Only a teacher understands what a child is going through: Adheesh Shrawan
The lockdown for me has been such a new and fresh experience. As I am single with ample time in my hands, I have managed to learn and teach so many new things to my students. This pandemic made me learn how to be calm, focused and able to tackle the stress. While in the classroom a teacher can use blackboard and other interactive materials to demonstrate and explain the topic, the sources in online classes are limited. There are many students who are feeling trapped in their homes and lack of outdoor activities is making them depressed. This is creating a void in learning and practicing. Only a teacher can understand what the child is going through and can try and fill this void. Even teachers are affected by the stressful times and actually planning for the online classes, guiding and advising students have paved a way for us to get some relief.
Adheesh teaches Mathematics at Hayde Heritage Academy, Uttarakhand.
Essence of physical classrooms can never be replaced: Varnika Singh
A student spends more than 1,000 hours with teachers in a typical school year. It has been marred by the coronavirus pandemic this year. Teachers are connected to their students virtually but the essence of a physical classroom can never be replaced. The situation has in many ways become an unprecedented test for a teacher-student relation, as the classroom interaction, eye contact, the elaborative discussions and the contentment of sharing the ideas can never be attained through virtual platforms. As hope sustains life, I believe the passion and positive outlook towards the current situation will soon be rewarded with fruitful results.
Varnika teaches English at Ajanta Public School, Gurugram.
Feeling more connected with students in Covid-19 times: Asha Negi
One gets to believe that lockdown life is all about quality time with our families following an easy routine but it is not so. Work from home is a reality for teachers. For me as a teacher, it has been a great and cheerful experience to teach students online. This pandemic situation taught us that we should not lose hope and taught us to manage in these difficult times. Online teaching has been a good way to connect with the students and continue with their classes from home. It helps us to use innovative means to teach our students. The students are more connected with us and are free to ask whatever they want to. We are much better connected now than ever with the student when they are at home. Stress in these trying times is quite common. We have dealt with the stress by bringing in creativity in our teaching. This has kept us occupied and happy.
Asha is a primary teacher at Hayde Heritage Academy, Uttarakhand.
Pandemic underlines the importance of human connections: Prabhjot Singh Khurana
The inconveniences caused by the lockdown are evident but there’s also a silver lining. The absence of commuting means extra time; which has helped me tap my creative potential. For instance, writing and expressing myself through videos. Furthermore, it has allowed me to look for and create online documents and tools that help me in my classes. The pandemic has underlined the importance of human connections. It has also proven that working from home is possible in many, if not all domains. As a result, we’re using resources wisely which is healthy for the world in general. From respecting my workspace and my time to helping me out with challenges big or small, my family has been incredibly supportive during this period. On a personal front, We are able to spend more time together which has allowed us to strengthen our bond.
Prabhjot teaches French at Alliance Française de Delhi.
Bond of love, affection makes us look forward to classes: Sugandh Sehgal
Actually, almost all of us started living life only after lockdown. This has taught us many lessons. Starting from valuing life to showing gratitude to the Almighty for all the things that have been provided to us to make our life worth living on this wonderful planet. We miss our classroom and children but it’s good that at least we can stay connected with them. In no time the commotion and noise as it appeared during the regular physical classes changed to cute little voices like birds chirping and soothing the soul during the online classes. This lockdown has shaped this wonderful bond between the student and teacher, this bond of love and affection makes us teachers look forward to our classes. Initially we did feel stress as we were being restricted from following a daily schedule we were used to. If we understand that this is an opportunity to correct the way we live there will be stress no more.
Sugandh is a primary teacher at Hayde Heritage Academy, Uttarakhand.
You can’t become an educator before becoming a learner: Alka Kapur
The pandemic has made us look beyond our comfort zones. As teachers, we have spent all our lives interacting with our students in the classrooms. From chalk and dusters to computer screens and conferencing apps, we have embarked on an enthralling journey of learning and adapting in this new normal. You cannot become an educator without being a learner first. Teaching comes with great responsibility, and as the stakeholders of our country’s bright future, we have to ensure that we deliver quality education to children — regardless of the type and magnitude of crisis that stands in our way. Despite the challenges though, we are committed to each other and we’re supporting each other mentally and academically. Social distancing has posed a challenge to the sacred relationship of a teacher and a student. A child spends most of his/her time with the teachers during the school hours and this bond is very crucial to shape the naïve minds of children. To bring back the academic zeal, we have to foster a positive mindset and keep moving forward with determination and enthusiasm.
Alka Kapur is the principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.
