Compilation and Editing – Nikita Dewase
Chakrighat – Alumni students’ determination to learn
– Komal Gautam
I have been teaching primary school children for quite some time. But recently, I got the opportunity to teach alumni students the ones who had studied earlier but had left school for some time.
At first, I was a little nervous. Teaching older students made me doubt myself. I kept wondering, “What will I teach them? How will I teach them?”
When I started teaching Wali, Kallu, Jeevan, Mahesh, Kisan, and Hansa, all my doubts slowly disappeared. As I began working with them, a strong bond of trust and communication started to grow between us.
I first assessed their learning levels. Some of them were doing well, but all of them were eager to learn English. They were excited to read, write, and speak in English. Initially, I was very cautious while teaching them, but gradually, they began interacting with me on their own. Now they openly share their experiences and thoughts with me.
They are not just learning in the classroom they have also started participating in various activities. Whether it’s making posters for the hut, expressing their opinions in parent meetings, or taking part in community events, they are active everywhere. Their participation and confidence show how strong their desire to learn still is.
Today, their classes are going on regularly. Even when they don’t have much time, they come to me and say, “Didi, please teach us today.” Their enthusiasm for learning remains as strong as ever.
From this, I realized that when children’s determination and willingness to learn are guided properly, it can bring remarkable results. With small efforts and a relationship built on trust, we can see real progress and positive change begins to appear in their lives.
Asola – Great Preparation by Little Teachers
– Prachi Borekar
Like every year, this year too we celebrated Teacher’s Day on our campus. The program began on time, and our students participated with great enthusiasm.
Seeing the excitement and happiness on their faces truly filled my heart with joy.
Each student chose a topic and came prepared with a beautiful lesson plan. They had put in a lot of sincere effort. Their confidence was clearly visible in the way they spoke, moved, and taught.
That day, the children truly became teachers. Right from the morning, many of them asked me curiously, “Madam, how do you make such interesting activities? Where do you get them from?”
I then explained about different teaching resources, shared their names, and showed them how to find and use them effectively.
They had already decided what and how they wanted to teach and they presented it wonderfully. Some gave examples, some conducted small activities, and others told short stories. The classroom was filled with both learning and laughter.
When the students introduced themselves as “I am Varsha Madam,” “I am Prachi Madam,” “Aditya Sir,” “Golu Sir,” “Kanchan Madam,” and “Janvi Madam,” the beauty of that moment was beyond words. The confidence in their eyes shone brightly on their faces.
The children played the role of a teacher with full confidence. They planned their lessons in advance and taught them with clarity and creativity. Everyone tried a different teaching style some used examples, while others led short, engaging activities making the day highly interactive and fun for all.
That day, I realized something special, when children are given responsibility and opportunity, they don’t just learn they discover a new confidence within themselves.
Teacher’s Day wasn’t only a celebration for teachers; it was a beautiful exchange a gift of both teaching and learning.
Sonkhamb – Parents’ Meeting: An Experience That Gave Wings to Dreams
– Pritam Nehare
Today’s parents’ meeting was conducted in a very unique way. There was a feeling that new steps were taking flight, soaring high with ambition.
The children were given the opportunity to reach for the sky. They shared what they want to do in the future and what they aspire to become each child took a step forward in presenting their dreams. They expressed their thoughts and aspirations beautifully in words.
Dreams are not only the children’s; parents also envision them. This meeting guided parents on how to support their children and help them achieve their goals and dreams.
The aim of the meeting was not just to observe the children’s dreams but to give them new identity, new ideas, and new aspirations. Discussions revolved around what the children are good at, how they have grown, what they need now, where improvements are needed, and which steps they should take next. Additionally, a process for installing meters, which had been pending since last year, finally got a solution. Today, every parent in the class was ready to contribute towards the meters and took the initiative themselves.
The children presented their dreams confidently, and every parent was present with their child. Usually, only one parent (the mother) attends, but this time both parents were present, which was a very significant change.
Ratan Didi had written about children’s dreams in Gujarati what the children want to become and what the parents’ expectations are. These parental dreams were also inspiring. The children taking bold steps were given the opportunity to fulfill their parents’ expectations.
Those who could read on the board read out the dreams the children had written and shared them with each other. Some children dreamt of becoming engineers, while others wanted to help in their family business.
Through Gauri, the children received guidance.
- Ajay dreams of becoming a lawyer.
- Vikram wants to become a doctor and help the people in the community.
- Tejal aspires to become a police officer.
- Jay dreams of joining the army.
This meeting inspired both the children and the parents regarding their dreams and gave them the opportunity to take the next steps forward.
Thanthan – The Excitement of Learning
– Mayur Gedam
I have been teaching children from the Bharwad community for the past few months. At first, I thought teaching them would be very easy.
I believed that if I wrote something on the board, they would quickly learn it, read it, and write it. But in reality, it wasn’t that simple. Their lives are very different. School and studies are a completely separate world for them. Even amidst the busyness of their daily work, they want to learn and explore new things.
I teach primary-level children, and most of the students in my class are girls. These girls often have daily responsibilities, which make it difficult for them to attend classes regularly. For example, some would say, “I had to take care of my siblings because my mother went to the village.” As a result, even the girls who used to come regularly started missing classes. I realized that these absences were affecting the learning of the students who did attend regularly.
To solve this problem, I made consistent efforts. I started going to their homes to explain to them why learning is important. Through various approaches, I helped them understand the value of education. I also began preparing class plans according to their learning levels and interests. I included activities that were engaging and connected to real-life situations, which gradually started to bring a positive change in them.
As a result, the girls began to enjoy learning. They would go home excitedly saying, today we learned this, today we played this game.” They began to enjoy my teaching methods, and gradually they learned to balance their daily responsibilities with education. They now attend regularly and take genuine joy in learning.
Seeing the enthusiasm in their eyes, I realized how strong their desire to learn really is. When they read a word correctly or solve a problem successfully, the joy on their faces is immense.