Day 4 & Day 5 of school

Teaching English is definitely not same as teaching Maths. I knew that already. What I had not thought about was the class may be less interested. It showed, I struggled. No one had to jump into assist though, I was able to maintain the hold.

With the objective of "describing reaction to text and own response", I covered the prologue to I Am Malala and a poem from the text book. Pity, no-one did suggested homework.

While I spoke to students about visiting their homes, got to know later in afternoon that we won't even visit the school duet Palaki festival. Called students to inform change of plans.

Surprisingly, did not have any sessions scheduled in the afternoon/evening. So, I spent time catching up with news, family, friends and works. Much needed ME time.

#TeachForIndia

Me Sunday

Slept till late to rest and recuperate. Did wake up just in time for breakfast and coffee. Was a lovely morning but felt groggy.

Visited a community where friend's NGO is working. Saw the kids engaged in creative and thinking board games, learnt Uno. Heard some of the people of the community.

Lunch was at a Parsee restaurant. Food was great, even though we did not eat what we actually ordered. Felt a lot better.

Evening was spent in going over the lesson plan, morning meeting and closing circle.

#TeachForIndia

Busy Saturday ...

Finally got some more time to sleep. Had completed the lesson plan yesterday evening. Sessions were scheduled to start only at 0800 today.

Breakfast was followed by the school team meeting, 1st week of teaching was celebrated and reflected upon. Head of Arpan then spoke about child sexual abuse in the leadership development forum. And finally we had a discussion on child safety.

Team mate was sick, gave him medicines after lunch. Packed and travelled to the new campus, journey took more than 1hr. Got in the room and unpacked. Ran to library and print room for books and prints. They will be closed tomorrow.

Glad we have a laundry on campus here. Costly but quick, very useful.

Met with team to plan for Monday, took a pill for the sore throat, could sleep well before midnight. Remembered to cancel the alarm and set the phone in silence mode.

#TeachForIndia 

Day 3 of School

Yesterday's samosa did not go down well. Had to wake up 0330. Glad I had turned in relatively early last night.

Tried to teach reading a frequency table and making inferences from it, using a poll on the values and rules in class. Worked beautifully. It is so satisfying when the class answers correctly. Was kind of a holiday for teachers, so helped to manage some non-teaching procedures too.

Class seemed more disruptive, other teammates too felt the burn. At the same time I got to connect with a boy. Heated to join the military and said that he needs to he strong, beefy to do that. He listened with rapt attention when I told him about the NDA. Will take some printed information for him in the next class.

My last day of Maths. Will work with English next week.

Look forward to the new campus and new subject.

#TeachForIndia

Day 2 of School

Thursday, 23 June

Picking up from yesterday, tried to teach Frequency Table using the connection of raw food, cooking and cooked delicious dishes. Ws delighted to find that class had remembered the lesson from yesterday. Also, there were more students in the class.

Unlike yesterday, all classes could be held. Spoke to a few students during lunch before coming back for my own classes. Learnt more about teaching.

This is hectic but enjoyable.

#TeachForIndia

Day 1 of School

Wednesday, 22 June

Oh yes, I will teach today, woke with that spirit at 0445. Tried waking up team, telephone network was down. Something was wrong with the water in shower, had to crouch under the tap. Put up the charts in classroom but was asked to remove as the classrooms were new and administration did not want to damage the walls. Not a great start to the day!

Felt alive in the classroom. Tackled the matters of significance of data, various ways of collecting and arranging data using Cricket. Mention of Tendulkar and Kohli helped to engage the class. I seem to have converted at least one student ...

There sure were some disruptions and apologies too ...

Lessons on English and Science planned by teammates could not happen due to a function, lesson on Social Studies sure happened.

Students wouldn't have me not share their lunch. Was back in my training school for more sessions and preparation in the afternoon.

Good beginning.

#TeachForIndia

Preparation for the class

Tuesday, 21 June

Finally had the sessions for Lesson Planning, Presence & Voice and Behaviour Management - all things new, relevant and interesting. Planned for the lesson in the evening and worked till late preparing charts for class - theme, goals, values, rules, etc. Am just lucky to have people good with drawing and writing in the group.

I will be the first of the four Fellows in Grade 8 tomorrow. Am excited. 

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Classroom and Teaching, the Beginning

Monday, 20 June 2016

The perspective of sessions has certainly shifted from the forest to the tree. Learnt about School Planning, Classroom Management, Investing Students, Developing Relationships and building Reflection in Students. Did find some time for lunch and coffee in the midst of all this. On recommendation, visited the Harry Potter classrooms, was awestruck.

Did Whole Brain Thinking - skit and discussion. As usual, I came out as rational. logical and straight forward with focus on the goal. I surprised myself by playing the character well :)

Finally started preparing for the classroom - theme, goals, charts. Have scheduled pick up of books from library, will do it tomorrow. 

I am going to teach from Wednesday - mathematics for this week. Bring it on !!!

#TeachForIndia

Institute Journey - Beginning of teacher training

Sunday, 19 June 2016

Woke up with a severe headache, did not for the jog, slept an hour more. Guess I was just hungry. Felt better after breakfast.

Another say of learning started in the earnest at 0800. Beginning with the session on institute journey, had the first few long sessions towards teacher training - children, context, teaching, learning - before breaking for lunch. Had sessions about facilitating culture of learning, backwards planing and planning for school.

Integrated School Curriculum was the document was exactly what I was looking for. Now we all know what all we will try and achieve in the class in Pune. Everyone in a collar gets to teach all the subjects. Teaching will begin on Wednesday.

Meeting of the Learning Circle was refreshingly new. Got to understand my own notions of I/mine and others. Completed the group and individual assignments after dinner and slept by 0100.

Whoever said it would not be difficult ! The instructors are superhumans !!
It is a wonder that I got some time to call and speak to Mom !!

#TeachForIndia

Teaching is Leadership

Saturday, 18 June 2016

Today was mostly about leadership - the journey. I was genuinely surprised to see that people use similar adjectives to describe both good teachers and good leaders. Ergo, Teaching is Leadership.

Here at TFI, it is not only about the leadership of teachers, it is also about student leadership. We even have defined 5 milestones on this leadership journeys of students and teachers.

There was an interesting discussion on refection - what, why, how. Was refreshingly nice to hear different views. We did find it difficult to separate reflection from sharing of reflection. But hey, we sure have started reflecting - a necessary act to progress in the leadership development journey.

Evening was reserved for the learning circle, to speak about our lives, our journeys so far. Hmmm, am in the midst of some pretty brave people. I feel lucky !!!

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Movement of Leaders and the Leaders of Movement

Friday, 17 June 2016

Today was a longer day than the previous ones, work started at 0700. 

It started with trying to understand the problem of educational inequity. It is a wicked problem - a kind that that is messy, is not well understood and solutions cannot be tested easily. Went to the community to figure out what exactly is the problem, spoke to a headmaster, children and parents. Yes, every stakeholder has a different perspective and prescription.

Had a discussion about social movements in the afternoon. We believe that everyone can be a leader. How do we start, grow and nurture the movement for educational equity - movement of leaders and leaders of movement!

Finally in the evening got introduced to the Mumbai team - staff and fellows. Theme for this year is Bollywood. Of course, what else!

It is confirmed now, I will teach Grade 8 during this training (summer school). Still do not know the subject though. Will find out soon. From colour group to city group to the learning circle, we are going full steam now. I guess I will start trying to teach early next week.

#TeachForIndia

Possibility

What is possible? Impossible is nothing! That was the theme of the day.

Starting with sessions on the journey of TFI, moving onto the culture of TFI, we heard 3 students and a teacher connected with TFI. It was an inspiration. If they could achieve what they have with whatever they had, imagine what each one of us could achieve with everything that we have. Attempting to do the best we can with whatever we have opens the door for significant achievements. It is all in the mind, believe.

Community visit activity was completely unexpected - crating sculptures from garbage, with a very limited list of items that we were allowed to use. This is what we created ...

Working towards touching the lives of one million children in next phase, the target is really ambitions. Think about the impact of making excellent education to these many students, it is POSSIBLE. #TeachForIndia

You are so fine, you blow my mind

Go fellows, go fellows. Go fellows, you're so fine. You're so fine, you blow my mind!

Yes, we were welcomed with those shouts by the alumni at the welcome ceremony. But, before I come to that, after a sleepless night, the day started early at 0500. Had to reporter the sessions by 0800 after chores and breakfast. Glad, I was not late.

The theme of the day day was Dr Seuss - including the addresses by SM. Did you know that only 5% of TFI Fellows come from East India? Even the Fellows from outside India make up 5%. North, West and South of India contribute almost equally. The activity with orange was unexpected, the community visit to connect with children was usual and the debriefing was interesting. Got to meet many more fellow Fellows and alumni.

And then came the welcome ceremony, attended by children, parents and alumni too. The shouting welcome, to the say the least, was pleasantly different. While the ceremony ended with handing of the symbolic firkin to the incoming Felows, the highlight for me a girl for the school delivering a speech welcoming us and giving TIPS for being a good teacher.

Oh! the enormity of responsibilities.

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The fun has begun #TeachForIndia

Woke and got up at 0500, courtesy the alarm set on mobile phone. Did chores and final packing. Ate parathas for breakfast, courtesy Mom. Booked and took taxi to the airport after 0800, courtesy Uber. Flights were smooth and on time. Again took taxi to the university, courtesy Uber. Reached the campus just on time at 1700.

Bumped into some known and new faces, kept luggage in room, completed registration/on-boarding formalities.

Completed another assessment, oh yes, I was not even aware of this. This was to assess which grade I wile suitable to teach. Ate dinner, bought some essentials at the store.

Found someone else unpacking in my allocated place, when I returned to room. Kinship, practicality, whatever!

Moved room, unpacked, rested.

Glanced at the itinerary for next 3 days, jam packed. The fun has just begun !!!

#TeachForIndia

Trust, etc.

I have been living at my current place for more than 6 months now. In all this time, I have bought tender coconut water from a pushcart guy fewer than 10 times, usually during the walk from bus stop to home in the evening. Yesterday was one such evening.

I had to travel on a longer route, i was late and thirsty. I was happy to see that he was still selling. Just when I thought of asking for one, I remembered that I was not carrying any money on me. So, instead of asking for a coconut, I told him that I will get some cash and waited in queue for the cash machine, it was at shouting distance.

He shouted, called me to the pushcart and said, "Sir, even if you get the cash from machine, you will not get change and I do not have the same. You drink the coconut water now and pay me next time.". I was pleasantly surprised. I explained to him why I had no cash on me, how I had to borrow cash earlier in the day and took his offer. As expected the water and flesh much more delicious than before.

I got my cash, asked him when he will open in the morning and left. I gave him the money earlier today morning. 

Trust, honesty leading to customer retention, customer delight!

Then I think, 9 years with the employer - does my employer trust me, and dare I introspect, do I trust my employer?