Know Your Teacher: ‘I love watching my students learn new things’

In order to score well in a subject, it is important for a student to have a positive rapport with the teacher. When you know your teacher, they can better understand the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. If you’re struggling with a particular concept or need extra help, your teacher is more likely to be receptive and understanding if they already know you well. This is specifically true when it comes to Math.

Let us meet Jagjit Kaur, HoD, Mathematics at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar. She has a long list of accomplishments to her name. She did her BSc (non-medical) and was awarded a silver medal. She did her BEd and ranked No 4 at the university. If these were not enough, she did her MSc (Mathematics) and was awarded a gold medal. She also got a gold medal for the best Science student while pursuing her BSc.

“I did my BSc from Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya and MSc from DAV College and BEd from Montgomery Guru Nanak College of Education. I have also been given an award for five consecutive years for 100 per cent attendance in the school,” Kaur said, who teaches classes X to XII.

Excerpts from the interview.

How and why did you choose Apeejay?

I have had a long association with Apeejay – 28 years in all. This is my first job and I will also retire from here. After I completed my education in 1995, I saw an ad in the newspaper and I applied for the post and was called for an interview. Mr Kohli was the principal of Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, back then. He was impressed with my academic record. More so, because he had a Math background. I was called for the second which I cleared. In the final round, there were three candidates left and I was selected. At that time, I was still a student at MGN College. I was asked to leave Apeejay and join there. But obviously, I never did.

Math can be tough to understand. How do you keep the interest of the students alive?

I tell my students that practice makes a person perfect. And this is especially true for Math. To be good in this subject, the students have to practice, there is no other way to score well in this subject. If the students, if you don’t review your errors, you will never master this subject. Also, the students need to master the key concepts of Math. This starts from NCERT and then learning from reference books. If students have doubts and these are not cleared, they can’t get full marks.

Is there a difference between knowing Math and teaching the subject?

Yes, definitely. A teacher need not be a gold medalist to be able to teach the subject. A lot depends on how he/she is able to communicate with the students and if the student has understood what the teacher is explaining. If a student is unfortunate to get a teacher whom he/she can’t learn from, the interest in the Math dies and the problems begin.

How can a teacher create interest in the subject?

It depends on the situation when the teacher is in the class. In a class of 40-50 students, a teacher has to gauge the reaction. If there is no response, the teacher will have to rethink his/her teaching strategy. Teaching is a profession where you have to hit the reset button every time a new session begins. Each new batch teaches us as well; it is not just the students who learn from us; we learn from them as well.

How has technology been integrated in teaching Math?

I incorporate visuals while teaching Math. I use games to teach a particular topic. I also use hands-on methods and connect Math with everyday life to teach the subject. I always use the smart boards that we have in the classrooms. I use video animation and multimedia and bring learning to life. This makes it easy for students to understand certain concepts. This makes it possible for me to provide a more customized learning experience.

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“There are many activities that we do in the class that help students become active learners. We hold rapid fire questions; this ensures that the child is attentive in the class. For this they need to take ownership of their learning”

–Jagjit Kaur, HoD, Mathematics at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar

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How can students become active learners?

There are many activities that we do in the class that help students. We hold rapid fire questions; this ensures that the child is attentive in the class. For this they need to take ownership of their learning.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

Right from the start, I would get excited if I learnt something new. I wanted to share my knowledge with as many people as possible. The only profession that allowed me to do this was teaching. I love watching my students grow and learn new things, I want to learn new things myself, so that I can become a better teacher. Also, teachers have a big role to play in shaping moral values in the future generations.