Know Your Teacher: ‘Teaching allows enlightening and impacting lives’

Knowing your teacher helps to build trust between parents, students, and educators. Trust is a crucial element in any educational setting and allows for more effective collaboration to support the student’s learning journey. Building a relationship with the teacher allows parents and students to communicate more effectively. Open lines of communication foster a partnership between the home and school, ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding a student’s progress, challenges, and achievements.

Remember, every teacher has a unique teaching style and approach. Knowing your teacher helps parents and students understand how the teacher conveys information, assigns tasks, and assesses learning. This understanding can help students adapt to the teacher’s expectations and learning methods. Meet Saurabh Chauhan.

She has been teaching art to the students of Apeejay International School, Greater Noida since 2011. Her qualifications include an MA, BEd from CCS University Meerut, and a BFA from Ravinder Bharti University, Calcutta.

In a candid interview, she talks about how time management plays an important role in managing work-life balance.

Why did you take up this profession? Your inspiration.

One of the most common reasons for choosing the teaching profession is the opportunity to enlighten and impact lives. Teaching is a responsible job. Teachers have the added responsibility of molding future generations. My inspirations are Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

The most rewarding aspect of being a teacher?

Teachers can make a positive impact on society. They can shape their own work environment, learning skills, creative inspiration, and build a collaboration environment.

How and why did you choose Apeejay?

I selected Apeejay International School, Greater Noida due to its dedicated emphasis on fostering the holistic development of each student. The school’s commitment to instilling moral values plays a pivotal role in shaping students into compassionate and virtuous individuals. The school also places equal importance on both academic excellence and extracurricular activities, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for success in various aspects of life.

How do you manage work-life balance?

Time management plays an important role in managing work and life. I always make a schedule and stick to it. Don’t over-plan.

Importance of art and craft in a curriculum.

Art and craft teach us to speak and write through the expression of our hands and minds. Arts and crafts help children express their thoughts and feelings and work on their emotions. Art and craft improve socialising and confidence. It improves motor skills. Art and crafts can positively influence the education system if the school and parents let their children engage in the right way. It can be highly impactful to children in complete physical, mental, and social development.

Most parents think that there can be no career in arts and crafts. Your take.

There are numerous opportunities and potential careers within the realm of arts and crafts. The creative industry is diverse and includes professions like graphic design, illustration, animation, interior design, fashion design, product design, and fine arts, among others.

Art and craft skills are highly valued in various sectors, including advertising, marketing, entertainment, and even technology. With the rise of e-commerce and platforms individuals can turn their artistic skills into entrepreneurial ventures by selling handmade crafts and artworks. Also, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recognises the importance of art in holistic development, emphasizing creativity, critical thinking, and expression.

In the context of art integration, it enhances learning across subjects by promoting interdisciplinary connections and providing diverse perspectives, contributing to a well-rounded education.