Good Schools of India
Joy of Learning Weekly #48
Chairperson’s Message
Congratulations on the Good Schools Alliance’s Foundation Day.
I’m Amrita Burman, Director of the Sunbeam Group of Educational Institutions, Varanasi, and also the Chairperson of the Governing Council of GSA. And I’m really, very excited. I want to congratulate everyone who’s been associated with this beautiful mission—I would say it’s all about reading, reflection, relationship, seva, and giving.
The idea is very compelling. I’m very pleased with how things have grown at GSA. It has been scaling, and I’m really excited about it. I’m really hoping we can join hands and celebrate many, many more Foundation Days together.
The whole thought of giving is so close to my heart. I want to congratulate everyone who is associated with the GSA. More power to GSA! More people are participating in sewa and benefiting from it. Everyone is planning to do it.
Let us really make a difference together.
Thank you!
Amrita Burman,
Chairperson of the Good Schools Alliance
The Governing Council of GSA plays a pivotal role in advancing the organisation’s mission to revolutionise school culture and establish vibrant, collaborative learning environments. Its dedicated members are instrumental in spearheading impactful initiatives and programs, such as the My Good School Retreat, My Good School, and The Teachers Academy.
A Reader’s Pace
Leaving books half-read isn’t a failure. Neither is switching between them, nor pausing midway. Reading isn’t a race, and it certainly isn’t a checklist.
Reading is slow and time-consuming.
But even then—even like this—it counts.
Sneha, Intern at The English Book Depot
Reading from What Did You Ask At School Today? by Kamala Mukunda
Fridays @ EBD
What Did You Ask At School Today? A Handbook Of Child Learning Book 1
Book by Kamala V. Mukunda
Discussion on student motivation and the role of assessment in learning.
Key Takeaways
Praise Effort, Not Ability: Carol Dweck’s research shows praising effort (e.g., “You worked hard”) fosters a growth mindset, leading students to choose challenging tasks. Praising ability ("You are so clever") creates a fixed mindset, leading students to avoid challenges to protect their self-image.
Prioritise Mastery Over Performance: A mastery-oriented classroom focuses on understanding and effort, where students attribute failure to lack of effort, not ability. This builds resilience and shifts the question from “Can I do this?” to “How can I do this?”
Replace Competition with Collaboration: Competition is a poor motivator that creates stress and social dysfunction. Collaborative learning, where students take ownership and responsibility for helping peers, builds essential real-world skills like teamwork and empathy.
Use Authentic Assessment for Learning: Traditional tests drive rote learning and anxiety. Authentic assessment (e.g., projects, portfolios) measures skills developed in class, provides meaningful feedback, and aligns assessment with pedagogical goals.
BOOKS OF THE WEEK
Statesmanship and Economics at Their Best
‘Arthashastra’ is one of the oldest books of immense historical significance, written by Kautilya, popularly known as Arya Chanakya. This book is one of the most effective books ever written on the art of statecraft and the science of everyday living. Originally written in Sanskrit, this is the English translation of the book, which highlights the government's role in people's lives and the critical responsibilities it should carry. The book also speaks at great length about economics; hence, the name ‘Arthashastra’, which is the Sanskrit translation of the word ‘Economics’.
Ecological Wisdom and Its Application in the Classroom
Learning Forward Saturday and the Wisdom Mandli with Project FUEL
To explore environmental wisdom and its application in the classroom.
Key Takeaways
Wisdom is “passed around,” not “passed down.” Insights come from all ages and experiences, not just seniors or experts.
Project FUEL collects ecological wisdom from everyday life (e.g., cooking, gardening) to create lesson plans that strengthen children’s connection to nature.
A breakout room activity failed due to technical issues and participant confusion, prompting a shift to a main-room discussion.
Teachers are assigned homework: collect 2–3 ecological life lessons from their students and post their own lesson on a shared platform.
Life is a Series of Moments
Masterclass:
Read together from The Courage To Be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, discuss the chapter “Life is a series of moments,” and complete the conversation between the Youth and the Philosopher.
Key Takeaways
Reject the “kinetic” life model (a linear path to a future goal) for an “energeal” one (finding fulfilment in the process itself).
Live in the “here and now” by shining a “bright spotlight” on each moment, which makes the past and future irrelevant distractions.
Assign your own meaning to life; it has no inherent purpose. The “guiding star” for this is the contribution to others.
Change yourself to change your world; it’s a personal responsibility that requires courage to start, regardless of others’ cooperation.
A peek into the inner landscapes
Sometimes, there is an assumption that learning sessions are online, and they seem slightly disorienting until you attend them with the intention of meeting and hearing the voices of educators and people sharing their conundrums in life and school. Take what speaks to you, and don't beat yourself up for everything that's beyond your head.
Neelashi Mangal
The SPECIAL Joy of Storytelling and Reading- Sunbeam School Lahartara
Students at My Good School love storytelling and reading sessions because stories spark imagination, strengthen language skills, and make learning joyful. Reading plays a vital role in education by building knowledge, empathy, and critical thinking. These sessions are truly SPECIAL as they nurture Self-confidence, Patience, Expression, Creativity, Imagination, Empathy, and Lifelong learning, which are essential qualities that help students grow into thoughtful, responsible, and well-rounded individuals.
Karthik Bajoria, a seasoned communicator, shares his formula for creating engaging sentences by incorporating character, situation, and result. He emphasises the importance of narrative structure and the use of context-specific words to enhance storytelling. The session includes practical exercises where students apply these principles. Reading from the book What You Are Looking For Is In The Library, the discussion touches on job satisfaction, as illustrated by Kiriyama’s career shift from a demanding editorial job to a more balanced role at a glasses shop. The conversation highlights the value of empathy, of understanding different perspectives, and of finding fulfilment in one’s work.