Know Your Teacher: ‘Listening to students is of utmost importance’

She is the Head of Department (Chemistry) at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg. For her, teaching is more than imparting knowledge to the students. “Whenever I enter a classroom, I am reminded of Robert Frost’s poem: Miles to Go Before I Sleep. The spark I see in the eyes of the students and the faith in our hearts that ‘together we will do wonders keeps me going,” Ramandeep Sandhu said, who teaches classes IX to XII. She chose Apeejay as it gives the “teachers an open and free environment to deal with the youngsters since they trust us to do our best”.

Excerpts from the interview.

Tell us about your qualifications. How long have you been teaching?

I am an MSc (Chemistry) and have done BEd. I am a gold medallist in my undergraduate and postgraduate courses from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. I was honoured by Guru Harkrishan Education Society, Chandigarh for standing first among all the PG courses of the university in 2000. I’ve been teaching for the past 21 years which includes over 18 years at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, Jalandhar.

What is the most rewarding aspect of a teacher?

The teaching profession is rewarding because you see your students succeed in life. But the most rewarding moment is when a student quotes a teacher’s name behind his/her success.

What are the challenges that come with teaching students in higher classes?

Besides teaching, catering to the student’s mental, emotional, and psychological needs is a big challenge. Students today are seeing a lot of changes around them. But they observe these changes, examine the world, and perceive things from their perspective.

You teach Chemistry. Tips for students to improve their scores.

Chemistry is a very scoring subject both in Boards and competitive exams. But the most important thing is to focus on the content. As far as CBSE exams are concerned, one has to be very thorough with NCERT questions, especially in Organic Chemistry. Keeping the basics in mind, they should keep adding to it.

How do you build trust with students?

It all boils down to being attentive to what the student is saying. Listen to them! Guide them. They need to be assured that their problem is being heard; there’s a lot of comfort in being understood. Once this faith is strengthened, they start believing in every word you say. This individualistic approach allows me to learn in turn. A little gesture of recognition, appreciation and acknowledgement goes a long way.

What can be done to motivate underachievers?

I always tell my students that ‘to FAIL is also important’. Failure is your best teacher because it stands for:

F: First

A: Attempt

I: In

L: Learning

I give them examples of the failures of the past and help them till the end. This may involve asking them questions frequently, taking their test, and even counselling if need be. The best teacher is the one who encourages a child and steers him/her towards the right path.

How has technology impacted learning?

Technology has made learning much easier but it has to be guided in the right direction otherwise it may lead us ‘nowhere’. A teacher has to be a guide through and through. Also, hard and consistent work is the key to success. Be diligent towards the dreams and the student will reach there soon enough.