This newsletter provides information on teaching opportunities and resources. It includes an article about an inspiring teacher, Vipul Thaker, who started an informal school for underprivileged children. It also has an article from Indira Narayan about the challenges and rewards of being a teacher. The newsletter announces websites and a contest related to education and invites submissions of teaching tips, resources and feedback.

1. Newsletter
May 2010
Volume 4, Issue 5
Driving educational change through excellence in teaching
Editor’s Comments
I don’t have to tell you that teachers and for those some infotainment
the newspaper has a new who are already (information plus
look. But I need to tell you teachers. I am pleased entertainment) in
that the newsletter is finally to share a few our humour section this time.
shaping up with increased opportunities and Don’t miss.
contributions from readers. websites with you. A And now you have every
Pic above: This month, we have an real life story again to reason to give feedback. Go to
Group at
Universal School article from an experienced inspire and motivate our site under About
Tardeo, Mumbai and inspiring teacher. She that even one person Us Clients Say, please
shares her thoughts and can make a submit a simple quote.
Articles this advice both for aspiring difference. And there is
month:
Main article: For
the ‘are and ‘to
be’ teachers Teachers of India
from Indira
Narayan. Inviting teachers to participate 3. Providing access to resources,
Inspiration:Unsung in TeachersofIndia.org. This is a information and new experiments in
hero
portal for teachers to help hone education from all over the world in
Humour their professional capabilities all Indian languages
Announcements
Interesting links
by:
1. Creating a forum for teachers to !! Newsletter Name Contest !!
freely interact with each other Please suggest a creative name for this
across languages newsletter along with a logo/symbol. It should
2. Facilitating the sharing of be related to teaching, learning, teacher or
insights and best practices of student. Entries should reach by e-mail, before
teachers across the country 15th May 2010 to info@inspiring-teachers.com
If your suggestion is used by Teacher’s
Academy, you will get a SurPRIZE. And it’s true,
check on page 3.

2. Newsletter Title Page 2 of 6
Unsung Hero
This article is dedicated to shifted to a light post on a one was that of gender
one of the many unsung nearby road. His class had discrimination. The girls were
heroes bringing about a no roof and was hence not allowed to study. After
change. His name exposed to the harsh much persuasion from Vipul,
is Vipul Thaker, a simple elements of the weather. the parents were convinced
man with simple dreams. The classes went on and the girls walked in for the
Without going into his nevertheless. Every very first time. Within a
background, let me start evening at around 09.00 month their strength doubled.
from one of his birthdays. It pm the class would This school wasn’t Vipul’s full
was on that day when he commence. Within one time profession. He had a day
decided he wanted to do year, he had 20 children job. He did receive some
something different. He who worked in the day voluntary donations from
decided to educate a time and regularly NRIs.
By Arnav Anjaria – III yr, Integrated Masters in Political Science, UoH, arnav.anjaria@gmail.com
attended his evening After a point he decided to
Rabari (a tribe in Gujarat)
classes. Looking at the join them in a municipal
child. A makeshift
progress of this informal school, continuing his classes
classroom was created on
school, the parents who in the evenings to ensure
the terrace of
his two bedroom house. As belonged to the children did not miss out if
days passed by, Vipul went Rabari community came they didn’t go to school.
on to explore the talent in to his aid. They Vipul had a dream to nurture
Vipul had a dream to gifted Vipul with an empty – he wanted every child to get
nurture – he wanted the slum surrounding his
every child to get housing society. A few more hut to which the classes education on par with what
education on par with
what their more students joined his class and now moved. Of all the their more privileged peers
privileged peers got. subsequently his classroom problems that Vipul faced, got.
In the last few years, some of his students have shown their skills at the state level in the
field of dramatic and graphic arts. Today he can proudly say that these children have
something to look forward to. They have a future too.
He negotiated with the private school principals, head masters & teachers and finally led to
the introduction of a scholarship scheme. And so today out of forty students, around twenty
five of them have been admitted to a school with better amenities for the students. Vipul
considers the renowned Gujarati educationist Gijubhai Badheka as his source of inspiration.
he important thing, dear readers, is that this man and many more like him are actually
striving to provide an identity to these children. They are providing a platform through which
these children can express their ideas and needs.

3. Page 3 of 6 Newsletter Title
For the ‘are’ and the ‘to be’ teachers
Teaching is a serious To a mind with such kind On the flip side of this
profession. I feel that this is of exposure as a screen, students can totally lose
one of the few professions demands on the teacher interest in learning where
that touches society are quite high in that, that the teaching skills are
directly. It is a service she must be able to get her wanting.
oriented calling. Teachers- matter across this stile.
I have said that a teacher
as the word goes- ‘touch This is where the challenge
must wear many hats, be
lives’. lies. To tap this ready- to–
a multifaceted person.
absorb quick silver mind, a
Teachers shape the future
teacher must wear many Apart from meeting the
of children and thereby the Caption describing picture
hats. challenges a teacher has
future of our country. or graphic.
to play many roles. She is,
Though the buzz about Yes, the mind of a student
as said by someone, a
teaching, especially in is ready to grasp, ready to
communicator, a
schools, is that it is a fairly learn, willing to do and Dr Divya Nalla receiving
classroom Manager, a
easy task and anyone or eager to participate. But the SurPRIZE for
disciplinarian, an
everyone can take it up, it is there is a condition sending the first correct
evaluator a friend/
not as simple as it looks. attached to this. The
counselor, a decision answers to contests we
This is a profession that teacher should also be well
maker and also a ran in the newsletter.
demands tolerance, prepared, eager to teach,
surrogate parent. Please recall from Jan
commitment, involvement, happy to be with the class,
interest, patience, and involve the class in her and Feb issues.
punctuality, dedication, teaching.
skill, knowledge.
By Indira Narayan – Head Mistress (Academic), St Ann’s HS, Secunderabad
In a nutshell it is a Children have an uncanny Interesting! Each day will
profession with many knack of assessing things see new combinations in
challenges. The first of these around them. They love a these roles. Never a dull
are the students. Handling teacher who sets examples moment in a teacher’s life!
students is an art more so by being an example Simple as they may seem
the children of today’s herself and play up on the these roles require skill
world. These children are teacher who they know is and practice…..something
packages of awareness, not sound in her subject which theoretical learning
exposure, pampering and matter or in keeping the does not impart. These
what have you. They seem to class under control. roles need instincts and
know all even before you tell blessings from within.
They are prepared to go
them; play the latest hit There must be that
an extra mile for one who
song and you will see them something special in the
helps them think out of
(irrespective of their age) lip teacher’s persona which
the box and motivates
synch word to word. A child naturally and instinctively
them to apply their skills
in the Primary Section will to makes him/ her a good
outside the text and the
surprise you with its teacher. Love for teaching
classroom.
knowledge of the film stars and the taught must be
and latest movies and will the driving force. If these
eagerly shake a leg at the conditions are met, then
latest numbers. learning can be fun,
teaching can be satisfying
and output can be
maximum.

4. Newsletter Title Page 4 of 6
For the ‘are’ and the ‘to be’ teachers (Continued)
After this somewhat society in this way; it is vacations ….part of the
didactic write up let me indeed a happy thought Package! When my
mention the joys of this that teachers always students come back after
profession. It is a joy to remain young at heart, as some time and tell me that
Indira Narayan receiving know that we teachers young as the students they they are doing well in life I
Inspiring Teacher Award have sent into the larger handle!, it is heartening to consider those moments
On Sept 5th ‘09 world good citizens, know that though the as the Perks of this
educated in the right subject/s taught may be profession. Money cannot
sense of the word: it is a the same year after year be a substitute for this joy.
joy to know that we as the set of children are not!
individuals have made a Think of the Dasssera,
substantial contribution to Christmas and summer
“The need of the hour is
for good dedicated and
committed teachers.
People who enjoy being
Interesting Links
with the young, people
Please refer to the following links regarding the Right to Education Act.
who enjoy being young. 1. A critique of the recently passed Right to Education Act
Are you one of them?” http://ajayshahblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/right-to-education-act-critique.html
--Indira Narayan 2. An article published in Mumbai Mirror
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20100404201004040239169072fa7e3
01/Lunch-with-the-shoeless-boy-in-class.html
3. Another in Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/keep-testing-the-kids/582137/0
Humour – by e-mail
This two-letter word in wake UP? We lock UP the house and
English has more At a meeting, why does a fix UP the old car. At
meanings than any other topic come UP? Why do other times this little word
two-letter word, and that we speak UP, and why are has really special
word is 'UP.' the officers UP for meaning.
This two-letter word in
English has more It is listed in the election. People stir UP trouble,
meanings than any dictionary as an [adv], Why is it UP to the line UP for tickets,
other two-letter word
[prep], [adj], [n] or [v]. secretary to write UP a work UP an appetite, and
It's easy to report? think UP excuses...
understand UP, meaning We call UP our friends, To be dressed is one thing,
toward the sky or at the brighten UP a room, but to be dressed UP is
top of the list, but when polish UP the silver, special!
we awaken in the warm UP the leftovers ---Continued on next page
morning, why do we and clean UP the kitchen.

5. Page 5 of 6 Newsletter Title
Sent by KV Jayakumar, Executive Director, Centre for Water Resources Development and
Management, Kozhikode
If you are UP to it, you soaks it UP. When it does
We open UP a store in the
might try building UP a not rain for a while, things
morning but we close
list of the many dry UP.
it UP at night.
ways UP is used. One could go on & on, but
We seem to be pretty
It will take UP a lot of I'll wrap this UP for now
mixed UP about the
your time, but if you don't because my time is UP!
word UP !
give UP, you may Now I think I'll shut UP.
To be knowledgeable
wind UP with a hundred Whew!!! Our regular contributor –
about the proper uses Sridhar Chitta.
or more.
of UP, look UP the
When it threatens to rain,
word UP in the dictionary
we say it is clouding UP.
In a desk-sized dictionary,
When the sun comes out
it takes UP almost 1/4 of
we say it is clearing UP.
the page and can
When it rains, the earth
add UP to about thirty
definitions
Professors and Deans
at KLU, Vijayawada
during a three day
workshop

6. Wanted dedicated and passionate teachers
Teacher’s Academy Kaliyuva Mane[A environmental awareness Srirampura, Manandavadi R
Kannada word which programs and preparing oad, Mysore -570008, Phone :
means "Home for them for SSLC 09341369901 www.divyadeep
Learning"] is an examination. This school atrust.org, www.divya-
Hyderabad alternative school started is looking for teachers deepa.blogspot.com
by Divya Deepa charitable (paid) as well as
trust, with an aim to volunteers who will reside
PHONE:
transform the lives of on the campus. If you are
97011 41118
underprivileged children interested contact:
by providing value based M.R. Ananth Kumar, Kaliy
E-MAIL: education including yoga, uva Mane-Alternative
info@inspiring-teachers.com arts, crafts, music, drama, School,Divya Deepa
Charitable
Trust, Kenchalagudu,
Should kids be bribed to study?
What motivates children in underprivileged schools to study? When adults seem to be
working for money, why hold children to higher morals? A thought provoking article about
an experiment http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1978589-1,00.html
About Teacher’s Academy…
Started three years ago, Please do leave your If anyone is passionate
already 1300 teacher feedback on workshops on about changing the
members on-line, 25 the site About Us education scenario
colleges and 10 schools Clients say through and to work with
touched by the training. me can send resume and
See us at: Share articles, useful talk to me.
www.inspiring-teachers.com Long term projects are links, teaching resources
being taken up for schools and tips for effective --Thanks
and colleges. Continuous teaching with a growing Uma Garimella
support and multiple community of our teacher
initiatives will be included mailing list.
for holistic and
sustainable change.