Courage and Patience - Welham Boys' School

1. A Fearful student

Every time we encounter different types of students who might be fearful or impatient. These students should be dealt with carefully and patiently to cater to their needs. We need to be patient with these students as we don't usually know what triggers their behaviours and why they behave the way they are. Child psychology plays a significant role here in both situations.

First, let us talk about a fearful child.
A child usually fears the teacher because he/she feels that the teacher might scold or make fun of them for something easy for students to understand but difficult for that particular child. The child fears that other fellow students might make fun of him for asking such a silly question, or the child might simply be introverted and scared to speak up in front of everyone. As a teacher and an efficient educator, I would like to hold a personal question-answer session where children can come up to me personally and ask me questions if they fear asking in front of the whole class. I also appreciate the students if they ask questions in the course no matter how big or small the question is because no two people have the same ability to understand. Every student is essential and unique in their own way.

2. An Impatient student

In the second situation of an impatient child, I usually tell them to wait for 5 seconds in their mind and then speak. I also often encourage them to be more patient before asking questions or doing a group task. These children are more challenging to deal with than fearful students because they are hyper and impatient. They have to be trained gradually to wait and think before speaking and doing a task or submitting their homework. They should be taught that everyone will get a chance to speak or volunteer, and they have to raise their hands and wait for their turn to say or do any work.

We conclude that roses and lilies cannot be compared; likewise, two students with different needs and personalities should not be compared to each other, as every student is different and unique in their own way.

As teachers, it's our responsibility to ensure that all the children get equal attention and guidance according to their own personal needs.

B) Advice to educators who want to inculcate the values of courage and impatient in their students.

Teaching students courage in the classroom increases engagement and academic achievement but also helps students learn how to handle adversity. You might not think children endure many hardships, but they do — they try new things every day at school! You can effectively inspire courage in the classroom by teaching students what it means to be courageous and what it looks like in real-life situations.

Let your students know that when things are difficult, it's OK to be fearful and make mistakes — that's how we learn! Encourage students to try new things that seem difficult, including trying fresh foods, learning a new sport, speaking in front of the class, or standing up for a friend in need.

Courage does not need to be a big affair; it can be as small as raising your hand to ask a question. Sometimes courage is quiet, meaning there is not always applause at the end. Teachers must encourage, recognize, and celebrate when students show courage because they might not realize they're doing it. Students also need to learn how to voice their opinions and respectfully disagree with others, which can come in handy when the time comes for them to stick up for what they believe in.

To inspire your students to be courageous, you can discuss characters in stories and novels that could have shown courage. Ask questions and listen to what they think courage looks like. You also can purposefully study famous courageous figures for the students. Discuss with your students and see what they have to say about the courage these figures have shown.

Patience is more than just the ability to wait. It's how we behave while we're waiting. Not only is patience a success principle, but patience is also a skill. And like all skills, patience can be learned. There are many benefits of patience. From the ability to make more rational choices to the craft of focusing and obtaining long-term goals, patience can make a big difference in a person's life. The best way to learn patience is to practice patience, but sometimes, that is easier said than done.

Patience is essential for everybody to learn. And you know, It's easier to be patient as an adult if you learn to be patient as a child. Children whose parents strive to teach patience when they're young grow up to have more self-control and long-term critical thinking skills. In fact, many child development experts argue that teaching children to be patient is an essential step in child development.

5 Steps to Teaching Kids Patience

Step 1 – Teach Patience by Starting Small. Most young children aren't born patient.

Step 2 – Wait for A Little Longer (Avoid Instant Gratification).

Step 3 – Acknowledge The Difficulty in Waiting Patiently.

Step 4 – Practice Patience through Play.

Step 5 – Model Patience Yourself!

Neelima Parmar, Vandana Sahay and Monika Gupta
Welham Boys' School 
JOL Cohort 2022

Courage and Patience - Shalini Solanki

A Fearful Student

I had an experience with a fearful student in my class during this session. This student was new in the school and was struggling to settle in the classroom. He would not speak or respond to anyone in the class. I had to remind him to submit his things to me or eat during the lunch break. He would never share anything in circle time or enjoy any co-curricular activities. I observed him for a few days and thought of speaking to his mother to know about him. I gave a routine call to his mother. To my surprise, I got to know different attitudes of this child from his mother. I got an idea about his discomfort and challenges in the class.

The next day I went to my class and started speaking to him about my personal life, likes and dislikes. Some other students also started discussing with their friends and family members. He then said about his friends and teachers from his previous school. I asked him to sit with his peers and try to make friends. I sensitized other students by taking a story about ‘The first day in my new school’ and discussed the difficulties that can be faced by any child who joins a new school. I asked the new child about him not getting involved with other students and activities. He told me that he is scared of the new environment and teachers. He thought his teachers would scold him if he was going to ask anything in the class or give wrong answers. He observed the happy faces of his teachers and peers and how comfortable everybody seemed to be with one another. He started taking the initiative, laughing, sharing and discussing in the school. He made many friends. I saw a totally different personality in this child. He was intelligent, attentive, and expressive, and his writing was praiseworthy. Everybody in the class helped this new child to overcome his fear. He was ultimately settled and happy.

My advice to educators:

1. Try to identify the problem of a child.
2. Speak to him/ her and try to solve the problem.
3. Sensitize students and create an environment of acceptance.
4. Give time and help the new child overcome his/ her fear
5. Make the classroom environment happy and welcoming.
6. Don’t jump to any conclusion.

An Impatient Student

There are many reasons for an impatient behaviour social, emotional, physical and mental. I experienced such behaviour in my class a few years ago. A student was always in a hurry to complete every task. He would never wait for his turn and always used to leave his written work incomplete. Even after regular reminders, he continued with the same attitude. He was an intelligent child, but the quality of work was impacted because he was in a hurry and did not complete it with patience. Once, during the circle time discussion, he shared that he doesn’t want to wait or write for whatever he knows already. He was impatient because he wished to challenge his work. He would want to wait to answer the questions unknown to him and write his own ideas rather than writing something discussed in the class. He was always excited to help others in their work. So I asked him to help his peers with their problems but only after finishing his work neatly. That way, his work was completed, and his curiosity was cared for. He was more than happy to help others and find ways to explain things to his peers.

My advice to educators:

1. Try to identify the problem of a child.

2. Some children need challenges. Teachers must give them opportunities.

3. Keep motivating your students.

Shalini Solanki

Gyanshree School
JOL Cohort 2022

Honesty and Respect - RPK School Moradabad

Joy Of Learning Cohort 2023 - 24

Somya RKPM
Nidhi, Shefali, Beena, Ekta, Rashmi and Evon

Aarya RKPM
Manisha, Natasha, Meeta, Nishi, Jyoti, Kaplna and Rashmi

Siddhi RKPM

Sanskriti, Swati, Priyanka, Lovely, Manjeet, Soni, and Sadhna

Aavighina RKPM

Ritika Wadhwa, Neeru Lathey, Shwetank, Deeksha Bhatia, Saymeen Akhtar, Neha Singh and Swadha 

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 - Prakriti RPKM

larryferlazzo.edublogs.org

Great teachers know what conditions are required for the growth of their students and provide them efficiently.

SITUATION 1 – AN UNHAPPY STUDENT

Q1. HAVE WE DEALT WITH AN UNHAPPY STUDENT?

A1.YES

Q2. HOW WILL YOU DEAL WITH THE SITUATION?

A2. We as teachers face multiple challenges daily, but what we feel is the most difficult and unfortunate challenge is having unhappy students in our class. Firstly, we as teachers should be able to make out the unhappy students in the class and then try to find the reason behind the situation because we can reach the solution to the problem only by knowing the root cause of the problem. There might be multiple reasons behind this, just to mention a few:-

1. The student might be new to the school.
2. The student might be new to the class due to a change in the section.
3. The student might be an introvert and needs help mixing up with the rest of the class.
4. The student needs to be more active and able to cope with the syllabus.
5. There might be some family problem which makes him distracted, tense and, in turn, unhappy.
6. There might be some health-related issue which leads to a lack of concentration, and the child becomes dissatisfied and unhappy.
7. The child is unhappy with the teacher’s behaviour and attitude, or let us take it the other way. The teacher is unhappy - they will then make unhappy students, and the class atmosphere will be whole negativity.
8. Some other student of the school is troubling the child.

After knowing the exact reason for the unhappiness, the situation can be dealt with accordingly.

Q3. If it was a real-life situation, were you successful in helping him/her overcome his/her problem?

A3. We as teachers have encountered many such situations but let us proceed with one specific case to answer this question. There was a student of Class VII who remained absent frequently, and when asked about his reason for absence in the Parent Teacher Meeting, his mother informed the teacher that most of the time, he was unwilling to come to school, and she asked us to inquire about the same. On asking about his behaviour and overall routine at home, we concluded that the child was an introvert and most of the time preferred to stay alone, and due to this reason, he did not have any friends in the class. Since he remained absent most of the time, his work on all the subjects needed to be completed. When work was not submitted for correction on time, the teachers used to ask the reason and time, and again he used to get reminders to complete his work. 

His mother told us that he feels terrible when any teacher reminds him or gets angry with him, which would be a natural reaction of any teacher. After all, it is the duty and job of a teacher to keep a check on students’ work routines. We can clearly see his Introvert behaviour led to multiple reasons for his unhappiness. The first step was to make him comfortable in the class and bring him out of his introverted zone. We could do this successfully with the support of his classmates as well. We asked everyone in the class to give him company, keep him involved and not leave him alone. He was involved in class discussions to make him feel more confident and happy.

We, as teachers, gave him that assurance that you are capable and can do it by asking him the simplest of questions, which he could answer. No doubt the questions were simple but the amount of confidence they instilled in him was tremendous. He started liking the class and, in turn, his studies and eventually became regular at school. It was not a one or two-day process. It took time but gave us positive results.

Q4. What is your advice to educators who want to inculcate these values in their students?

A4. The famous proverb is, “You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs”. That means it is impossible to do something good or accomplish an important task without encountering problems or making sacrifices. Being a teacher is not an easy task, and each day brings new challenges to be dealt with one at a time, patiently and calmly. Not every teacher needs to encounter similar problems. They might vary accordingly because no two individuals in this world are alike. Having said that, I don’t mean you will encounter zillions of problems. Issues are more or less common, and it is your way to deal with them by following some common set of rules.

We are teachers and clearly do not have a magic wand which can lead to a significant transformation in a jiffy! Keep working on the problem consistently, and you will surely get positive results. Lastly, to make the class happy, you must be satisfied because if you are unhappy, that will make the course painful.

SITUATION 2 – AN INTOLERANT CHILD

Q1. HAVE WE DEALT WITH AN UNHAPPY STUDENT?
A1. Yes, many times.

Q2. HOW WILL YOU DEAL WITH THE SITUATION?

A2. When dealing with an intolerant child, PATIENCE IS THE KEY. We have to patiently try to figure out the following two conditions:-

Condition 1 - Whether a particular student is showing such behaviour only under certain specific situations or people.

OR

Condition 2 - Whether his attitude is intolerant every time and with everybody.

How will we deal with Condition 1?
We will avoid such situations, people who make him restless and intolerant for the time being. We can only do that for a while. Once the student calms down and understands his/her behaviour, he/she will adapt to that situation/person. First, you have to calm him/her down. Then only he/she can understand and implement your instructions. This condition can be dealt with comparatively efficiently and in less time than Condition 2.

How will we deal with Condition 2?

If a child’s behaviour is intolerant every time and with everyone, then this is problematic, but of course, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. It requires a lot of input from the teacher in the form of time, energy and brain work. We need to understand the complete personality traits of that particular student to deal with him. We can explain better by taking an example – A patient visits the Doctor, and the Doctor asks about the problems and prescribes the required medicines. What if the patient is not ready to consider himself/herself a patient? The Doctor then has to deal with the situation entirely differently without making the patient feel like a patient. Similarly, if a student is intolerant, we must first make him feel normal without continuously highlighting the problem, which will worsen his attitude.

Q3. If it was a real-life situation, were you successful in helping him/her overcome his/her problem?

A3. Yes, we have encountered this problem in real life, and we were successful in minimising the problem. We will be dishonest if we say we completely eradicated the problem. Such problems need time, and they improve as the individual becomes more mature and capable of distinguishing between right/wrong and benefit/loss.

Q4. What is your advice to educators who want to inculcate these values in their students?

A4. Our advice to educators in situations like this will be to maintain patience and keep working on the problem. It is not easy to handle an intolerant student because you are not only taking care of the intolerant student, but you have to take care of the students/people towards whom that student is intolerant, as, at the end of the day, a teacher is responsible for the entire class. 

Let us put it like this for dealing with an intolerant student, you have to be tolerant towards many things. 

According to Helen Keller, ”The highest result of education is tolerance”.

With due credit to the author of the above lines, we as educators should add and read this quote like this:-
“The highest result of education is tolerance and the highest result of tolerance is quality education”.

Prakriti (Nature) @ RPK School Moradabad
Dhiraj Gupta, Naina Soni, Rekha Kapoor, Suman Singh, Sandeep Negi, Naushaba Sami and Isha Sharma.

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