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Showing posts from January, 2012

Testing Times

I cringe whenever I see parents pacing up and down the corridors as they wait for their 5 year old to come out from the "EXAMINATION" hall after a few hours. Hours of testing their maths, language, and social skills along with their intelligent quotient. To tell you the truth, I am still developing my social skills, so what social skills can a 5 year old have?! Shouldn't schools be a safe haven where any child can go? Isn't it their right? Then why the admissions test? All schools should be be able to take in these children and help them achieve 'their' full potential instead of churning out successful graduates. I can feel the agony of the parents when they get a polite letter of rejection. What they read is: " Your child is not good enough." And what is good enough?? "Your child does not have the potential." Define potential please! Today, my students were writing about their dreams of what a future India should look like. My d...

Teacher Leadership: Skills and Dispositions

By nainisingh | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon Are you a teacher leader? If you think I mean sitting in an office all day and pounding on your computer and issuing orders...and making enemies in the process, then abandon this premise! All you have to do is stick your neck out a little bit and follow your dreams. Find something in your environment that needs changing. Be passionate. Passion is contagious. . So now that everyone is infected with your passion, what is your role? Can you model the appropriate behaviour? (In other words, practice what you preach). Can you sustain this passion in others? Are you focused and do you always keep the students in your mind? What could be the challenges that lie ahead of you? Doubt? Negativity? Fear? Can you conquer them? Shrug them off? Can you take that bold step and make a change in the lives of your students, peers and school? Can you make a difference in other people's lives in ways that extend beyond your cl...

Encouraging leadership among teachers

Our group blog,initiated/created by, Edna Sackson  has been nominated as one of the best group blogs. By nominating blogs, what purpose is served? Teachers feel validated. Many of us take time out of our lives to engage in discourse. Teachers find a way to communicate about their work. They dialogue, argue and solidify their understandings of issues. They engage in collaborative work. They feel as though they belong to a community of learners. This can be a big relief to those who feel isolated within their classroom walls. By acknowledging our group efforts, Edublog had created leaders and encouraged leadership among people. Thank you for recognizing us! Check out the blog. Come join us and keep the conversation going! Inquire Within