Newsletter for trainers and teachers with articles and resources for learning and development

1. Oct-Dec 2013 Page 1 of 4VOL. # 7 ISSUE #10-12
Inspiring Teachers
Human Excellence
From the editor…..
Some of you may have wondered why the newsletter hasn’t
come. Actually I had started sending it out in Oct 2007. So it
just finished five years. There were many colleagues that
helped in this journey, contributing links, articles, faculty
profiles and appreciation of the efforts. I request you to
continue your support and suggest more ‘inspiring teachers’
to be profiled. More articles from readers are also needed.
Now from this year, I will send this newsletter once in three
months – yes, it will be a quarterly now. Since we are talking of
change, let’s look deeper into this issue of change!
While we like the adage “Every day is a new day – a new
beginning”, deep inside, most people, I expect, would not want
to be thrown into uncertainty, where we have to figure out our
responses to continual change. Small changes like moving to a
new house or a new job, are quite challenging in the first few
months.
Some changes are voluntary and planned – with lot of mental
and physical preparation. But some changes come as bolt from
the blue like getting laid off from a job or facing the death of a
loved one. These changes are also more drastic – sometimes
redefining a new direction in life.
Some people thrive on change and adventure, but most others
resist it. Imagine if you knew the story and screenplay of a
movie, would you go and watch it? But that’s exactly how we
want to live our life. So why does human nature want
adventure in the movies and books or on Discovery or NatGeo
but not in their life.
Last twenty years saw rapid changes in society, relationships,
technology, living style and every aspect of life - more because
of the connectedness with the world through technology and
economic reforms.
The only way we can remain happy in such times is by
accepting change rather than resisting it. Those who have
succeeded in life or business are those who have adapted to
change.
It’s like getting into a flowing river. You keep hesitating -
afraid to step into the cold water, that it might take you
away from the secure shore. And then few minutes into
water and you start liking it.
And fear of change is not just a malady of old age as we
would like to believe. People of any age could be quite rigid
in their ways. Even infants react negatively when they are
taken to a new place or meet new people. Some babies
seem to enjoy the change, though. So is adaptability
something you are born with? Though some are ‘naturals’,
anyone could acquire this quality any time in life.
Another perspective to take is to be ‘leaders of change’ –
when you see new waves on the horizon before others, don’t
just sit and say I need to accept this; but take the lead,
show others what you see and leverage the change to
benefit yourself and others around you. We have a short
article that can help you persuade others to change!!
On the professional front, the role of teachers as
experts or warehouses of knowledge has
disappeared. People believe everything can be found
on the internet. So, to keep us relevant and needed,
we need to reinvent ourselves. Classes should be
used more to discuss, to motivate, to connect and to
listen, than to disseminate information. Technology
and pedagogy must be our focus.
Contact us: info@theprofessor.in,
In this issue:
Editorial accept, adapt and lead – ways to look at change
Featured Mrs Annapurna, Sevalaya …….……… 2
Everyone resists change – some issues ………… 4

2. Oct-Dec 2013 Page 2 of 4 VOL. #7 ISSUE #10-12
Faculty of the month – Mrs N Annapurna
Head Mistress – Sevalaya’s Mahakavi Bharathiyar Higher
Secondary School, Kasuva, TN
What has influenced your decision to take up teaching?
Used to teach my sister and her friends and found that I could
do it well. Later could feel the joy when student's eyes lit up as
they understood something or when an anecdote/story shared
with students brought about a very positive visible change in a
person. All in all found it very rewarding on an emotional level .
Time flew by while teaching, the periods appeared so small
when there were so many things to be told. More than
anything else learnt as much as I taught. I discovered the real
joy of learning as I prepared for my classes and getting this
through to my students just increased it.
Tell us something about your joining Sevalaya
My husband was always interested is working for less
privileged, always had the habit of giving respect to them ,
helping them in small ways. So it was a part of our lives and
slowly I had got into this too. We were not very crazy about
acquiring a lot of wealth just wanted to have enough to lead a
decent life . Somewhere we started talking about spending an
active part of our life working for worthy causes and then my
husband decided to take a VRS from his bank job we started
searching and this brought us to Sevalaya. I had day dreamt of
such a life many a times and it became a reality.
What kind of teaching methods did you use to keep
students interested in your classes?
Looking back I don't think I have used so many methods.
Mostly it has been lecture method using simple tools like
charts, pictures, music, sometimes games, encyclopedia or
other similar books with lots of pictures, models & experiments
in science classes and of course story telling in between . But
videos and net connectivity were not so accessible those days
and my resources were the books in libraries. I think it was the
sincerity and true desire to help which really helped the
students. I would sit up for hours gathering facts , information
related to the lesson and pass it on. As written earlier I taught
myself basic facts (concepts which had not been clearly
taught/learnt in my school days) and whenever I could
understand things clearly I would really get excited and this
would naturally come across in my class.
How do your colleagues react to your ideas and
initiatives? How do you respond?
It varies from person to person. In some places I have orked
with people who would be really excited and we would work
further developing the idea. Mostly the friends group, with
whom I have been, belonged to this category and we would be
discussing our classes and students and ways to improve. Here
too at Sevalaya we have this group which is always thinking of
improving ,trying out new methods etc. Each time a new idea
comes up we all get into it with enthusiasm but it is difficult to
get everyone to feel the same way . Some bring up all the
difficulties in the path and are reluctant to try. I just try to
help/support them to the greatest extent possible.
Mrs N Annapurna was born in Trichur, Kerala and
grew up at Calcutta. She did her schooling at
Carmel Convent there and graduated with honours
in Chemistry from Lady Brabourne college. She then
got married and went with her husband to different
places. As a result she was able to pick up
languages and knows English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil,
Malayalam, Telugu and little bit of Kannada/Marathi.
She started working when she was in Hyderabad
and did a BEd later through correspondence. She
also did her masters in English and finished MPhil
theory but did not complete the dissertation as she
did not feel it was important at that point. She went
for an ELP (Education for leadership) course
conducted by the Kuruvilla Jacob Foundation which
was really good. She enjoys teaching, motivating
students, working on creative projects,and helping
people as much as possible. She likes reading and
music and many of of her joyous moments have
been spent with books in libraries. She has a love
for the metaphysical and has done Reiki, pranic
healing and courses offered by Art of Living & Isha
Yoga. Through British Council's Global School
Partnership programme she got a chance to visit a
school in UK where she met some lovely people
and made many great friends. Working with
Sevalaya has brought in many new opportunities to
work in diverse fields and she is enjoying this
learning experience .
She is so humble, that she says she doesn't know
much. That she has not really gone about this
profession in a systematic way acquiring the
required degrees but exposure to various
experiences in life have been exciting and
educative.
Read full interview at www.theprofessor.in

3. Oct-Dec 2013 Page 3 of 4 VOL. # 7 ISSUE #10-12
Any memor able moments as a teacher?
Many small incidents - the day I went out of class literally
floating in the air when I could get the desired
breakthrough in the math class. I have forgotten the topic I
taught but the feeling still lingers, a tiny tot in the primary
runs up asking me when I will go to their class again, when
I get a call from an old student(a slow learner) who says he
is today what he is all because of me the day sevalaya got
its first 100% , the tears in my eyes when an old student
recollected the day I had scolded him in class for not
studying but which later turned out to be a turning point in
his life , when I wish each and every student of mine on the
eve of their board exams -we have trodden a rough path
sometimes frustrating ,sometimes good but at the end of it
heart overflows with love wishing that each of them will
get through with good marks which will lay a strong
foundation for them to come up in life.....
Moments of frustration?
When students are not able to understand all efforts we
make to improve their academic level and continue to fare
badly in their tests, when some staff do not take steps to
improve their teaching ability in spite of the efforts taken
by their seniors to help them , when time just flies by and
the academic session is drawing to a close without our
having been able to complete all the changes we wanted to
How can we get competent people to choose teaching as
a career?
I am not really sure because this is a profession where
passion is required. We should increase the respect for this
profession. It may seem harsh but anyone with poor
academic scores should not be allowed to join BEd courses.
Have good quality professional colleges that admit students
based on tests where the students can be assessed for their
teaching skills
What could be a sustainable model to improve the
teaching skills of existing teachers?
Frequent refresher courses to improve their knowledge
levels, good training programmes where new
methodologies can be learnt , selfd evelopment
programmes and retreats ,giving a lot of inputs from real
life of teachers who have made a difference in lives of
their students .
What are your future plans?
Not thought about it much. Would like to continue helping
as much as possible especially in this field of education,
coaching teachers/helping them prepare for their classes
etc. Would like to be a part of a community with similar
ideas /beliefs where we could meditate together ,explore
new paths /ways towards a more meaningful life.
What are the special challenges you face from
students and teachers in Sevalaya? and how do you
overcome them or turn them around?
On the students side it is their lack of awareness about
education and its possiblities. They are just not able to
understand why they have to study when almost most of the
basic necessities of life are offered free. Home environment
is not conducive to study. In case of girls things are even
worse. They grow up hearing about their marriage to so and
so person and media compounds matters by portraying a
rosy picture of love and marriage. Decades of single minded
approach to life have to be broken down to make a
headway. As far as the boys are concerned ,one's with fair
amount of intelligence can be easily motivated but others
down the line are too lazy to work and prefer to take life
easy. Presenting role models from the people they get to see
often , talking from one's experience , giving them a glimpse
of life beyond this village through talks/pictures slowly
makes dents. We ask the alumni to share their experiences
and this helps in changing mindsets. Teachers come from
similar background and with many of them, their lack of
deep knowledge in their subjects and not having a real
passion for their jobs is the challenge. Further most want to
get into Govt. jobs where they feel they need not work so
much . But all are not like this. The ones who are
interested in going further can be easily motivated through
constant mentoring. Looking for opportunities to praise goes
a long way in bringing teachers around. Many of them have
talents in one field or another and a public praise at the
weekly meetings in Mr Murali's presence boosts their self
confidence and makes them more amenable to work harder.
The greatest plus point ,there are some who are self
motivated and are an inspiration to others.

4. June 2013 Page 4 of 4 VOL. #7 ISSUE #6
Everyone resists change!
Do you also believe that everyone resists change? If so, please read on.
+ -
CHANGE Reward
Risks
NO CHANGE
Comforts
People should have some motivation or benefit to change. If you think of change as climbing a
hill, then there must be a pot of gold on the top, for someone to take the effort! But that’s not
enough! There are many risks like falling and injuring oneself. Why should someone take those
risks? What if they end up with a crutch in their climb for the gold? So when you want to
persuade, you need to enlarge the pot and reduce the crutches!!
Now look at the scenario for no change. Most people are happy with where they are (comfort
zone) or they don’t want to give up some goodies – for example, their beach house and their
mermaid. So how do you motivate such a person to climb the mountain? You may have to point
at the dangers that he is constantly fighting - if he doesn’t move out of his current comfort zone
with his mermaid, he may be fighting hard with some crocodiles lurching in the waters. To
persuade, then you need to minimize the mermaids and enrage the crocodiles. So when we need
to talk about change, all these four aspects of change need to be discussed or considered.
And the most challenging part of the motivation is that fact that everyone’s pot of gold, crutches,
mermaids and crocodiles are different. You need to see them from the other person’s perspective.
Or basically, take off your glasses and see the situation wearing their glasses!!