Know Your Teacher: ‘Giving children a choice empowers them,’ says this educator

Shilpi Singh, an English teacher at Apeejay School, Noida, believes teaching is meant to be personalised and modified to cater to the learning needs of individual children. She adopts various strategies in class to promote independent thinking in children and to motivate them to explore the English language. Read on to know how she does it:

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I was pursuing my Mass Communication at Panjab University, Chandigarh, when I happened to teach at an IELTS institute during my summer vacation. It was then that I realised teaching is where my heart lies. Today, I cannot imagine myself being in any other profession than teaching. Every day is a revelation. You continue to learn, unlearn and relearn.

How did your journey at Apeejay begin? How would you describe your experience?

I joined Apeejay School, Noida, in April 2017. It has been an incredible journey. I have learnt so much in these six years, both from my peers and my students. The opportunities that came my way have widened my intellectual horizon and have shaped me into a more confident person.

How do you cope with the challenges that come with the profession?

Like any other profession, teaching also has its own set of challenges. One teaching method does not work for all learners. Therefore, it is imperative to think strategically and devise lesson plans that cater to all learning styles and also provide an engaging learning environment.

How can experiential learning be incorporated into English classes?

There are many ways to encourage and incorporate experiential learning in English classes. Role-play, collage-making, poster-making, graphic representation, and project work are a few ways to give hands-on experience to the students.

What strategies do you use to create an inclusive classroom environment for diverse learners?

Flexibility in your approach is the key. One-size-fits-all doesn’t apply in teaching. I encourage group discussions and debates and take into account everyone’s perspectives and ideas. I let them choose ways of presenting what they have learnt whether it is homework assignments, class discussions, or peer assessments. Giving children a choice empowers them.

Is it important for a teacher to pay individual attention to students? How do you do it?

Undoubtedly, paying attention to each student enables educators to map out suitable teaching strategies and classroom activities. Little things like putting personalised notes on their written work, reading stories, letters, or answers out loud in the class, especially the ones I liked, engaging in informal chats with students related to their hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes, and appreciating their efforts go a long way in building a bond with them.

Also Read: Know Your Teacher: ‘Open and effective communication essential for positive learning environment’

How do you cultivate a love for English in students?

As a student, I looked up to my English teacher. She introduced me to the writings of Tolstoy, Naipaul and Rushdie to name a few. I hope to instill the same love for reading in my students by providing them with snippets of diverse literary works. Apart from encouraging reading habits, I try to create lessons that are flexible, creative, and aid conceptual understanding.