Thoughts on teaching

A lot of teachers teach. But only a few can reach, go beyond the lesson in hand, and get out of the book and encourage children to do the same. Knowledge is acquired from vast research and experiences gathered from beyond the limited boundary of the text book. I wish to open the window to the world for my students, away from the classroom walls. I want to give wings to their colourful imagination with the seeds planted firmly on the ground because only then dreams can be fulfilled! Learning becomes an unforgettable experience when teaching is done in a creative way. Every year I work on devices or techniques to teach them.

English lessons should be just as much fun as reading story books! Reading is highly entertaining especially the non illustrated books as your imagination will be more inventive and far more vivid than the actual illustrations. People have different viewpoints, think differently and they colour it with their own imagination.

In the classroom active participation gives me an idea of how my students understand my subject and take interest in my class. Engaging the students individually or in group activities, debates and discussions help me evaluate them better. This will also keep them interested in the subject and also maintain discipline in class. These brain storming ideas often lead to big breakthroughs and bring out more thought provoking ideas, different viewpoints and in-depth insightful revelations that can help create big ideas. Additionally, through these exchanges of thought processes, students can often divulge something involuntarily, that may help to pinpoint their area of discomfort.
 

After a week I met the same children mentioned in my previous blog entry.I was happy to know that they recognized me and remembered my name.Although the so called normal adults cannot even remember or pronounce my name! I feel that every individual has a certain degree of abnormality but they are able to conceal it successfully.
Actually speaking in the present world being innocent and true to yourself and others is unnatural and being deceptive to oneself and others is natural.That's the irony!
In the beginning these children were slow and distracted in their routine school activities as there was a break in their habitual work due to the weekly holidays(autistic children are dependent on routine). It was nice talking to them.Unlike other such children they respond to me and make eye contact when addressed.Also they are attentive and obedient which is very sweet indeed!They seek attention all the time and ask for help in doing their work every now and again even though they could do it on their own! One of them works independently while the others need assistance.Each of them have some difficulty areas which I want them to overcome gradually.

My encounter with Autism

I met some 9 year olds who have autism spectrum disorder.I found them very friendly and communicative.They return the love and affection showed to them but they don't socialize with everyone.They are willing to learn and are very intelligent in mathematics, better than myself!I learnt that they have the capacity to learn only their socio-psychological and behavioral factors prevent them to learn what mainstream children can learn.They lack attention but when they learn they know it well.Their ability to read and picturize what is written in text is limited, although they have good vocabulary.Unlike common children they cannot comprehend a story in writing because they cannot grasp what is written in the text.They have to go through the process of what is being said in-order to feel and perceive it.With extra help from special educator they can cope up with regular educational process.I have observed that the special kids easily relate their difficulties while normal kids have the tendency to hide their weaknesses.Since regular children don't have behavioral problems, it is difficult to pinpoint their disability areas.
Ordinary kids do have a certain degree of problems but they are able to keep them at the backyard.People who interact with them cannot really comprehend their individual vulnerabilities, since the normal ones do not disclose their problems to anyone.
Therefore each child has to be understood in terms of what they are and there difficulty level. They should be encouraged in what they do best (no matter how bad are the career prospects in terms of the present state of things as they are subject to change!) and should pursue it as their dream career.Only then they can be successful.
The special needs children need individual attention and special education program according to their level of understanding.They need to be dealt with more patience and understanding and require an extra helping hand in their learning process.I can see that(with some guidance), they will improve their learning abilities and gradually, very soon they will advance towards the mainstream arena!