Know Your Teacher: ‘I love teaching & being around creativity and imaginative minds’

Not only is she a teacher at Apeejay School, Model Town in Jalandhar, but she is also an alumna of Apeejay College of Fine Arts (ACFA) where she enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. She has also done her Nursery Teacher Training (NTT) at a reputed university. After that, she decided to get into teaching and has been in this field for the last seven years.

“There is also an artist inside me who loves to groove to music. I have represented my school in district and state-level dance competitions. I also love public speaking. I always feel content with a mic in my hand and speaking in a crowd. Being part of Apeejay has given me a different perspective on life which makes me appreciate what I am and where I am,” Sonali Pusri said, who started teaching when she was only 21 years old.

Excerpts from the interview.

What classes and subjects are you teaching?

I am teaching LKG as of now. We have a mother-teacher concept when we teach such small kids, so I teach all the subjects which include English, Hindi, Numbers, and Thematic. I started teaching once I completed my NTT and it has been seven years now.

How did you get into this profession?

I decided to become a teacher due to several reasons. One, I have a knack for learning new things and when you teach, you often get more lessons than you give. Two, I like being around young minds since their creativity and imaginative power are incomparable. Three, I want to impart knowledge and guidance however I can and young minds have the most to gain from it. But most importantly, I simply love to teach.

What is the rewarding aspect of being a teacher?

As pre-Primary teachers, we build strong educational foundations for young minds, which is personally rewarding. I get to witness children blossom into well-rounded students hungry to learn. Also, I regularly get opportunities to talk to the students’ parents at parent-teacher meetings which afford me the chance to learn more about the children and focus on the lesson plans according to their interests.

How do you incorporate technology into your teaching, and what tools or platforms do you find most helpful?

Incorporating technology into the class is about digital play. But I ask them open-ended and ‘what-if’ questions. Such questions provide children with a tool to understand how technology works and why we use it. For example, I ask my students: ‘What is the name of this device?’; ‘What would happen here if I pressed this button?’ Interactive Whiteboards and Smartboards are appropriate for children because they operate through finger touch. Children can make drawings, rub them out and move objects together.

I remember once I taught my students about different animals, and I used the Smartboard to show them short, engaging videos from YouTube like 10 carnivorous animals which helped them remember the lesson. Similarly, I often use real pictures of animals, plants, things, and other materials while teaching about them.

What challenges do you face as a teacher, and how do you overcome them?

Being a pre-primary teacher might sound simple enough, but it is not as easy as it looks. Children are full of energy and spirit. But there are a million reasons why being a teacher is rewarding and wonderful. One of the biggest challenges of teaching preschool kids is retaining the attention of your students. Every child you teach is unique and has their behaviour and interests. The best way to overcome it is to create a series of shorter, engaging activities, rather than long lessons. The behaviour of young children can be described as unpredictable at best and their moods can shift at any time. Patience and consistency are key to addressing behavioural issues.

How do you foster a positive and supportive classroom environment?

I practice this routine every day in the morning. When the students come to the class, I always greet them with a hug and we have a good 15-20 minutes session where we talk about our previous day and our families. The students and I feel connected while sharing our day and I also get to understand their unique personalities including their strengths, likes, and dislikes.

I ensure to celebrate even the smallest of wins when it comes to the young ones. For the students who are sometimes reluctant to participate in class, I praise them for a job well done. It goes a long way toward building trust and helping students feel seen. This increases the likelihood that they will do it again.

A message for students.

Thank you to all of you! When I teach, I also learn. I see us grow together every day. A little bit of each of you will always be with me. Always strive to be the best that you can be!