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What Do You Want to Be In 2020 – A Survivor or A Free-Soul

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

What Do You Want to Be In 2020 – A Survivor or A Free-Soul
By Ahmad Amirali

As 2019 ends, many of us will going to reflect on how things terribly went wrong or tremendously went well for them throughout the year. Reflection is the very thing which I learned when I entered the teaching profession. However, before measuring yourself on the right and wrong scale, take a moment and think about how many hours you have spent for yourself? – Yes, for yourself. One of my previous students greeted happy new year this morning and asked me how was my year. I replied it was great and he again asked sir, how it went? Yet again I replied with the same answer – it went well. He again asked ‘Sir, how you survive this year?’ and this time I didn’t respond because this is what we do to our self every year. We simply survived every year by struggling with our problems, stress, exams, un-successful crushes, uneven work experiences, worst classroom experiences and yet after all that we again get our self-ready for the next year to repeat that ‘Survival cycle’ and the life goes on. The question is, are we living to survive or survive to live through our whole life? Continue reading “What Do You Want to Be In 2020 – A Survivor or A Free-Soul” →

Students Worst Enemy – Procrastination

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Students Worst Enemy – Procrastination
By Ahmad Amirali

So, the term ended on a high note with lots of fond memories and blissful moments. Every year students’ study hard and try to give their best at every level; from sports to extracurricular activities. It seems quite easy, is it so? Well, in reality, the road to success for students is full of challenges and surprises. Some problems even, if not dealt on time, follow students throughout their lives, making their life more challenging then ever. One such issue that students start having soon as they entered their teenage is – procrastination. The term which has a powerful bond with almost all of us; teachers, parents, adults, students etc. The art of delaying things and unable to complete specific tasks on its deadline is called procrastination. However, the question that puzzles me every year is how a person procrastinate when he/she completely aware about the importance and the completion deadline of a task allotted to him/her by their teacher, parent or boss? Continue reading “Students Worst Enemy – Procrastination” →

Why Do Students Want to Be Perfect in Everything?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Why Do Students Want to Be Perfect in Everything?
By Ahmad Amirali

“Sir, I meet my subject tutor today and he told me that achieving 95% in mathematics and science I, not a big deal and overall 85% is an average grade for a student like you….my parents appear to have a similar kind of thoughts… I feel so much pressure, what if I lost or unable to achieve these grades….”

This is one of the common concerns or what can I say a ‘trauma’ shared by many students, but differently, since I started my teaching career. Each year, several students graduated and happily embark upon their career journey. Some reach out their goals and successfully achieve whatever they’ve planned for their future. However, some teenagers try to pursue whatever their parents, teachers, friends or relatives think are best for them and in that pursuit all they do is simply sacrifice every dream they ever dream for themselves. The question is why is it necessary for students to achieve greatness in every walk of their lives? Does it come from within or from the adults around them? Continue reading “Why Do Students Want to Be Perfect in Everything?” →

Why Students Sometimes Fear to Speak Out Their Minds in The Classroom? | Reasons and Remedies

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Why Students Sometimes Fear to Speak Out Their Minds in The Classroom? | Reasons and Remedies
By Ahmad Amirali

Have you ever wondered sometimes a teacher plan a fascinating topic for his/her class and despite witnessing the students’ interest in the subject, they simply avoid participating in classroom discussion or even sharing their opinion? Every year I encountered such student behaviour in my classroom, and upon counselling the students, I hear the same excuse; ‘I was silent because I was worried to share my opinion, what if someone rejects or laugh at my point’. Interestingly, this year I found the same issue with a number of students in my classroom. But this time not one or two, but majority share the same concern that they fear of being singled out or accidentally saying something offensive. Let’s explore what makes students fear to speak out their minds in front of their peers? Continue reading “Why Students Sometimes Fear to Speak Out Their Minds in The Classroom? | Reasons and Remedies” →

5 Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 1)

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

5 Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 1)
By Ahmad Amirali

This year, I am experimenting and have introduced ‘Online Discussion Forums’ in my classroom to help my kids reflect and personalise whatever they’ve been taught at the school (Previous Article: The Online Discussion Boards – A Classroom Pedagogical Tool | How to Use Guide | Pros & Cons). Similarly, there are number of ways through which teacher can involve students in personalisation mode and using social media as a pedagogy for student learning and engagement is one of them. One may ask ‘Why social media?’, Well, It’s not a secret that today’s students are hooked-up with social media due to its popularity and the sense of communal belongingness. Therefore, many teachers are incorporating social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook into their curriculum. From ‘bulletin boards’ to ‘fake Facebook profiles’ for historical figures, teachers are turning what students post on social media into classroom assignments. Continue reading “5 Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 1)” →