rectifying the child's behaviour will be smooth and, most importantly, effective.

Advice to Educators:
My suggestion to all my fellow teachers is never to give up on any child but to give them your time, patiently listen, and understand the reason for their behaviour and not judge them just on their superficial behaviour. We, teachers, have this innate ability to make that impression in the minds and lives of our students, and we surely can be their guides who will help them become better human beings.

Siddhi @ RKP School Moradabad
Sanskriti Tondon, Lovely Singh, Priyanka Ruhela, Soni Bhatnagar, Manjeet Patil, Sadhana Negi and Swati Saluja

Happiness and Tolerance - Saumya RPKM

An Unhappy Student:

As an educator, we had an experience with an unhappy student struggling with personal issues and could not focus on academics. We approached the student with empathy, actively listening to his concerns and providing emotional support. We also referred him to the school's counsellor for professional help. In addition, we worked with the student to develop a plan to address his academic challenges and provided extra resources to help him catch up on missed work.

My advice to educators dealing with unhappy students is to create a safe and welcoming environment in the classroom where students feel comfortable expressing their emotions. Be patient, pay attention to their worries, and offer the proper resources and support. Encourage the student to seek professional help from school counsellors or mental health professionals and work with them to develop a plan to address their academic challenges.

An Intolerant Student:

As an educator, we have not had an experience with an intolerant student, but we may encounter such a situation. If a student shows intolerance towards their peers, we would first address the behaviour with a one-on-one conversation. We would clarify that intolerant behaviour is unacceptable in the classroom and emphasize the importance of treating others with respect and dignity. If the behaviour continues, we will involve the school administration to take appropriate disciplinary action. 

I advise educators dealing with intolerant students to create a classroom culture that promotes inclusivity and respect for all individuals. Encourage kids to be accepting of others and open-minded by teaching them about the consequences of bigotry. To make sure that all kids feel comfortable and respected in the classroom, deal with intolerant behaviour quickly, consistently, and, if necessary, with the help of the school administration.

How to deal with students?

➢ Dealing with students involves a combination of patience, communication, and understanding.

➢ Here are some simple tips on how to deal with students: Be patient: Students may take time to understand concepts, so it is essential to be patient with them.

➢ Use straightforward language.

➢ Stay away from jargon and explain ideas in ways students can grasp.

➢ Actively listen: Pay close attention to what students are saying and show them that with care. This fosters trust and fosters a conducive learning atmosphere. By doing this, a relationship of trust and respect is developed.

➢ Be approachable: Encourage the students to ask and be approachable. This helps build a relationship of trust and respect.

➢ Provide feedback: Give constructive feedback to the students to help them understand where they need to improve and how to do so.

➢ Celebrate success: Celebrate the students' achievements, no matter how small they may be. This helps boost their confidence and encourages them to continue learning.

These pointers will help to deal with the students and assist them in realizing their full potential.

Saumya (Soft) @ RPK School Moradabad
Asha Singh, Nidhi Narula, Beena Singh, Shefali Johri, Ekta Sharma, Rajni Gupta and Rashmi Wright

Images sourced from https://www.dreamstime.com/

Happiness and Tolerance - Samriddhi RPKM

Situation 1: - "An unhappy student." 

For students of any age, the death of a parent is the most challenging time. They need time to go through the grieving process. They neither have the experience to cope with this pain.  Children who experience a parent's death, especially a mother, automatically feel separate and alone. They will feel different from their classmates. They are experiencing several emotions that they have never felt before. Their stability and security have been shaken by the loss of one of the most significant people in their life. 

This was the situation that I faced when the mother of one of my students died. It was very awkward for me to console such a small child. But I tried my best to divert his mind so that he could try to overcome this pain. 

Here are a few things that I did that may assist the child through the grieving process.  As the teachers are second mothers, I tried to develop a motherhood relationship with the child. 

• Tried to communicate with him generously and made him comfortable in the class. 
• Gave him the time to heal from the loss, as it cannot be done in a couple of days 
• Tried to encourage and motivate him to participate more in class and help him in his academics by providing him extra time 
• Made the other students realise his circumstances and made them understand how to support him. 

Conclusion- The loss of a parent is irreparable to a child. He/she is too young to face such a heart-wrenching situation. This is when a child needs all the support from his/her grieving family, relatives, and society. He/she should not be left alone momentarily as it is tough for a child to cope with this terrible loss. A teacher is also a guardian of the students, and in such a situation, empathy is expected from him/her. The child should be engaged in activities in the classroom to give him/her moments where the grief is somehow pushed away for some time. The other students must also be informed about the child's situation so they do not mistreat him/her during a time of great sorrow. With the support of teachers and fellow students, the child may start to find his/her life back on track. 

Situation 2: - "An intolerant student." 

Every child has a unique personality that causes them to act differently, so you must figure out how to enhance their interest in studying in different ways. As kids age, they must recognise that not every moment can be spent playing and studying is a crucial part of their everyday lives. I remember one of my students who was least interested in studies and never completed his homework on time. He was really an intolerable student. 

Here are a few things I did to make him understand the importance of education in everyone's life. 

• Tried to create a loving, understanding, encouraging and supportive environment. 
• Avoid comparisons between the students. 
• Made learning more enjoyable through games 
• By giving him rewards for participation and completing his work on time. 
• By giving him a round of applause from the class. 
• By making him the discipline in charge of the class. 
• Tried to make an environment where he could easily interact and express his opinion. 

Conclusion- Each child is unique as he/she comes from different backgrounds. Many external factors contribute to the development of a child's personality. 

The child's early perception is formed by the lessons he/she learns from his/her family, friends, and society. The student who is least interested in studying should be dealt with delicately to develop his/her interest in studies. The teacher must work on identifying the hobbies and interest areas of such students and start creating a pedagogy which suits his/her learning needs. 

The child should be given rewards for his/her participation in class activities to encourage him/her to get involved in all future activities and events. The teacher must ensure not to compare a child with others. Such a child must also be encouraged to express his/her thoughts more often. With continuous support, such a child may become a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

Samriddhi @ RPK School Moradabad 

Happiness and Tolerance - Avighna RPKM

SITUATION 1
Last year, one of the teachers found a student who could neither study nor socialise with her peers. She was not interested in any of the schoolwork or homework. When the exams came up, she got failed. When the teacher asked her why, she didn't say a word and remained silent. So the teacher tried to call her parents, but no response was received from them.

On the day of the PTM, the teacher talked with her cousin (who came to attend the PTM). She then learned that the child's parents abandoned her, and she no longer lives with them. She feels more lonely after seeing other students having a good time with their parents. Days and nights, she is spent crying, missing her parents. She is no more willing to do anything that anyone is asking her to do.

How did the teacher deal with the student in this situation?
The teacher asked her peer group -
• to make her feel included every time and be a little polite towards her so that she will feel less lonely (VALUE- Love and Affection).
• Invite her to various group & solo activities (VALUE - WORKING TOGETHER).
• Have lunch with her (VALUE-SHARING).
• Try to be as much friendly as they can (VALUE - FRIENDSHIP/ BEING FRIENDLY).
• Make every moment special for her (VALUE- IMPORTANCE).

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

Yes, it was a real-life situation, and the teacher could help that student, and she even showed significant improvement in her studies and other curriculum activities. Even she started feeling important in her class and improved her loneliness.

Advice to the educators:
Before scolding or giving any sort of punishment -
• talk to the child
• understand his/her situation
• make him/her feel at home at school.
• act like his/her mother or father when required.
• stop comparing the students with each other.

• motivate them

         

SITUATION 2
A student used to continuously disturb the class between lectures, roaming here and there unnecessarily, not completing his work, and not bringing his books and notebooks. Sometimes he misbehaved that he used to get scolded by everyone, but his behaviour remained unchanged, and instead of showing improvement, he got worse and was getting intolerable. Even his parents were very disturbed by his behaviour.

How does the teacher deal with the student in this situation?
One day the teacher decided to confront and counsel him after the class.
• Firstly, she pampered him.
• Then, politely, she asked him about the reason for his behaviour and if something was troubling him. And when she heard his reply, she was astonished. He confessed some heart-touching feelings. It was that whether it was at home or school, the child was facing negligence. Due to the lack of attention, he started behaving savagely; all the frustration he got from people who made him feel unwanted and unnoticed was bursting. Even when he wanted to confess his feelings, there was no one to hand an ear to him and the irony was everyone now became harsh and rude towards him. So he got habitual to this new behaviour cycle.

- By listening to these words, the teacher decided -
• to talk with his parents (VALUE - DISCUSSION) regarding what he shared.
• Instead of scolding him, she gave him more positive attention (VALUE - IMPORTANCE).
• Started analysing his behaviour and giving him personal advice (VALUE - GUIDING).
• In front of the class, instead of scolding and giving him punishment, the teacher started
appreciating him for his little efforts(VALUE - APPRECIATING). 

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

Yes, this is a real-life situation, and the teacher was able to help that student. It took a lot of time & effort to improve that child, but in the last, he improved his academics and became one of the best and most lovable children in the class.

Advice to the educators -
Everyone has a story, and so do the students. So instead of reacting,
• First, as a human, understand the reason behind every child's act.
• Secondly, discuss as many things as possible with the parents regarding the child's behaviour
and counsel them and their parents.
• Instead of scolding, find a way to help the teacher, parents, and child overcome
such a situation with a positive attitude.

Avighna @ RPK School Moradabad

Ritika, Neeru, Shwetank, Evon, Swadha, Saymeen and Deeksha

Happiness and Tolerance - Ashtalakshmi RPKM

Image copied from www.dreamstime.com

Dealing with hate and intolerance in the classroom is a crucial issue for teachers, as it can negatively impact the learning environment and the well-being of all students.

Teachers should establish clear expectations and guidelines for behaviour in the classroom, including a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech or discriminatory behaviour.  

Address incidents promptly: When an incident of hate or intolerance occurs, it's essential to address it promptly and directly with the students involved. This can be done privately or in front of the class, depending on the situation.

Encourage dialogue and understanding: Teachers should create a safe space for students to have open and respectful conversations about sensitive issues. Encouraging dialogue can build empathy and understanding among students.

Model respectful behaviour: Teachers should model respectful behaviour in the classroom and avoid making insensitive or discriminatory comments themselves.

Involve parents and school administrators: In severe incidents of hate or intolerance, it may be necessary to involve parents and school administrators to provide additional support and resources.

Addressing hate and intolerance in the classroom requires a proactive and ongoing effort from teachers, students, and the wider school community. By promoting respect and understanding and responding promptly and appropriately to incidents.

Once, I encountered an intolerant student who often showed verbally and physically abusive behaviour. My classroom's atmosphere was deteriorating because of him. He used to cry whenever I addressed his problem but would not say anything. He used to seek attention. Whatever the situation was, he wanted to be the talk of the class. From my experience, I suspected that he quest for validation and attention from everyone.

Upon meeting his mother, I got to know about his family's condition that his father is suffering from cancer, due to which he's often neglected by his family. He subconsciously chased attention so much that the consequences didn't matter. I started motivating him to give his best and made sure to constantly hear his heart out. Within a few days, he started showing improvement. So, there's always a reason behind everything, and we should pay more attention to the journey and how we can change someone's behaviour rather than just the outcome. The classroom should be a place where each student should feel safe and appreciated.

When talking to an agitated student:

• Introduce yourself if you still need to learn the student.
• Maintain a calm and reassuring voice. 
• Speak calmly, but only do some of the talking. 
• Allow the student to vent.
• Ask questions; this shows that you are concerned. 
• When asking questions, use the student's name.
• Listen carefully to the student's concerns and take them seriously. 
• Paraphrasing what the student says can help show that you are listening.
• If emotions escalate, acknowledge them. "I can see that you're angry about the ..."
• Maintain appropriate eye contact. 
• A direct and uninterrupted stare may feel threatening to the student.
• Be natural in your gestures and speaking tone.

Tolerance Requires Virtue
Tolerance, in and of itself, is not a virtue. If a student tolerates drinking and driving, his tolerance is not virtuous. Tolerance is neutral. Tolerance derives its value from what the student takes and how the student expresses his tolerance and intolerance. This involves character.

When a student uses a racial slur, his problem is not a lack of tolerance but a lack of kindness and a problem with pride (the root of belief in racial superiority). When a student makes fun of a classmate's point of view during a class discussion, his problem isn't a lack of tolerance but a lack of courtesy.

When one student spits on another student because he thinks his schoolmate is gay, tolerance isn't the issue so much as self-control. Proper tolerance is the outgrowth of moral character qualities such as kindness, patience, courtesy, humility, love, self-control, and courage. Even intolerance should be expressed through these qualities.

Students need to be taught that tolerance arises from character. If they don't understand this, they will think they are being tolerant when they are actually only expressing indifference ("whatever") or apathy ("who cares?"), or even recklessness ("Why not?"). Improperly taught "tolerance education" can disarm students of their proper convictions.

When students are happy, they are better able to solve problems, they are more open to critical thought and reasoning, their focus is more in tune, and their ability to retain and recall information is heightened. A happy child is likelier to be motivated at school, collaborate and build friendships with classmates, and troubleshoot and solve social and academic dilemmas. Biologically, happiness and other emotions are critical in cognitive functionality and processing.

Teachers need the knowledge to teach successfully in different areas, for example, feedback and praise, handling mistakes, student questions, and clearly structured lessons. Also, areas reducing anxiety, motivation, humour, and active learning time are essential for teachers.

Praise is most effective when it is sincere and natural. They should use appropriate gestures and actions to accompany them. Teachers should motivate the students so that the students are more likely to pay attention. To be respectful towards the children is also very important. To react positively to wrong answers is a way to teach simply. The relationship between students and their parents is necessary. Students like it when the teacher uses their names. The classroom climate is so important. Creating a positive classroom climate is why children like to go to school and want to learn.

Ashtalakshmi @ RPK School Moradabad
Ritu Goyal, Poonam Sharma, Meenakshi, Sonia Gupta, Tabinda Jabeen, Charu Sharma and Krishangi Sharma.

Happiness and Tolerance - Ananta RKPM

Scenario 1 Unhappy child

A) Such type of situation we have yet to face.

B) What can we do if the child is unhappy at school?

● Communication is a key to solving significant obstacles.

● Be positive and think positive.

● Encourage the children to discover what they are passionate about.

● Maintain a positive and cheerful environment for children.

● Stir up children about their goals and ambitions.

● When the children accomplish their goals, let them know you are proud.

● Provide incentives only when needed.

Scenario 2 An Intolerant Student

A) We have not faced this type of situation.

B) How to deal with intolerant Students in Classroom?

● Communicate with parents regarding students' behaviour.

● Keep calm and patient.

● Personally discuss the matter.

● Praise their efforts and achievements.

● Ask them for help.

● Give them duties and responsibilities.

● Imitate their body language, which helps us discover their difficulties.

● Become a role model for students.

● Give them realistic examples to set their own reasonable goals.

● Teachers should provide an autocratic environment.

Ananta (Infinite) @ RKP School Moradabad

Bhawana Arora, Parul, Asha Mamgin, Poonam Mehra, Ashita, Rebecca, Rajni Mehra and Neha

Happiness and Tolerance - Aadhya RPKM

Dealing with Challenging Students

How did / will you deal with the student?

A) If it was a real-life situation, were you successful in helping him/her overcome their problem?

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

Scenario 1: An Unhappy Student

A) Our comments: We did not encounter such a situation.

B) Our Comments: If you have an “Unhappy Student” to tackle, there is no cut-and-dried formula to address such a situation. However, our group believes that under-noted suggestions may be of much help in coping with such students.

Our advice to Educators:

a) Try to ascertain the reasons for the unhappiness

b) If necessary, the parents may be contacted or counselled.

c) Motivational and appreciative words soothe the feelings

d) Make the student involved in some physical form of activities

e) Development of hobbies and creation of interest in reading books etc. are of much help also.

Scenario 2: An Intolerant Student

A) Our comments: We did not encounter such a situation.

B) Our Comments: Intolerant students are like a bull in a china shop and must be handled carefully and cautiously.

Our advice to Educators:

a) An intro with the class teacher, classmates and parents may give the insight to tackle with.

b) Motivational and appreciative words soothe the feelings

c) Make the student involved in outdoor sports activities which vent his complicated feelings for others.

d) Importance of sharing with friends and involvement in group activities to be encouraged and closely monitored with timely intervention wherever necessary would be helpful.

 Aadhya (Victorious) at RPK School Moradabad.

Deepa Khanna, Rachna Bisht, Asma, Farida, Sushma Paul, Kulmeet, Jaswant and Sunanda

Happiness and Tolerance - Aarya RPKM

Scenario 1- Unhappy Child

A student in my class shifted to our city from another city due to his father's job transfer. In the course, he was always silent and sad. He always seemed a bit nervous and didn't even have friends. I noticed this, and one day I asked him to meet me after the class.

When he came to meet me, I asked him, "I see that you are often very quiet. Neither do you talk to anyone nor show interest in anything, and its effect can also be seen in your studies? What is the reason?
The student replied, "Ma'am, I miss my friends, cousins and grandparents. I have no friends here, and because of this, I cannot concentrate on my studies."

I carefully listened to him and decided to help him to overcome his sadness. I asked a few of my class students to be friends with him so he could quickly settle down in this new environment. I always cared that he might not sit alone and nobody would hurt him. I asked the other teachers also to take care of him. After a few days, I saw him laughing with his classmates and playing with them. His smile was God's blessing for me.

Advice to teachers 

• Always treat your students with love and care.
• Never criticize a student In front of other students.
• Nothing is more important than the mental health of a child.
• They are like sunflowers; you are like a sun to them, 'A ray of hope.'
• A happy teacher is a good teacher, so try to be satisfied with them.

Scenario 2- Intolerant Students    

Two years back in my class, two students, Naman and Reyan, started fighting and arguing with each other. Seeing them fighting, I stopped them and asked them, `What happened? Why are you arguing and fighting with each other?"

Naman said, "Madam, he is telling me I am wrong in my point."

Reyan said, "Ma'am, what he is saying is wrong."

Both were right on their points and didn't want to listen to each other. I decided to solve this. I asked Naman to stand on one side of the desk and Reyan on the opposite.

I took the chalk and drew the number 9 like this so that From Naman's side, it would look like 6, and from Reyan's side, it would look like 9.

Then I asked Reyan what he could see? Reyan said this is Number 9.

Then I asked Naman what he could see? Naman said this is Number 6.

Both answers were different, and they again started arguing. Seeing this, I calmed them down and asked them to change their places.

When both changed their places, I again asked them, "Now, look at the number. What is it?'
Reyan replied, "Ma'am, this is 6."

Naman replied, ``it is 9.’’

Seeing this, both students were surprised and realized they were right. I explained, "Life is like that too. One whose opinion differs from yours doesn't need to be wrong. It's just a difference in point of view. In such situations, instead of getting into arguments, we should try to understand other's point of view. This is how they both understood and decided not to argue anymore and try to understand each other's point of view.

Advice for educators
1. We should always maintain our patience with students, no matter how bad our mood is.

2. Sometimes, you experience many students with different strengths and weaknesses. Some students may have behavioural problems, making them difficult to handle in class. If a student is behaving poorly, address the behaviour at the moment. Take the route to get the student back on track with his or her studies. In the long term, take measures in your classroom to discourage problem behaviour. Work on preventing problem behaviours by establishing and reinforcing clear rules.

Aarya @ RPK School Moradabad
Nishi, Manisha Bansal, Natasha Singh, Kalpana Saxena, Meeta Gulati, Shivani Mathur and Jyoti Singh.

Image credits 

First image Shutterstock.com

Second one https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/perception-every-individual-unique-matters-samuel-bandi