Courage and Patience - Ashtalakshmi RPKM

Well, when there is mention of impatient students, the first instance which comes to my mind is about the previous batch of students I had as a class teacher. Class VII - B, 2022 batch had this incredibly brilliant young boy who displayed quite the traits of competitiveness, curiosity, and dedication.

This often led him to come across as impatient during various situations. He used to go through the lessons beforehand at home, which was impressive initially. But with time, during the classes, his habit of frequent interruptions in the name of ‘him throwing some more light on the current topic with unnecessary facts and references' developed and started to become a nuisance for the teachers as well his classmates. 

Later on, his impatient behaviour was evident outside of academics as well - in sports activities and lunch breaks. Most of the students started avoiding him for that reason, and if someone responded or reacted to his actions, it used to end up in conflict. This was leading to an atmosphere of anxiety and negativity amongst many of my students and seemed unhealthy. 

This is how I started incorporating little changes and adjustments, followed by the improvements: 

1. I started encouraging note-taking during my classes, which involved noting down the timeline of the lesson and keywords. This helped as the students had to emphasize understanding the concepts better while writing in between. More engagement leads to a better flow during the class. 

2. Besides, I started to emphasize exchanging questions and answers after lecture. This way, they were compelled to focus more on the learning and understanding part. 

3. I included a short briefing on the importance of being a team player, followed by team-building exercises for the students. It helped them understand better how team-led goals are as important as individual goals. 

4. I had to jumble the chapters twice or thrice too- to bring spontaneity and help that impatient student break out of the habit. It was really helpful, as he had less information to share and he was simply unprepared. This seemed cruel at that time, but helpful in the long run. 

5. I counselled him about the perks of being a good listener like how it helps us in being more eloquent, disciplined, and charming. The change was not visible, however, in a few weeks he was a lot more restrained and composed during the classes. In fact, students started including him in classroom activities.

In order to deal with someone impatient, it is very important to keep patience and call it out in a creative manner, especially in the case of students. Because, if handled insensitively, it might lead to hindering a bright young student from speaking; And, usually a student suddenly turning quiet ends up being labelled as 'dull' resulting in another problem.

This is a story of my own life. As a little girl what I am going to share with you today is something that l have archived and it had a lot to do with some fear that was there in my heart from a very young age and maybe you are going to learn something from it. 

So, when I was a little kid, I was very scared of mathematics. I could never even get a passing score. I used to always flunk in maths, and that was like a way of life for me, like I knew and my family knew that she would be able to score in other subjects but she can not do anything about mathematics.

No matter what she does with other things, she cannot pass maths, and that is something that I had also accepted as a way of life and I believed in it as I said. If l want to be promoted to the other class I will have to make sure that I do not flunk in any other subject, because then flunking in two would mean that there was no new promotion for me. So I had to make sure that I could get a passing score, so yeah I mean I was an average student I picked up a little better but anyway, that's how it went on till class seven. 

Always flunking in maths, never ever getting a passing score. And finally, class eight happened. I told myself that this time I'm going to try and I'm going to pass in maths, and I decided to get 40 because setting small goals was my thing. It still is, so I set my mind to 40 and I got 40 okay in the very next exams. Then, in the next ones I plan to get a 70, I scored a 70. Then in the next one, I decided to do better, and I got an 86 yeah !!! This is a story of over many years, and in the class of 12, I decided that I am going to get a 100. And you know what, I got 100!!

So what did we learn from the story? 

 

My math is strong. That wasn't the motive, then the motive behind the story is, I probably was scared. I always had that thing in me that l could do very well with maths, but I was so scared and I had accepted it as a way of life. And I believed in the thing that math is not for me. l can not be good at maths. And I accepted it and that is why I never worked on it. And I always believed that no matter what, I can never actually do well with this subject. 

I was so scared to even try and I believe this is something that is happening with you right now with our English. We are so scared of trying, we are so scared of facing the fear that some of us have accepted it as a way of life for us. We believe that everything else will work out for you but English, good communication in English, and Good conversation in English are not going to happen for us which is not true. All we've to do is to set our mind to try. We have to try!!!

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

Brilliant Minds Come Together - Global Edfest

'Global Educators Fest 2023'! #GoodSchoolsAlliance. Imagine, 743 brilliant minds came together in Jaipur to celebrate education. Quite the intellectual fiesta, we must say! Good Schools Alliance - exclusive Community Partner #GoodSchoolsAlliance #SGEF2023 #GlobalEdFest Good Schools Alliance Schools and program partners are in alliance for Lifelong Learning and exploring new interests at My Good School.

Courage and Patience - Samriddhi RPKM

To enjoy the fruit of life, we need to learn how to “SOW” the seed of patience, “GROW” the plant of courage which will bear the “FRUIT” of victory as shown in the picture. 

Situation 1:- A fearful student 

As an enthusiastic and passionate educator, I found myself facing a unique challenge in my teaching career. In my classroom of diverse and talented students, there was a little girl named Arushi who was a new student.

I noticed the fear in her eyes and the unease in her body language. During the first few days, she always used to tap her pencil and look restless. I understood that her fear might be due to the desire to fit in with her new classmates.

Instead of reprimanding her, I decided to approach the situation with empathy and understanding. One morning, when the class settled down, I gathered the students in a circle and initiated an activity named "Welcome circle". Each student was encouraged to share something about themselves that others might not know. This activity not only helped Arushi feel included but also allowed the other students to see her as more than just a new student. 

During that activity, I also shared a personal story about my struggles with my fear when I was young. I explained how I overcame it with the support of my teachers. Arushi seemed intrigued by my story and appeared to find solace in the fact that she wasn't alone in feeling this way. 

I occasionally organised mindfulness exercises into my class routine. These activities and exercises not only helped Arushi manage her fear but also allowed the entire class to develop a sense of calmness and focus. 

As the days passed, she began to open up more and became an active participant in class discussions. I noticed that she started to ask questions and express her thoughts, even if she hesitated at times. I praised her efforts by encouraging her to continue sharing her ideas.

 

At the end of the year, she flourished academically and developed strong bonds with her classmates. During a farewell ceremony, Arushi stood in front of the class with a confident smile and delivered a heartfelt speech, thanking me for being a teacher who truly cared and believed in her. 

Situation 2: An impatient student 

Patience helps us to develop a healthy attitude. It improves our ability to accept setbacks and enjoy life more. There is a saying; “Good things come to those who wait.” It allows us to persevere and make more productive decisions, often leading to success. 

In my teaching career, I remember the year I faced a class filled with unusually impatient students. I noticed that my students couldn't sit still during lessons and were always eager for the next activity. Determined to help them cultivate patience and focus, I decided to embark on a unique teaching journey. 

One sunny morning, I announced a special project called "The Patience Quest." I explained that the students would have to participate in a series of challenges designed to test and improve their patience. 

The first challenge was called "The Waiting Game." Each student had to water a tiny seedling every

day and wait for it to grow into a beautiful plant. They learned that growth takes time and effort, just like learning. 

Next came "The Art of Silence." The students were asked to meditate for a few minutes every day, concentrating on their breath and calming their minds. At first, it was tough for the restless bunch, but with time, they started to appreciate the peace and focus that silence brought. 

As the weeks passed, I noticed a change in my students. They began to listen more attentively, complete their tasks diligently, and show understanding towards their peers. The class even started to encourage each other during challenging moments. 

For the grand finale of "The Patience Quest," I organised a scavenger hunt. The students were given clues that led them all around the school. They had to work together and solve riddles, testing their patience and teamwork. At the end of the hunt, they found a treasure chest filled with personalised certificates praising their newfound patience and perseverance. 

The once impatient students were now transformed into a more disciplined and focused class. They appreciated the value of patience and how it positively impacted their learning journey. It not only helped them academically but also nurtured their character. 

Conclusion:

Dealing with fearful and impatient students can be a challenge, but as an educator, you can implement various strategies to help them feel more comfortable and engaged in the learning process. Here are some tips to address the needs of fearful and impatient students: 

• Built trust and rapport. 
• Understand their concern by talking with them. 
• By providing constructive and encouraging feedback. 
• Incorporate different teaching methods and activities to accommodate various learning styles.
• Foster peer Interaction through collaborative learning activities, group projects and discussions. 
• Be Available for One-on-One Help. 
• Be patient and empathetic. 

Remember! Each student is unique, so adapt your approach to suit their needs. You can help fearful and impatient students thrive and develop a positive attitude towards learning by creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Courage and Patience: Prakriti RPKM

Patience is not very different from courage. It just takes longer- James Richardson

Situation 1- A fearful student 

As children explore the world around them, having new experiences and confronting new challenges are almost unavoidable for them. 

“Fears are common but they have to be dealt with early so they do not become extreme, persistent and develop into phobias”. 

Ways to deal with the situation:

In a classroom, there are different students with different behaviours and attitudes. Some are happy, cheerful, confident, responsive, active, inquisitive (sometimes inquisitive students are impatient), interactive, highly invested in studies, vocal, and punctual with the class work. Some are slow learners, underconfident, sad, fearful, silent, least interested in their studies, less punctual, and lacking in completing their assignments on time.

We as teachers have to strongly consider the concept of “ Individual differences” and understand that every student is different and possesses different strengths and weaknesses which have to be dealt with accordingly.

If we talk about a fearful student particularly, knowing the reason behind the fearful attitude of a student is very important. There might be multiple reasons:- 1. He might have done something wrong or might be involved in some wrongdoings or mischievous habits in school or outside. 2. He is not prepared for class and has not completed his homework assignments. The way to deal with a fearful student depends on the reason. In the case of reason 1, we have to counsel him and bring him back on the right track. As teachers, we have to build up that confidence level so that the student can share his actions with us. In the case of reason 2, we have to encourage him and make him aware of the benefits of studies, prospects, and what life he can live after studying and otherwise. Incident directly from the classroom: It was in the year 2022-23, there was a student who used to stay quiet and was scared most of the time. He was not able to express himself properly and was hesitant in even answering simple questions. After talking to his parents and his friends we came to know that his health condition was not good due to which he failed to study well and that made him fearful. We were successful in making him a more responsive and bright student by coordinating with his parents. We would like to share another story of a student who had a fear of swimming. He had a fear of deep water. One day, knowing his fear, he prepared himself to learn to swim. His motivation was to fight and save himself in adverse situations. He went swimming and was trying hard to learn it. Hardly three days had passed when another senior student who was swimming with him forced him to a depth of 16 feet and left him in the middle all alone. The senior wanted him to face the situation and overcome it. However, that student started drowning and almost lost his breath when he thought to try and somehow catch the corner. This was his last attempt. He started throwing his hands and legs just looking for the railing to catch it. Luckily this effort made him move towards the railing and he could reach the corner where he took a deep breath. This incident motivated him to learn swimming and at present, he knows every type of stroke in swimming and also diving. But here he was his own teacher, and the person who left him in the middle of the pool can also be called his teacher as he taught him to overcome his fear through hard work and sincere efforts. That senior student placed him in a situation of fear and let him think to himself how to fight it out. So with this story, it is beautifully conveyed that first and foremost the child himself is his teacher. Advice to Educators- 1. We as educators should be involved with our students not only on the professional front but at the personal front. 2. The concept of “Individual differences” should be followed because each child is different. 3. The educators should try to find the root cause of fear by taking help from the child and his parents. 4. Educators should prepare the child to face and overcome his/her fear.

5. Educators should involve parents. They should discuss and inform parents of their plans so parents can follow up accordingly at home. 6. Suggesting relaxing activities like meditation, yoga, etc. can help reduce stress. Situation 2: An impatient student and ways to deal with the situation: An impatient student might be impatient because of multiple reasons:- 1. He might not understand the concepts taught, making him impatient- We can deal with the situation by teaching the concepts clearly and providing him with the extra and individual attention that he may need. 2. It is his inborn nature or character trait– This type of impatience is difficult to handle and can be dealt with with a deep understanding of the child’s behaviour in different situations. 3. He understands the concepts well and he is impatient out of curiosity– This type of impatience can be dealt with easily by answering the student’s queries. It entirely depends on the competence of the teacher. There are many such incidents in our classroom where we deal with impatient students daily. There is a student who always comes up with queries, sometimes relevant and sometimes irrelevant. His queries are always related to the conceptual knowledge of the subject.

He has been a curious child from the start. With time, we have observed that there is a positive change in him. Now, he has become more sensible. Earlier he used to be impatient and restless but now he has become patient and calm. Advice to Educators:- 1. It is very important for us to be patient and calm while dealing with impatient students. 2. Knowing the root cause of impatience is very necessary. 3. Educators need to provide students with a comfort zone where they can open up and share their thoughts.

Prakriti @RPK Moradabad, India

Dhiraj Gupta, Naina Soni, Rekha Kapoor, Suman Singh, Naushaba Sami, Isha Sharma

A fearful and Impatient Student: Saumya RPKM

What is fear? 

Fear is a powerful and primitive human emotion which alerts us to the presence of danger. It is the good side of fear but on the other side, too much fear can harm self-confidence, it can prevent from achieving heights of success by destroying reality or being grounded in false beliefs. 

A fearful and impatient student 

There was a child in my class who used to stammer. He found it impossible to participate in any competition like poem recitation or elocution etc. When he stammered, he got anxious and when he got anxious he stammered even more. He used to sit still in the corner, knowing all the answers and just watching other kids— never participating in the activities. He also never participated in any conversations for fear that he might stammer. 

He was known as a good listener, but the fact was he just avoided talking because he knew what would happen if he spoke. I observed him for a few days to know the reason behind his behaviour: why he was so shy or different from others?

One fine day, I got to know about his stammering issue. I started talking to him, being friendly with him but he didn't involve himself much. It didn't stop me from encouraging him. I used to encourage him and provide him with chances to speak so he could regain his confidence.

It took time but his stammering lessened which boosted his confidence. Through encouragement, he got the courage and strength to face his fear and regain his lost confidence. In the teaching profession, we see these kinds of children who are struggling with speech issues. But with patience and consistency, teachers can help them. 

Advice to educators: As an educator, I and my group would like to suggest- 

1. Teachers should deal with these kinds of children (lack of confidence, shyness etc.) with calmness. 
2. Teachers should encourage children by giving them as many chances as possible. 
3. Teachers should teach them the attitude of never giving up in difficult or frightening situations (like exams, competitions etc). 
4. Teachers should boost children's morale so they can stand up on their feet firmly (without hesitation). 

"Courage is the Power of the mind to overcome fear" - Martin Luther King JR. 

Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.

In the past, I encountered an impatient student who was eager to move ahead with the lesson. To address their restlessness, I took a moment to talk with the student privately after class. I listened attentively to their concerns and empathised with their desire for more challenging material. 

I acknowledged their enthusiasm for learning and explained that while I understood their feelings, it was crucial to ensure that all students grasp the foundational concepts before progressing. 

To keep the student engaged, I promised to explore more advanced topics in the near future and encouraged them to take an active role in class discussions. 

This way, they could contribute their knowledge and potentially spark deeper conversations. By validating the student's eagerness and providing a plan for future learning, I aimed to channel their impatience into positive motivation for academic growth. 

Patience is the skill to accept or tolerate delay without becoming annoyed or anxious and without responding in disrespect or anger. 

Experience has taught me, that we undo ourselves through impatience. 

"To lose patience is to lose the battle" - By Mahatma Gandhi 

Saumya @ RPK School Moradabad

Rashmi Wright, Ekta Sharma, Rajni Gupta, Shafali Johri, Asha Singh, Beena Singh, Nidhi Narula

Patience and Courage - Ananta RPKM

Hope in the guise of the Maths Teacher 

Patience is one of the principal abilities of a teacher. Patience while encouraging and explaining topics to the students gives them a sense of courage and the belief that they can achieve anything. 

The same thing happened to me when I was appointed as a maths teacher in one of the schools on the outskirts of my town. 

On the first day, I introduced myself to the students and asked them to introduce themselves. Every child enthusiastically introduced himself, but one child caught my eye. He neither introduced himself nor was he curious to know about the subject. 

I noticed that he used to copy all the digits in reverse. For almost a week, I observed him, and then I understood he was suffering from dyslexia. His parents were illiterate and didn't know what the issue was with their child. 

As a teacher, I wanted to give colours to that boy's hands so that he could colour his life. 

I tried to speak with him, but he didn't talk to me. It took me another week to break the ice. Then, one day, in a playful manner, I tried to teach him about letters and digits. I tutored him during the extra periods and sometimes after school. After 2 months of practice, he finally started to improve.

I used to encourage him to participate in different extracurricular activities too. After my constant upliftment, he showed courage and participated in an inter-school debate competition. He was very nervous, but I motivated him that he could do everything he wanted to. He stepped on the stage, and with all his might, he gave his best. He didn't win, but everyone was surprised and appreciated his improvement. 

After that, he gained confidence and started performing well in academics. It took six months of patience and courage to make him what he is now. I was so overjoyed, as if I were the one who passed with flying colours. That time, I understood how a teacher's attitude towards students can mould their lives. 

Ananta @ RPK Moradabad, India

Bhawna Arora, Parul, Poonam Mehra, Ashita, Rajni Mehra, Neha, Anshika, Asha Mamgain

 

 

Fearful Student and Impatient Student: Avighna RPKM

Dealing with Challenging Students 

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

• A fearful student

• An impatient student

Q. 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: A fearful student 

There was a student who was very dull and a slow writer, it was really hard to even make her utter a single word. The teacher was facing a troublesome time while working with her. 

So after many counselling sessions, it was found that the child was being abused and threatened by her parents for being a dull student. They were using all sorts of strictness on that 7-year-old girl for not being a bright child. Once her palm was all tortured with a pencil tip and she showed it to her teacher and told her everything. 

The teacher talked to her parents and made them understand that not all students are perfect score holders and that their methods are unjust and cruel. They need to be patient and loving towards her if they want to see her perform well.

The violence had made her submissive. They understood everything and felt very guilty. After that, they stopped forcing her and showed her affection. Both teachers and parents started praising her for every little thing she accomplished. 

The results were all fruitful. After some time, she gradually improved and did better in her academics. She was finally feeling safe and appreciated as every child should. 

Situation 2: An impatient student. 

According to us, there are many situations we all have faced in our teaching journey. Here are a few examples of when we have witnessed impatient students: 

•When they're waiting for their exam results. 

•When they're waiting for a friend who's running late. 

•When they're stuck in traffic and running late for school. 

•When their computer or phone is taking too long to load or download something. 

•When they're waiting for a package to arrive and it's taking longer than expected. 

•When a student is waiting for the bell to ring at the end of the day but it's taking too long. 

•When a student is waiting for their teacher to grade their assignment but it's taking longer than expected. 

•When a student is waiting for their turn to speak during a class discussion but other students keep interrupting them. 

•When a student is waiting for their school's sports team to win a big game but it's a close match and the outcome is uncertain. 

•When a student is waiting for their turn to perform in school programs but they're nervous and anxious. 

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

Yes, we all were successful in helping these students in overcoming such situations by - 

• Trying to understand the motives for their impatience and finding ways to help them manage their frustration. 

• Encouraging them to take a step back and consider the situation from a different perspective. 

• Suggest some mindfulness exercises to help them stay calm and focused. 

• Trying to find ways to make the waiting process more engaging and enjoyable for the student.

   For example, listening to music or reading a book while they wait. 

• Reminding them of the benefits of being patient and encouraging them to stay positive.  

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

Create a supportive and encouraging learning environment. Teachers should be patient, understanding, and compassionate toward their students. They should also provide opportunities for students to practice facing their fears in a safe and controlled setting. Additionally, educators can use positive reinforcement to help build students' confidence and self-esteem.

Avighna @RPK Moradabad, India

Ritika, Shwetank Singh, Evon Anthony, Neeru, Saymeen, Swadha, Deeksha