learnings

the runners up -National award as the Broad Outlook Learner Teacher (BOLT) in the country. I was happy and somwhere down the line I wondered why I was just a runners -up. Then my son tells me joyously,'ma you are the second best teacher in the country!' Wow, why did I not look at it from that angle. This eggs me on to keep doing the best and that I have miles to go befor I sleep.

I brought down the students beneath a tree to do an activity. What a great change to sit in the open than sitting in the class room. The children enjoyed themselves. They had to create an ad for a watch, as part of their class activity. Leaders and follwers were born!!!

perk you up! the luscious strawberries, the purple grapes, shiny red plums, the gleaming melons, ahhhhhhh its not only a treat for sore eyes but also great for one's body ,mind and soul too!

Myself, I am proud of myself, hence I will not do anything negative! This was the learning I gave my students today.

The waves not because they rise and fall but because every tme they fall they rise!   One of my students brought me this quote today. As i put up a new learning every day, my children are getting enthused to bring in their favourite learnings!

Are not useless, they are only used less!!

Be like the bird, That pausing on here way While on boughs too slight Feels them give way Beneath her and Yet sings Knowing she hath wings!!

Is rare to get!

Before you make your presentation. I had prepared a good audio-visual round for a Quiz program at school. To my dismay I had forgotten to carry the audio-video cord which connects the lap top to the projector. So that particular round lost its fizz. So check several times before making the final presentation.

Often I am pretty rude to my near and dearest ones at home, but am just the opposite with outsiders. I wondered why I am so. I realised it's in my genes now my challenge is to reform myself. I am taking it up as a challenge to make the change from today itself. I will not allow 'genes' to dominate!

When I wrote an exam today I realised the tension and confusion a student would feel. It's been a long time since I sat for one! one exam and poof i was so exhausted. I ADMIRE  our students who take exams every now and then!! Kudos to the present generation!!

Old friends is so rejuvenating, whatever  your age may be! This evening my father's friend visited after a long gap of almost 50 years!!! my my its not a small gap! the excitement  and the innocent affection was worth seeing. I fished out their college group photograph.I cannot explain how happy I felt on seeing their shy happiness and palpable excitement as they recollected their friends and teachers. I then remembered the old saying that god did not offer any choice while giving us relatives but he gave us a world of choice when he allowed us to choose our friends! 

do any beauty treatment on the eve of important events!! I learnt this the hard way. I ended up with a swollen upper lip after a stint in the beauty parlour last evening and I had to face an interview this evening!! Two strong tablets did bring it down but why go thro the agony.......

so much to music. I am kind of tone deaf!! But I enjoy listening to music though I do not understand its nuances .This noon I was downloading an instrumental piece and was trying to make out if it sounded good. My colleague advised me to listen to the piece from a distance. Sure I did and wow I felt it was so different. I went close to it and heard and it sounded different. So there are various ways of enjoying music. The current generation love to have music blast in their ears courtesy ipods etc!! So much for learning on Music!

 brings with it such interesting incidents, some positive some negative!! Today I remarked to my colleague( excitedly) that tonight is Obama's swearing-in ceremony. My, my what an unexpected backlash I received. She was furious that everyone was making a big hullabaloo about it. She wonderd what was so special about the event and so on. She said that we Indians are so fascinated with what is happening in the United States!  Very calmly I said that he is a very positive person and well after all we are Social Science teachers so any event is history! And what is wrong if we have to look up to someone or some place if we are gong to learn something. I have always admired the freesom of expression enjoyed by the Americans.  Since 1947 not a single leader in our country, save Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, has evoked pride in our hearts. If we need any inspirational quote we borrow from either Kennedy/ Lincoln/ Martin Luther King jr!! And now with just 3 words Obama has once again rocked the wo...

The combination of thought and love forms the irrestible force of the law of attraction

Mrs.Manju Singh brought back such lovely memories. She used to host progams for children on dear old Doordarshan so many years ago. They used to portray such lovely stories from all over India. Such quality programs are not to be seen now. When I look back how simple life has been compared to now. I had all the time in the world to stop and stare, count the stars, play, climb trees and gaze at the empty sky.......... Watch our favourite 'oliyum oliyum' on fridays and the movies on sundays  and how can I forget the signature music of DD!!

All my teacher friends was so exciting; we forgot that we were adults as we screamed with joy, hugged and kissed!! We haven't forgotten the 'child' in us!!!!

When you sit next to the person you love and yet not have a conversation!! When your hugs will do the talking When you feed the simplest meal with your own hands When you just listen to music together When you watch a movie together!!!

we have so any holidays!!!  Today is Pongal (in the state I live in-TamilNadu).This is a wonderful time of the year when the sun begins is northward journey. It enters the zodiac Capricorn! The pleasant times are over- the chilly breeze, the craving to have hot pakoras and to be outdoors too. With a sweet concotion of rice and pulses we begin the day, chew and bite on pieces of sugarcane( very reminiscient of our forefathers tearing into meat) and await the fiery sun !!! Harvest is done in the rural areas and they await the new year ahead. So our warm winter is over and whooosh we are into an endless summer ...... ah! ice creams and cool curd rice-- here we come.....

either by interacting with smarter people or by reading!!!  I read the above quote at the book fair which is annually held in my city. It is so exciting to pore over books, hold them in your hands and wonder what mysteries they hold!!!

Tough times don't last;tough people do!! Hang in there, Hang in there!! So says Eugenia, a young friend of mine!

What you have to do tomorrow, do it today. What you have to do today, do it now.

Do not put the key of your happiness in someone else's pocket!!!

When you have a bucket of fish, distrubte it, or else they will rot, attract flies and emanate a bad smell!!

Never say YES when you want to say a NO! I heard this on the radio!

Life is to express yourself not to impress others!!!  This is my constant message to my sweet dear teens- my students!!!

People do not remember what you did or what you said!  They remember how you made them feel. Be happy and spread the cheer!!

I swa this cartoon film titled Madagascar 2. It had a lovely message for all parents. A lion's cub need not necessarily be ferocious and mighty. It could be just different.  Each child is unique and only if parents accep this, will the society accept too!!

It is so energising to get back to work after a stint of vacation.  It is even more a wonderful feeling to be with my students who are ever so eager and enthusiastic!

I was very surprised to hear this from my colleague-- she was persuading my son to do his Post graduation on the ground that I( mother) have done mine so he  shoud have more degrees than me. She asked me if I wished the same. I denied it strongly claiming that my son would do so only if he desires, not on the ground mentioned.  I reasoned that earning degrees is not important. Learning is more!!!  When one stops learning, one stops living and it is equal to dying!!