Wednesday 21 March 2012

Sir Ken Robinson


Read, Read, Read.....!

Read, Read, Read.....What to read and why to read? Why reading is important? Please give me logic and reasoning as to why should I read when I have tons of other things to do. 

Well, students have been asking me these and many other questions since past few days, in order to understand the significance of reading. I was actually wondering why they are not able to understand, as  reading help us to grow and helps us in getting better with our skills and conventions. Probably they were asking for  precise information and reasoning for the same. 

I started my conversation with them by sharing my own experience and a journey as an educator. In addition, I also shared how reading  has helped me to grow as a better person. When I shared that reading helps us to improve our vocabulary, improves our memory and creativity, they contradict  and said that its not reading but grammar and usages of grammar and language helps us getting better with language and reading simply helps us in covering our curriculum and in identifying new words and vocabulary, which normally we don't tend to use in our daily routine. I gave my consent and added that indeed books gives us wider exposure towards new words and vocabulary, and the possibilities of sharing are endless. They are portable and we can take them almost anywhere. But, by adding book reading to our daily schedule and sticking on it, improves discipline, it makes us use our brain, we think more and become smarter. It is a fundamental skill builder. It also expands our horizons and letting us see what other cities and countries have to offer before we visit them. It requires our focus as we are reading for a long period of time. 

Looking at the time constraint, I made an inquiry box and asked them to post their queries and questions on the same. Next day when I checked to my surprise most of the students got convinced and understood the significance of reading. 

But I am still awaiting for the words from the students who have not posted anything!

Thursday 1 March 2012

Student who interrupt in class...

What can we do about students who interrupt in class? or what shouldn't we do with students who interrupt? 

Well, all teachers have to deal with students who interrupt in class and they can cause real life problems if not dealt efficiently and effectively. These are the students who shout, interrupts during discussion by making rude or silly comments or generally ignore teacher instructions.

As teachers, we need to understand why these students feel the need to behave like this. The most common reason for their behaviour is that they need attention or wish to gain recognition/status. They are missing the sense of belonging and try various strategies to draw attention to themselves.

Therefore, to cater to their need and to have win-win situation, we need to synergize and provide them with the activities that encourages cooperative learning, engage them with different roles and responsibilities, praise and appreciate them in public, talk to them with patience, set some natural consequences for them, talk to their parents and understand their perspective, before starting a class ask the whole class to meditate and begin their day on a positive note, if you wish you can share or pass some positive vibration by words/short story to them or read aloud than please do that, re-emphasize on the 7 habits and give them small exercises or roles to perform.

In short, you can grab this opportunity to use this behaviour to teach appropriate social skills. And remember teaching behaviour is just as important as teaching academic subjects.