Reflective Diary: Moving beyond the curriculum

Teaching is not merely about imparting lesson plans or teaching children facts or concepts. Rather, teaching is a process through which learning takes place from both sides – the teacher as well as the learners.

With this understanding in mind, I always strive to develop a healthier teacher-student relationship and encourage children to thrive in it. In line with this goal, I would like to share a classroom experience that had a lasting impact on me as a teacher.

Connect with the students is important 

A few years ago, when I taught Grade 1, I planned an activity that would help me achieve my above-stated objective while also enhancing the students’ linguistic and social skills. I created pockets for the students where they could drop messages or express whatever they wanted to say. The pockets were pasted on the classroom wall by the students themselves, and they wrote their names on them. This act of creating their own pockets and writing their names on them developed a sense of belonging among the students.

The activity not only increased the students’ curiosity but also encouraged participation from every student in a group activity. After the pockets were prepared, I began the class with the following words:

Me (Teacher): “Every day, you do whatever Tanisha Ma’am asks you to do. You complete your homework as well. So today, Tanisha Ma’am is giving you a chance to write whatever you wish for her. I will try to fulfill your wishes one by one.”

Student: “Can we write anything?”
Me (Teacher): “Yes, you can write anything that you would like me to do for you or with you.”

(At this, I observed a spark in their eyes and heard whispering among students.)

I gave each student a piece of paper and asked them to write their wishes. It was amazing to note that the wishes written by the learners expressed their love and expectations from me. For instance, some students wished for me to do skating with them, others asked for more time dedicated to reading, and one child even requested additional physical development classes.

Voice of the students matters a lot in the classroom 

What stood out was that the students who typically showed little interest in writing during regular curriculum activities were now taking the initiative and writing things like my appearance. This activity showed that when students are provided with a platform for expression, they become more active learners rather than passive ones.

Following this, I tried to fulfill their wishes as much as I could. For example, one child wished to take over my role as a teacher and expressed his love for the profession. So, I asked him to conduct a class, while I took on the role of a student. This role reversal reduced the teacher’s autonomy and allowed the child to express himself freely. Not only did this boost his confidence, but it also enhanced his speaking skills. When he was asked to write about how he felt afterward, he wrote, “I really enjoyed being a teacher, and one day, I will become a good teacher.”

This small shift in the classroom routine gave the students an opportunity to break free from the monotonous walls of the curriculum. Although this activity was time-consuming and required a lot of effort, the responses from the learners made every bit of it worthwhile. The healthy, lively connection that I shared with my students was a reward in itself. Even though years have passed, I can never forget the joy and excitement of the students both before and after the activity. I firmly believe that this one small step of breaking the walls of the curriculum helped children realize the true meaning of learning — a goal that we, as educators, always aspire to achieve.

(Tanisha Yadav is currently pursing Ph.D in Education from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has completed her M.Phil, M.A (Education, TISS, Mumbai), M. A (Sociology, IGNOU), B.El.Ed from Miranda House, Delhi University. She has a keen interest in working on children’s experiences of learning and Teacher Education. She can be reached at Tanisha.ciet@gmail.con)