Know Your Teacher: ‘Holistic education helps students realise their potential’

Most of the students shy away from their teachers and want to stay under the radar. But did you know that when students know their teachers, they can develop a level of trust with them and facilitate a positive learning environment? Also, when students know their teachers, they are more likely to feel comfortable communicating with them. This can be especially important when students need help or have concerns about their academic performance.

When students feel connected to their teachers, they are more likely to be engaged in the learning process. This can help improve academic performance and make learning more enjoyable. Meet Manali Pahwa, A PGT Economics at Apeejay Svran Global School in Sector 21-D, Faridabad.

“I have around eight years of teaching experience. I would say that I am a creative and hardworking person with lots of patience and enthusiasm to learn new things. I have done my BA (H) in Economics and MA in Economics. I then did my BEd. I have also attended the Central Board of Secondary Education training on Financial Literacy and the Use of Digital Tools and Integrated Payment System,” Pahwa said, who is teaching classes XI and XII.

Excerpts from an interview.

Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?

The way my teachers used to motivate me in my childhood inspired me to take up this profession. The way my teachers made me learn and do the things which I felt I could never do made me realise that being a teacher is not only about imparting knowledge. It is also inculcating life skills in students. It’s the most incredible work a person can do.

Need for holistic development of students today.

Holistic education aims at helping students realise their potential. It builds confidence in a child and motivates him/ her to participate actively in all areas.

How do you build a good parent-teacher relationship?

I make sure that the parents are aware of their child’s true performance and learning. Along with informing the parents about the same I always make sure to give a solution to the issues being faced by the child so that parents along with the teacher can team up for the best of the child.

Should teachers be learners as well?

I have been teaching for the last eight years and it has been a great journey. At the same time, it has been a great learning process as well. I have been keeping myself updated so that I can provide the best learning and knowledge to the students.

Teaching comes with challenges. How do you remain motivated?

The moment when a student has a level of satisfaction on his/her face after understanding a new concept is what keeps me motivated on a day-to-day basis. Also when a student achieves something great in his/her life it feels like a success and that’s the feeling that I live for. Hence, I love being a teacher.

How do you bring underachievers to par with peers?

Motivation and appropriate guidance are a must. I provide worksheets/questions as per the level of the students and try to make their concepts clear most easily and interestingly possible. Application of concept in a real-life scenario is what works most of the time as then the concept remains with the students for a long period.

Some parents opine that the entire onus of a child’s education must rest with the teacher. Do you agree?

The growth of a child is possible only if the environment is always providing some or the other learning to the student. Along with this punctuality and commitment to education are important traits that can’t be taught by a teacher alone. It’s teamwork where parents need to support the teachers a lot. Guidance from both teachers and parents together will help a student achieve his/her potential.

Economics can become boring. How do you keep students interested?

Providing live examples or examples related to the day-to-day life of the students to introduce the topic and then they automatically become curious to understand the concept at a deeper level.