A new session started,teachers were assigned their new classes,me too as a chemistry teacher.It was my first day in class 9 and i asked the students to introduce themselves one by one.After that i introduced myself as their new chemistry teacher. Then afterwards i started teaching them.
This class was a mixture of arts, biology and computer students and students were below average. They seemed to be quite passive , not responding at all. I found myself very low in energy but then i decided to inquire the matter. On my questions that why they did not seem to be energetic and active, they replied that their class top position holders have left this section and have moved to a classy and creamy section ,so now there is no competition as such.
At that moment, i realized that why the students were not active ,not responding and quite in the class.Every teacher just tagged them to be below average class and not taking any keen interest in their character building. Then i put my chemistry book aside and just focused on one thing that what factor will enhance their confidence, will make them feel better and more active. I tried to make the students close to myself just by asking them to write something on a colorful paper. What they were supposed to write was to tell about themselves, their fears , their liking ,their goals , their strengths and their weaknesses. Weaknesses with
which they were fed up.The very next day , only 50% students wrote but when i appreciated them and told them that i wanna know every student.What my student thinks and feels i want to know,the very next day they brought colorful papers with their feelings written on. I started to study every student and motivated them that they are not below average, they can do what they wanna do ,i assured them that i believe that you can do and you will do. The day after when i entered their class, they all seemed to be active and energetic and well prepared for the oral assessment.Then i just realized that a token of appreciation, love and trust can change the mindset of students. It was just like a stone of hope, out of the mountains of despair.We should not give up because the beginning of everything is always the hardest.They all loved the motivation i showed towards them.
it was just a single story i shared with you as a teacher. Our role as a teacher is not only of an instructor who just focuses on syllabus completion,but we are there to motivate them,to facilitate them.Your one sentence of appreciation can bring a tremendous change. So we all should be good artists to paint beautiful pictures in the mind of students.
Picture taken from my cell Oppo A5.