Good Schools of India
Joy of Learning Weekly #53
Brewing Knowledge Friday
Join us in celebrating Literature, Art, and Culture at The English Book Depot! Immerse yourself in the magic of reading through our cosy Book Cafe, where unforgettable experiences await. Whether visiting in person or joining via Zoom, connect with a vibrant community of book lovers, authors, and educators—all passionate about the joy of reading. Come, brew your knowledge with us! #BrewingKnowledge
Amardeep Singh discusses his heritage documentation and personal journey.
Key Takeaways
“Accidental Author” Journey: A corporate career ended in 2014, freeing Singh to pursue a lifelong passion for history. This led to documenting Sikh heritage in Pakistan, a project he views as a personal calling to contribute to society.
Challenging Official Narratives: Singh’s work counters state-sponsored history (e.g., Pakistan’s) that omits or demonises the Sikh era. He uses historical evidence, like syncretic frescoes, to reveal a more complex, shared past.
Partition’s Unequal Impact: The partition’s impact was uneven. Punjab was divided, but Sindh, Kashmir, and Balochistan were uprooted entirely. This explains the Sindhi community’s focus on commerce after losing all land-based assets.
Current Project: Singh is translating the Guru Granth Sahib into “metaphoric English” to make its wisdom globally accessible. He has completed 1/3 of the project (1,653 verses) and is seeking resources to finish the remaining 2/3.
Check out the full conversation on our YouTube Channel.
The Design of a Bookstore
At first glance, a bookstore feels neutral — wooden shelves, soft lighting, neat stacks arranged with quiet precision. But the longer you stand inside it, the more you begin to understand: space is never accidental.
A bookstore is not simply arranged.
It is designed.
And design carries intention.
Read Sneha’s full post on the Brewing Knowledge blog of The English Book Depot.
BOOKS OF THE WEEK
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow: The Untold Story of N.J. Yasaswy. The Founder Of ICFAI by Pattabhi Ram and Sudhakar Rao
Sandeep Dutt led a masterclass on respect in education, emphasising its role in fostering interpersonal relationships. He stressed the need for teachers to respect students unconditionally, without imposing their own values. Dutt used the analogy of a flower bed to illustrate the diverse growth of students, underscoring that respect is practised, not preached. He also discussed social feeling, advocating concern for others’ concerns. The session featured insights from participants, including Naman and Subham, who shared their experiences and reflections on respect in teaching. The masterclass aimed to encourage respectful interactions and self-reliance in students.
We apologise again for the poor quality; due to unstable bandwidth at our studio in Dehradun this evening.
एक अच्छी टीचर की पहचान - सुनीता त्रिपाठी
एक अच्छी टीचर की पहचान जो सिर्फ किताब नहीं बल्कि जीवन की सीख दे अच्छी टीचर बच्चों को सिर्फ पढ़ाई नहीं बल्कि सही गलत, ईमानदारी, अनुशासन और अच्छे संस्कार भी सिखाती है। वह बच्चों को अच्छा इंसान बनने की राह दिखाती है।
जो हर बच्चे को बराबर समझें ,अच्छी टीचर किसी में भेदभाव नहीं करती। वह हर बच्चे की क्षमता को समझकर उसे आगे बढ़ने का मौका देती है। जो धैर्य और सहानुभूति रखें, वह जानती है कि हर बच्चा अलग होता है। इसलिए वह धीरे-धीरे और प्यार से समझता है।
जो प्रेरणा दे बच्चों को आत्मविश्वास बढ़ती है और उन्हें अपने सपनों को पूरा करने के लिए प्रेरित करती है। जो खुद भी सिखाती रहे वह हमेशा नई बातें सिखाती रहती है ताकि बच्चों को बेहतर तरीके से पढ़ सके अच्छी टीचर वह है जो बच्चों को दिल में डर नहीं बल्कि सीखने की खुशी पैदा करें।
सुनीता त्रिपाठी
सनबीम ग्रामीण स्कूल
Reflective Teaching and Relationship Building
Learning Forward Saturday
To define the qualities of an ideal teacher and assign a creative reflection task.
Key Takeaways
The Task: Create a teacher-hiring advertisement based on the unconventional one in Wanted Back-bencher & Last-ranker Teacher. The advertisement must reflect your personal qualities and include a graphic.
The Goal: Shift from passive “note-taking” (session summaries) to active “reflection” (personal application and insight), which is the core of the 3R methodology (Reading, Reflection, Relationships).
The Deadline: Submit your advertisement copies to Manisha via email by February 28. The goal is 50 blog submissions for www.HappyTeacher.in!
The Rationale: This exercise directly supports the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2022’s focus on application-based learning, ensuring teachers remain relevant in a changing educational landscape.
My Good School
Joyful Learning Through Stories - Talat Bano
This class is not just about reading; it is also about gaining knowledge in a fun way.
Thank you
Talat Bano
5C, Sunbeam School, Ballia
Our Sunday School session focused on book reviews.
Key Takeaways
Balance Fact & Opinion: A good review combines objective facts (plot, characters) with subjective opinions (pacing, style), clearly signalling the latter with phrases like “in my opinion.”
Uncover Deeper Themes: Look beyond the surface story for the author’s underlying commentary on society, politics, or human nature.
Use a Standard Structure: Follow a logical flow: Context → Premise → Characters/Conflict → Plot → Execution → Resolution → Themes → Conclusion.
Title Last: Write the review first, then craft a short (1–3 word), catchy title that teases the content without spoiling it.