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Know Your Teacher: ‘I embrace the chance to make a difference in students’ lives,’ says IB educator

Meet Monika Vasudev who has been associated with Apeejay School International as an English teacher for the past three years

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Monika Vasudev is a form tutor for Primary Year Programme (PYP) 4 students at Apeejay School International (ASI), Panchsheel Park. “I teach them the English language and Unit of Inquiry (UOI). Additionally, I teach the English language to PYP3 and PYP5,” she says. In an interview, she tells us how she stays up-to-date with advancements in pedagogical approaches.

What makes teaching a rewarding profession?

Every moment is satisfying. My students look forward to my session, perform well and say English is their favourite subject. I cherish these experiences and keep embracing the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my students each day. This is rewarding.

Also Read: Know Your Teacher: ‘Desire to instill good values in students keeps me going’

How long have you been with Apeejay? How would you describe the experience?

This will be my third academic year in Apeejay. The experience has been fulfilling as a teacher. I have enjoyed each day here and look forward to doing something different and new the next day. My colleagues are warm, affectionate, and caring, and have become my extended family. We are a team, and we help each other in any given situation to come out winning.

I have found a nurturing and supportive environment at Apeejay, which allows me to thrive as a teacher. We foster positive relationships and contribute to the team’s success by offering support and assistance whenever needed. We celebrate the victories together and learn from the challenges as a united front.

Schools are focussing on building children’s critical thinking skills. Why do you think that’s important?

Critical thinking is a crucial skill that every student should learn and master. It goes beyond the confines of the classroom and plays a vital role in real-life situations. Developing critical thinking skills equips students with the ability to analyse, evaluate, and solve problems effectively.

Critical thinking encompasses a wide range of valuable skills in various contexts. It involves logical reasoning, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, problem-solving, decision-making, and reflective thinking. By honing these skills, students become better equipped to navigate the complexities of life and make informed decisions.

When students engage in critical thinking, they learn to think independently and express their ideas more efficiently. They become adept at examining multiple perspectives, questioning assumptions, and evaluating evidence. This enhances their communication ability and encourages creativity and innovation as they explore different possibilities and solutions.

How do you continuously enhance your professional development as a teacher?

We have various workshops all year round to work on our professional capabilities. We mentor and coach one another to enhance our teaching skills and abilities. Peer observation also helps us improve by receiving critical feedback from one another (one needs to be open-minded to receive and accept the feedback positively).

‘My IB’, the International Baccalaureate application (IB) for teachers, is our Bible. I keep visiting the website to keep myself updated and revise what I already know. Every IB teacher is a lifelong learner, and I am too. Along with students, I also research to learn something new each day. Recently, we had a Job Alike Session(JAS) wherein we shared the best teaching practices to help each other enhance our skills as teachers. We have South Asia International Baccalaureate Schools Association (SAIBSA) and JAS sessions every year.

Disha Roy Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent at Apeejay Newsroom. She has worked as a journalist at different media organisations. She is also passionate about music and has participated in reality shows.

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