History
When I first started teaching the very important skill of reading I
asked my Grandmother how I had learnt to read. She said, "When you started school you could not read but one day I heard you read at home and was pleasantly surprised." She then assumed I may have been reading from memory and asked me to read from another book and found to her surprise that I could actually read!
Her answer was of no help to me so I started off by using the direct method, for at that time I knew not of the many approches to reading.
In retrospect, it was obvious that the foundations of both languages, Bengali and English were established and nurtured at home.
I come from a culture where great importance is placed on memorization and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are recited with confidence and pride. The different genres of literature that have emerged over the centuries are a result of the vibrant
oral culture that still prevails in the subcontinent.
This was many years ago and since then my views on teaching and learning have changed dramatically.
Diversity
I am a great believer in diversity and thrive on its many layered meanings. I think children should be given the opportunity to realize that they are different from each other yet alike in many other ways. We are all very diverse individuals and live in many worlds. I live many lives in my role as a daughter, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, learner artist, author, dancer, cook, cleaner, gardener and dreamer. It is all these experiences that we bring to the classroom and try to enrich our lessons.
Equity
However, I think the concept of equity is absolutely essential to compassion. This is where the boundaries of a classroom and the school need to blend in with its community. It is essentially our interest that generates care and compassion. We are all responsible for the have gots and have nots of the world and it is through a successful education that we can reduce the huge difference .
Creativity
Finally, to be free to think is absolutely essential for creativity. I feel alive only when I am creative and can work with new ideas. I believe that everyone is creative in their own unique way but have yet to unleash themselves. For me, one of the most vivid representations of creativity and freedom is Gaudi's architectural style, with its playful yet sensitive exuberance of shapes, form and colours. I think it is our duty as teachers to help children realize this kind of freedom to think and create.
asked my Grandmother how I had learnt to read. She said, "When you started school you could not read but one day I heard you read at home and was pleasantly surprised." She then assumed I may have been reading from memory and asked me to read from another book and found to her surprise that I could actually read!
Her answer was of no help to me so I started off by using the direct method, for at that time I knew not of the many approches to reading.
In retrospect, it was obvious that the foundations of both languages, Bengali and English were established and nurtured at home.
I come from a culture where great importance is placed on memorization and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are recited with confidence and pride. The different genres of literature that have emerged over the centuries are a result of the vibrant
oral culture that still prevails in the subcontinent.
This was many years ago and since then my views on teaching and learning have changed dramatically.
Diversity
I am a great believer in diversity and thrive on its many layered meanings. I think children should be given the opportunity to realize that they are different from each other yet alike in many other ways. We are all very diverse individuals and live in many worlds. I live many lives in my role as a daughter, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, learner artist, author, dancer, cook, cleaner, gardener and dreamer. It is all these experiences that we bring to the classroom and try to enrich our lessons.
Equity
However, I think the concept of equity is absolutely essential to compassion. This is where the boundaries of a classroom and the school need to blend in with its community. It is essentially our interest that generates care and compassion. We are all responsible for the have gots and have nots of the world and it is through a successful education that we can reduce the huge difference .
Creativity
Finally, to be free to think is absolutely essential for creativity. I feel alive only when I am creative and can work with new ideas. I believe that everyone is creative in their own unique way but have yet to unleash themselves. For me, one of the most vivid representations of creativity and freedom is Gaudi's architectural style, with its playful yet sensitive exuberance of shapes, form and colours. I think it is our duty as teachers to help children realize this kind of freedom to think and create.