I have not always had a questioning mind. As a child, I would resist the urge to ask questions more than exercise them. It is only during my adult life as a student and teacher of Science that I have learned to shed inhibitions. Over the last couple of decades,…
View More A questioning mind is a thinking mind
The Montessori method Nowadays, the Montessori method is a familiar name to parents, educators, and the public alike. The Montessori method has gained widespread application all over the world, including India. I have been reading the book, The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori, over the last few weeks. The…
View More 4 lessons to learn from the Montessori method
Cleaning the mind I am usually a contemplative and reflective person. Asking open-ended questions feels therapeutic to my mind. While I am specific and practical with everyday logistical situations, my imagination soars when I need to de-clutter my mind. Recently I finished reading a book – When Things Start to…
View More Ask questions to clear your mind
Disruption of lives The arrival of COVID-19 has brought unprecedented changes all over the world. Every corner of the world and every individual has been touched in one way or the other. The last 7 months of 2020 have been most challenging, to say the least. The effect of the…
View More Learning and life in the middle of a pandemic
Crisis arrives with no warning We are almost 8 months into the year 2020. No one could have anticipated the turn of events this year has brought to the world. COVID-19 has disrupted lives everywhere in the world, the magnitude of this devastation is enormous. The secondary and tertiary consequences…
View More 4 ways to cope during a crisis
Changing situations As the months of 2020 roll by, we continue to sail through a pandemic-affected world. The statistics are both encouraging and disastrous, depending on which news articles one reads. However, life is going on and we all are finding ways to adapt to the new normal. I had…
View More Adapting to the new normal
New dimensions of normalcy The global pandemic has driven the whole world to a new normal in all aspects of life. The phrase ‘new normal’ has become the buzz word, and well on the road to becoming a cliché. However, that is not the topic of discussion in this article.…
View More The new normal
Based on my own teaching experience and observation of child psychology, I describe below what I consider are 3 major distractions in the process of bringing up children in the 21st century. In the current global pandemic situation and altered nature of our lives, I find these more relevant than…
View More Distractions in the 21st century
The need of the hour This story is from a few years ago. I was looking through some of my old writings and found this one. It makes a lot of sense now because teaching and learning are transitioning into new modes, unfamiliar to both teachers and students. Engaging students…
View More Learning the meaning of facilitation
Reflection As we continue to be in a suspended state of existence with small windows of social activity, I continue my contemplation on the state of education. I found something I had written a few years ago, which I thought is worth pondering. The term “student-centric education” is the most…
View More Student-Centric Education – is it just a myth?