One to One Sessions Do Work
Sailaja Koduri has been shaping the future of children through her teaching since 20 years now, from which 12 years have been written for Meridian School, Hyderabad. She teaches english to classes 8th and 9th and talks about her teaching style with Next Gurukul.
Q. How has digital education helped with your teaching style?
Considering that english is not a picture subject but lots of content, smart classes help the children in being engaged in the subject through the audio-visual content, especially like in Shakespeare’s plays. I explain the content first, take a pause and put on the visual content, to help the students understand through graphics what has just been taught. This in fact keeps them interested in the subject throughout the class.
Q. How do you manage the under-performing students?
I undertake lots of activities in the class, which help me getting to know a child’s aptitude and talent. Thereon, I provide the students with activity worksheets and activity classes which helps them to understand the content and retain the same.
Moreover, we schedule extra classes with students who are weak or average to help them with studies. Apart from this, if I still find a student struggling with the subject or a chapter, I take on one-one sessions with him, to work on his learning capacity. This method is tried and tested and has actually helped stduents.
Q. Any specific strategy to tackle tough students?
I’d like to explain this with a personal example. There was once a child who though used to come to school, but hardly was seen attending any class. The primary motive of his teachers was to make him attend classes first then work upon his studying skills. So, I one day went upto him and said “I am resigning, because as a teacher I have failed to do justice with my profession, with not even able to make you attend classes.”
The next day, that student was in my class. Scolding and losing your temper with children in certain cases might backfire. The best way is to counsel them and make them feel responsible of their actions and the consequences for their future.
Q. Students today easily get distracted. What is your say on motivating them?
I take up motivational stories in my classes, not particularly subject related, but generally, to lighten the heavy study atmosphere and to give students a break. This way the students freshen up along with getting motivated. One can also tell real life small motivational incidents as students directly relate with living examples.
For primary classes, one can take up various activities while expalining. For instance, a verb game play where the teacher writes every verb in a sentence with a different color chalk, asking the students to do the same. This way the students will easily be able to differentiate between verbs and the rest of the words and without much mentral strain.
Q. Some must-have qualities which teachers should carry?
A teacher should always be patient when dealing with children in addition to being approachable. In the current scenario, where the students are exposed and are brought up in the techno surroundings, it is important for the teacher to be easily approachable to understand the midnset of students. Love for children is another must have quality which a teacher should possess.
Q. Advice for students and parents?
Students: Believe in what you do and have faith yourself. There are millions of people across the globe, but still God made you. The reason is, he might be expecting you to do something which the millions are not able to. You are unique in your own way.
Parents: Believe and have trust in the teachers. She takes every child as her own, she will carve him in the best shape possible. Communicate with your child, even if it means small talks over dinner, but communication is important. Let him know, you are always available.
