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How Reading Helps Students to Overcome Stress in a Time of Crisis

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Researchers Believe That Adolescent’s Post Pandemic Stress Can Be Conquer Through Reading Habits

A new term began, and once again, a fresh lot started their new yet another virtual learning journey with me. Interestingly, this time around, I found some students who like to read books and are even interested in sharing their reviews during the class. You guys must be wondering why I am expressing such joy upon knowing that my students read books. According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Gallup and Gillani Pakistan, 3 out of 4 Pakistani students (75%) have never read any book at all except their course curriculum books. The average, only 9% of students are keen readers. The question is why, over the years, reading culture has drastically declined in our country, especially among teens? The definitive answers may be over-dependency on electronic and social media etc. But why one wanting to develop such habits when the majority of the world is now technology dependent. Does reading books is now becoming an ‘obsolete culture’? What role does a reading habit play in a time where people are bound to keep themselves physically distant? Continue reading “How Reading Helps Students to Overcome Stress in a Time of Crisis” →

Why do Adolescents Sometimes Cave into Peer Pressure?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Especially In This Plight of Pandemic Dealing with Teenage Peer Pressure Now Becoming a Huge Problem During High School

When I think back to my teenage days, I can probably remember the feeling and the fear that everyone will think I am not cool or do not hang out with the coolest gang of my high school. That fear leads me to do a lot of stupid stuff that I might not do otherwise, from adopting a new lifestyle and clothing sense, whether it suits me or not, to deciding the future career pathway based on my friends’ preferences. It seems when I step into that teenage bubble, my parents’ approval starts mattering less, and friends’ approval starts counting more. Although it sounds weird and so reckless or rebellious to many of you, that was when only I could feel the fear of disapproval from my peers, which eventually led me to cave into peer pressure. Recently, I encountered a situation where a parent shared the routine of her kid and while hearing her take me back to my teen days as I can relate to some of the stuff that parent shared with me. Continue reading “Why do Adolescents Sometimes Cave into Peer Pressure?” →

How Do I Know If My Adult Child Is Emotionally Constipated?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Why Children Become Emotionally Explosive in Their Adulthood?

As a secondary school educator, I frequently hear stories of being passive and aggressive, especially from parents. Behaviours like these may have many reasons such as academic, family or peer pressure etc. But sometimes, these reasons have lasting effects on teens mental and physical health if proper actions cannot be taken on time. I recently met one of my previous students who is now becoming a registered nurse from a well-known healthcare institute. The way she was talking to me, it seems like she has a lot to say. We spent almost 2 hours talking about her recent transitions in professional life, where she shared her bitter experiences as well. While leaving, she said, “Sir, you know it’s been four years since I talked that much…I am glad I met you”. I always feel proud whenever I met my students, and after all these years, they still recognize me. However, I know her since school days, and I realize the feeling behind her last words when she was leaving. In today’s pandemic and virtually depressed times, teens are more exposed to mental depression where they don’t want to express their feelings to anyone – making them emotionally constipated. Continue reading “How Do I Know If My Adult Child Is Emotionally Constipated?” →

Why Do We Need to Teach Empathy in Our Classrooms?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

How Teaching Compassion to Students Helps Them to Tackle Future Challenges and Adapt to New Situations in Life?

As a teacher, we usually encounter multiple forms of students’ behaviour in the classroom. One of the behaviours which I believe every teacher should relate where students support each other. When asking ‘why you are not participating in the classroom or what puzzling you, buddy?’ was answered by someone else, ‘Sir, she is not feeling well.’ It is interesting to see how students make themselves aware of the situation that might have shaken their classmates’ spirits. The term that relates to such behaviour can be ‘Empathy’ which means ‘the ability to understand and share the feelings.’ But how can someone genuinely understand how someone else is feeling? Are some people born with this innate ability, or is it a skill that should be learned in the classroom? Continue reading “Why Do We Need to Teach Empathy in Our Classrooms?” →

How Service Learning and Community Engagement Impacting Students during Pandemic

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

A Creative Approach Where Students Learn Theories in The Classroom and At the Same Time Through Community Engagement Reflect and Deepen Their Understanding of What Is Being Taught.

Last week, one of my previous students approach me to share the recent school project that he opted to work on in the summer holidays. The project was all about community engagement of how to volunteer your time and expertise to engage with the people surrounding you and improve their living who can’t afford to develop themselves during the height of the pandemic. Once the project completed, the student then reflects upon the change that he/she made after their volunteer engagement with that community or an individual. My student was very excited and wanted to share and discuss some basic ideas on how he can participate in community engagement. This idea fascinates me, especially when we are bound to stay away from each other physically. Community engagement can be one of the ways to engage our students to experience whatever they learn in the classroom Continue reading “How Service Learning and Community Engagement Impacting Students during Pandemic” →