Thoughts too deep for words

Neeraja Raghavan
In this ongoing discussion on how to make a poem a learning experience for a student, this particular article touches upon how the approach changes when teaching university students. From trying to evoke thoughts that are too deep for words, to making students experience the imagery, melody, rhythm and rhyme, the main idea is to ensure that students enjoy the poem.

A tortoise among the leaves

Geetha Iyer
For middle school students, here is an exciting project on tortoise shell beetles. Since habitat and adaptation are topics that are covered for this class of students, a project on this beetle will prove of immense interest to them. Read up the article to know more.

Tell me, show me, show and tell me

Geetha Durairajan
What is the essence of Continuous Evaluation? Basically it is all about observation on the part of the teacher to know how the students are faring. If this observation feeds into the teaching, the better, because then the purpose of CCE is served. This article is a wonderful example of what the CCE is all about.

Small steps toward a paradigm shift

Simran Luthra
A new initiative called City as Lab founded by two young women is gaining popularity among school students and participating teachers. CaL, as it is called, aims to build a network of institutions and experts that support research and inquiry in all classrooms across the country. This interview with the founders gives you an idea of what this enterprise is all about, and if it excites you or your school, you can get in touch.

Tackling the power tangles

Pritam Benjamin I grew up at a time when power was a synonym for energy and strength, not dominance. It had to do with having, giving, and taking strength; academic, mental, and moral from someone who had it in greater Read More …

Understanding power play

Gita Krenek I’m going to begin this article with a little story. Long ago, in the days of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, Sir Gawain was given a task: he had to break some kind of Read More …

Balancing the power equation

Julia G Thompson Power struggles between teachers and students are among the most common discipline issues that educators must learn to manage effectively. No matter how many years you have been a teacher or how mature and capable your students Read More …

Harnessing parent power

Meeta Sengupta “Even if you are right, what will you gain by annoying the school? You want your child to stay there, don’t you? Then don’t say anything – your child is with them half the day.” I cannot have Read More …

A problematic mix

Mounik Shankar Lahiri
Do schools which serve a critical function in society also turn out to be spaces that are faced with different kinds of power struggles? What is the kind of internal dynamics that pervades the school space? Does the interpersonal relationship between teachers and other members of the staff, or the power struggle between the teacher and the student in the classroom impact the nature and quality of learning? Our cover story this month is an attempt to acknowledge that though politics is an unavoidable reality in any institutional set up, school leaders need to be aware of how it operates and how it can be regulated.