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In this issue
Figuring out what’s (not) working
Usha Raman
While there has always been a learning gap in our country, the pandemic has only served to deepen the divide. Though enrollment in schools has increased and drop out rates have declined, teacher shortages, absenteeism and poor infrastructure continue to pose severe problems. So what is really happening inside our schools? The Annual State of Education Report (ASER), that is produced every year by Pratham
ASER – Shifting the narrative from schooling to learning
Vignesh Krishnan, Ngawang Lhakey and Isha Thakur
The Annual State of Education Report (ASER) is a nationwide household survey conducted to assess the reading and arithmetic levels of children from over 15000 villages across the country. Started and led by Pratham, a non-governmental organisation over two decades ago, it is one of the most significant initiatives ever carried out to assess the learning levels of chil
November 2022 | Off The Library Shelves
Literature in the language classroom
Sreya Rakshit
A literary text can open up whole new vistas for children in a language classroom because it gives them a chance to engage with ideas of inequality, emotions, gender, justice, integrity or even friendship without any sense of discomfort. In this article, the author explains how one such literary text, Dear Mrs. Naidu, helped her students reflect on various dense subjects.
Rebirth of reading
Suhail Abdul Hameed
Libraries usually serve as a memorable space for avid book lovers who love to just browse and perhaps even read the books that they choose. Everyone has their own experience of engaging with libraries as a space. This article throws light on efforts to create such a space for students in a government primary school in Chhattisgarh.
October 2022
Cover Story | October 2022
The Everything School
Sheela Ramakrishnan
Once upon a time, it was the role of the home to nurture social and emotional skills in children. Today schools are offering curriculums to teach these skills. Are societies and homes no longer places to imbibe these qualities? Won’t adding these curriculums increase the school’s workload? We take a closer look at SEL, why we need it and how teachers can incorpor
October 2022 | Things To Think About
Lend me your ears
Riya Dominic
To be able to contribute to meaningful dialogue, what we need is not just knowledge of the topic in question but also the ability to listen to the other person and keep an open mind. Can schools and colleges create an atmosphere that fosters these skills in young people?
Nature Watch | October 2022
Habitats: Forest canopies
Geetha Iyer
The canopy is the least explored but most important structure of a forest. With tree heights, especially in tropical forests, averaging a 100 feet, canopies are difficult for human beings to reach, which is why they are not as well explored. Canopies are also the parts that host a rich biodiversity. A knowledge of the canopies is important in the sustainable management of fo
Read more articles from this issue
September 2022
September 2022.
Can a teacher be a friend? A student wonders
Aishwarya R
In a teacher-student relationship, do the power dynamics change? How far can a teacher get friendly with a student? In this day and age, a teacher’s role is more like a compass where she guides a student, not just in academics but in life too. Teacher stories beyond subjects are worth celebrating, their struggles are inspirational and their sensitivity towards students can
September 2022.
Professional kinship
B. Ajitha
Friendship has no boundaries whether at the academic level or non- academic level. If you are on a journey towards becoming a better teacher, look no further than your colleague in the staffroom. The collaborative nature of teaching can provide the right impetus and framework to look objectively at teaching practices, join hands with your peers for feedback and design interven
Cover Story | September 2022.
Two teacher friends and a visionary principal
Sheela Ramakrishnan
Can working professionals ever be friends in the true sense of the word? Most would agree that this could be next to impossible. However, the education space begs to be different. In a school, when colleagues become friends, the relationship moves to a new level, bringing with it a sense of satisfaction and achievement that would not have been possible otherwise. Our
Read more articles from this issue
August 2022
August 2022 | From The Principal's Desk.
The green school
C Rama Devi
The damage being caused to the environment is of great concern and the need to conserve and increase the green cover is immediate. By putting into action a green vision for the school, this school from Hyderabad is raising sensitive and concerned children who will hopefully use the lessons they learnt in school to make a greener tomorrow.
August 2022 | Focus.
Experience and exploration in learning to teach
Sonika Parashar
Competition and the desire to be ahead of others was what drove students once upon a time. Marks and successes in assignments decided relationships that were formed. Today, students seem more selfless. There is genuine desire to help one another and competition rarely raises its head. Growth as a group is as important as individual growth. What led to this change?
August 2022 | Cover Story.
The power of words in the primary classroom
Yukti Lao
When we think of language in a school setting, we only think of it in terms of a subject or subjects to be learnt. But language is also used to transact lessons. As teachers we aim to deliver the perfect lesson but don’t give much thought to the vocabulary we use to deliver those lessons. We are also caregivers, guides, and counsellors to our students but may not always be m
Read more articles from this issue
Figuring out what’s (not) working
Usha Raman
While there has always been a learning gap in our country, the pandemic has only served to deepen the divide. Though enrollment in schools has increased and drop out rates have declined, teacher shortages, absenteeism and poor infrastructure continue to pose severe problems. So what is really happening inside our schools? The Annual State of Education Report (ASER), that is produced every year by Pratham
ASER – Shifting the narrative from schooling to learning
Vignesh Krishnan, Ngawang Lhakey and Isha Thakur
The Annual State of Education Report (ASER) is a nationwide household survey conducted to assess the reading and arithmetic levels of children from over 15000 villages across the country. Started and led by Pratham, a non-governmental organisation over two decades ago, it is one of the most significant initiatives ever carried out to assess the learning levels of chil
November 2022 | Off The Library Shelves
Literature in the language classroom
Sreya Rakshit
A literary text can open up whole new vistas for children in a language classroom because it gives them a chance to engage with ideas of inequality, emotions, gender, justice, integrity or even friendship without any sense of discomfort. In this article, the author explains how one such literary text, Dear Mrs. Naidu, helped her students reflect on various dense subjects.
Rebirth of reading
Suhail Abdul Hameed
Libraries usually serve as a memorable space for avid book lovers who love to just browse and perhaps even read the books that they choose. Everyone has their own experience of engaging with libraries as a space. This article throws light on efforts to create such a space for students in a government primary school in Chhattisgarh.
October 2022
Cover Story | October 2022
The Everything School
Sheela Ramakrishnan
Once upon a time, it was the role of the home to nurture social and emotional skills in children. Today schools are offering curriculums to teach these skills. Are societies and homes no longer places to imbibe these qualities? Won’t adding these curriculums increase the school’s workload? We take a closer look at SEL, why we need it and how teachers can incorpor
October 2022 | Things To Think About
Lend me your ears
Riya Dominic
To be able to contribute to meaningful dialogue, what we need is not just knowledge of the topic in question but also the ability to listen to the other person and keep an open mind. Can schools and colleges create an atmosphere that fosters these skills in young people?
Nature Watch | October 2022
Habitats: Forest canopies
Geetha Iyer
The canopy is the least explored but most important structure of a forest. With tree heights, especially in tropical forests, averaging a 100 feet, canopies are difficult for human beings to reach, which is why they are not as well explored. Canopies are also the parts that host a rich biodiversity. A knowledge of the canopies is important in the sustainable management of fo
Read more articles from this issue
September 2022
September 2022.
Can a teacher be a friend? A student wonders
Aishwarya R
In a teacher-student relationship, do the power dynamics change? How far can a teacher get friendly with a student? In this day and age, a teacher’s role is more like a compass where she guides a student, not just in academics but in life too. Teacher stories beyond subjects are worth celebrating, their struggles are inspirational and their sensitivity towards students can
September 2022.
Professional kinship
B. Ajitha
Friendship has no boundaries whether at the academic level or non- academic level. If you are on a journey towards becoming a better teacher, look no further than your colleague in the staffroom. The collaborative nature of teaching can provide the right impetus and framework to look objectively at teaching practices, join hands with your peers for feedback and design interven
Cover Story | September 2022.
Two teacher friends and a visionary principal
Sheela Ramakrishnan
Can working professionals ever be friends in the true sense of the word? Most would agree that this could be next to impossible. However, the education space begs to be different. In a school, when colleagues become friends, the relationship moves to a new level, bringing with it a sense of satisfaction and achievement that would not have been possible otherwise. Our
Read more articles from this issue
August 2022
August 2022 | From The Principal's Desk.
The green school
C Rama Devi
The damage being caused to the environment is of great concern and the need to conserve and increase the green cover is immediate. By putting into action a green vision for the school, this school from Hyderabad is raising sensitive and concerned children who will hopefully use the lessons they learnt in school to make a greener tomorrow.
August 2022 | Focus.
Experience and exploration in learning to teach
Sonika Parashar
Competition and the desire to be ahead of others was what drove students once upon a time. Marks and successes in assignments decided relationships that were formed. Today, students seem more selfless. There is genuine desire to help one another and competition rarely raises its head. Growth as a group is as important as individual growth. What led to this change?
August 2022 | Cover Story.
The power of words in the primary classroom
Yukti Lao
When we think of language in a school setting, we only think of it in terms of a subject or subjects to be learnt. But language is also used to transact lessons. As teachers we aim to deliver the perfect lesson but don’t give much thought to the vocabulary we use to deliver those lessons. We are also caregivers, guides, and counsellors to our students but may not always be m
Read more articles from this issue