Friday and Saturday of Week 4

Ok. Today is 20^th July, a Wednesday and it is around 12 days since I last wrote. So again a symbol of how busy my days were. Well this week was relatively easier but the point was that I did not have any internet. Ok let me stop the crap and start writing the experiences.

Friday started with a session on Integrity taken by Sandeep and just on a lighter mood, I am sharing it. I was just browsing internet and got a ping to make a proxy. The session was on Integrity and a person asking me to mark proxy. I loved the irony at the time and told that I won’t, to the person replied that it was a joke, well I am not sure if it was or not. Doesn’t matter also. 

Well after that also was some session. Then summer school. Being Friday I just had to take assessment, but my PM asked to teach a lesson since the class was lagging behind. I did not make any proper lesson plan and just revised the maths I had taught that week, which included shapes, clock and a few minutes on I think addition. After coming back we had the city meeting in which we were shown a presentation where some improvements were cited and a ppt was shown with quotes from parents or relatives. Anamika had an amazing ppt made by her fiancé. Well that was truly exemplary. I envied their relationship that time. Well that made a benchmark for me as to how good people can be when they are in love.

Friday ended and Saturday started. It was the day when I was supposed to go on Community visit and we reached school to find that parents teacher meeting had ended before we came and we were to go to homes on our own. Then I called Payal’s home to find that they are not in Pune and had gone for some family function. What??

I wanted to go to home of Priyanka and Payal.Former’s grandmom denied my arrival and later was just not there. Then I went with Pritish to Pratham’s home. In our path we crossed a saloon shop which reminded me of my hanging long hair which needed some maintenance. While finding Pratham’s home, in my simplicity(:P) I even asked a prostitute on the road the way to the building. After she said that she did not know the path I had a thought that what if she had misled me. Well this incident made me think for some time. How much biases we hold to people of some profession. How we judge people on what they do and not what they are. Profession need not always be a matter of choice but many a time forced in our country at least. With our country still tied in the chains of caste system we still have not got complete independence to decide what we want to continue as our profession. And prostitution is much more a less thought profession. People are forced into it more that what they chose. Some people are just traded in them and kept forcibly in it by various forces. Some people are just raped by their families and the only place they find peace are brothels. Are these people choosing or are they forced by the society? Can anyone answer it? Well these were my thoughts and just thought of how constrained we are even with some much education. Well the design of the lanes where they lived reminded me of my home. Just for those who are reading it, there were numerous brothels near my home, so I know very precisely the design of locality and dressing of residents. It also reminded me of some sweet(sarcasm intended) memories back home. Just another piece of information for the readers- Asia’s biggest brothel which had a market of more than 100 crores (8 years back) was also near to my home.

Well all these were my thought processes. We reached Pratham’s home and guess what Pratham’s family was a proper Rajasthan’s family. They were happy to meet a Marwari and I also hadn’t heard Marwari(language) since a long time. They were good people. Pratham’s mom was a teacher in Pratham till 4 years back when she left school as she was expecting another child. Well she had one girl and she was roaming around when were talking. Pratham’s mom told me about some of the problems in R N Shah school. Then I came back to school. Then went to Revati’s home. As I had a rough idea of where she lived, I went to the 3^rd floor of the expected building and found that I entered a wrong building, the residents told me to go to the building behind and showed me also through the balcony. While going I found a kid coming so I asked for help and he left me in a home. I called for Revati and was informed that she was in bathroom and hence I waited. A lady came out whom I expected to be Revati’s mom and started talking. She did not know hindi and she was conversing in Marathi. Well that was not quite unexpected and I was talking till a time she said, “ ME REVATI”. WHATTT??? She is Revati. My Revati can’t grow like 15 years in a day. Well again I entered a wrong home but this time a home with a girl with the same name. And just to add to it not only Revati but Revati Bokhare. Her surname was also same as my Revati had. Then we came to level ground. Actually the conversation was going on till now as I was introducing myself as teacher and she was herself undergoing a training too, a typing training. She was saying that I was not her teacher which was correct, completely. I wasn’t. Well then she told me how to go to the home to correct Revati. And she was not far away, just the next building. Then I reached. Talked with her. Revati’s elder sister was also there. She was studying in class 10. We had a good time talking, well we mean me, Revati, her sister and her mother. Then I came back. Bought a mango in the path. Having a mango after so long time and that too in month of July was amazing. Although the single mango costed me 20 bucks but still it was worth it. Then I had Bhajiya and some other snacks too with Prashant. Then I had a haircut, then a head massage too and a shampoo. It costed me 80. Welcome to Pune City. In Kolkata I remember started getting haircut at 7 bucks and now I am spending more than 10 times for the same thing and I am not getting anything, just paying to give my hair which in the end the barber is going to sell to get more money. Uff.
Forget it. Then I bought another yummy dish from roadside stall, the name of which I don’t know. After going back, we had a reflection session, in which I shared with Neha and 2 more people. Only Neha had the chance to go to a slum, we all others went to proper apartments. And guess what. The day does not end here. Our PM group went out to Tadka house for outing as it was last weekend. And I wasn’t actually interested in that and had already refused my PM. I was just doing my weekly weekend chores when Anwesha called. She asked me to come with same stuff that it was the last weekend. And on top of that I heard Rutika’s voice in background commenting that I should come. Well I did not have much choice now. 2 among the 3 girl fellows whom I just could not refuse anything(out of respect) asking for the same thing, that was too much, I just freshened up and got ready for leaving. Well the experience was fun. And there was hukka too and I had fun. The QnA round was fun too and I still remember Rutika’s remark and that was such a confidence booster. :P
We had the staff also there and we called Sandeep, Maureen, Sanaya and Anirban at different occasion and for different purposes and all of them were sport. We went back and the party still did not end. We went to Tagore to watch a movie “Stanley ka Dabba”. Till the end of the movie I think only 4-5 people were awake. And 4 of us were so sleepy that we decided to sleep the night from 4 AM in Tagore itself as it was raining heavy but on Madhukar’s insistence we went back to our rooms in Hitesh’s car. 

21st July started and experiences from 10th July have to be written down still. Ohhh. What an amazing life. :) 

Week 4

See again I am writing after more than 1 week simply indicating the fact that I was busy the last 8 days to the length that I couldn't even write down the daily expectations but I am not complaining. After all I am here for training and that was going at full length. Let me cut the crap down and write about daily experiences.

Tuesday: Started with another session from Romana followed by Kayt. Sessions were no different from what they present in every session. Then in school I tried continuing shapes again but this time from assessment oriented. After coming back I had the option of going to a Ballroom dance session by Madhukar but didn't go because of a discussion at the apartment.

Wednesday: Started with a session by Aniket. It was fun and about number sense. We were also introduced to the Pi family contest. In school I tried teaching clock but to no avail. Kids could not understand it. I made a clock out of chart paper but the hands got off in the journey. After coming back I attended the recruitment focus group session. Then that night the placement results also came out. I was allocated a school in Bibewadi and I was the only 2011 fellow there. I was excited that night.

Thursday: After attending JAM sessions by Kayt, Sanaya and Alica I edited the lesson plans. That day there was a waiting line of 1 hour for Print outs. I taught place value to kids but they didn't understand it much and just to add to my woes, my assessment had questions of word problems which constituted 80% of my assessment which I couldn't even teach. In the evening there was a fellow led discussion wehere we discussed the problems in Educational scenario of India and some possible solutions. It had 4 major solutions:
a>KIPP type schools, b>Consultancy for schools, c>Centralised data bank, d>Mobile education vans.


Well I am tired now. Will post about later experiences when I have strength. Good night.

Monday Week 4

I missed the Insanity Workout of Maureen and RC session thats why I am unusually writing today.

Ok so day started with LPC with PM. He reiterated the same stuff which Sandeep told few days back. The was a session by Alika on Writing. It was good but I wasn't listening, just didn't feel like paying attention. In school we were greeted by heavy rain for some time and then there was a session by Sanaya on INM execution. The theory part was fine but I doubt many people actually learned much out of it. Then my AIT time was ok. I was teaching 4 kids then. I don't know what and how to teach. Sakshi and Yash are good for the group and there is Payal who doesn't know both numbers and alphabets also. Sahil is so distracted but still smart. He acts as if he doesn't understand any english but I don't feel that because when he looks at me, I have a feeling that he gets what I want him to learn. Then was my session to teach. My objective was to teach basic 2d shapes, unlike my lesson plan I started it in more traditional way. I drew triangles and circles which everyone knew, some got confused between rectangle and square but overall it was good. I tried to push them to also explain sides but found myself at a lack of time. I gave them the assessment and found that kid didn't note down the spellings and none of the kids could identify all the 4 shapes and name it properly. I will teach that again tomorrow. I thought of attending Insanity workout by Maureen but got engaged in few discussions and didn't wanted to go late. So writing my blog. Oh just not to put much light on it, but yesterday realized that you talk of the devil and devil arrives. I discussed with few people that how our stay had been so peaceful compared to a set of people and there was some problem yesterday itself. I will think now once before being happy about some peaceful situation.

Week 3

Well I hope this week blog should be a bit detailed as the chances of memory being fresh is even higher. Ok. From where I left
Saturday: Woke up for another session in morning, then followed by one of Shaheen as expected another senti one. I think it was on Child Protection. Then we had sessions by Romanna on RC and phonics. As boring as expected them to be. Then I went out with Neha for a small walk around campus to the temple and lake. In the path we also went up and down a hill. In mid we also found Santhosh on our way. We 3 then went to an Emu farm, then crossed a stream, sat on a rock between the stream, had good discussions, then went through some bushes, reached back end of the lake, then reached a horse stable. The horse stable had 6 horses- 4 brown, 1 black and white and last but not the least, one grey one too. He looked amazing. Then we went through some marshy lands, crossed few ponds, picked up some stones on the path of green, yellow, white and blue colour, washed them in pond and came back. Well that day first time a movie was also screened on idea of someone. I actually ended up sleeping there.
Sunday: Slept for 9 hours, woke up and had breakfast and came back just to lie back to bed and sleep for more 2 hours. Freshened up, had lunch and started making LP's, washed some clothes and other pending minor works
Monday: Based on requests of many fellows, the starting sessions got delayed by an hour and we had starting sessions from 8 AM. I had my first RC session when I introduced vocabulary. Well that went good.
Tuesday: I gave my first session on actual teaching RC. Maureen came to my class and sat for more than 15 minutes. I had already decided that I am not even going to look at a staff member and I didn't pay any attention to her face as that would have surely depressed me. After the class got over, we got to know that a kid named Danish was not there, whose mother had come to collect him but he wasn't there. We searched in all classrooms, bathrooms, all directions outside school but to no avail. The kid was in a class taught by another collab of my PM group only. 1 fellow got really tensed and upset over not being able to find him. But after we reached the Flame campus I got to know that he was found. Because of the searching time, we reached campus late and I found out that Maureen praised me in the session for giving explicit directions in class. It was such a mood healer and encouragement. The session was on values by Shaheen and was a good one and told about a story in which a person went to many places and had to show perseverance and had both good and bad times. Even though it was a kids story but many of us also found it good.
Wednesday: Started with a session on Bias to which I could relate to a good extent as I myself was having one. The classroom was fine. But after coming from class, I was unable to accept the fact that I have a bias and talked with around 5 people as to what to be done. Got many ideas and suggestions, helped slightly.
Thursday: I hate Thursday. I have to continue teaching something which another fellow had been teaching for 3 days and on top of that my PM would observe me. Due to the pressure I came up with an idea of  There were 2 sessions on thursday and both were good. Session in the morning was on Colours and was such a mind opener. Got to know about various people's thinking and their nature and characteristics. Got to know how to deal with them. Being blue and during discussions I realised that talking with Blue people is the most difficult thing. Session by Kayt on co-teaching was helpful in making my opinion about co-teaching clearer.
Friday: Last day of the week. Started by a session on Sense of Possibility. A part of speech of Martin Luther king was showed. I am planning to see the full video today. Then we were asked to write a speech on our vision. Anamika gave an inspiring speech and I got to know that there are people here who have amazingly good and highly convincing thoughts. I hope many people could have such views. I haven't seen anyone till date(only in videos of great leaders) with such views. See such repetition just points out that I am still in awe. I didn't have any class as Alika was modelling my class. The kids were sitting like anything. How were they understanding what was going on. I also realized that my kids are so good at cheating. Except 4, all others were just copying each others. In the GP Alika took, only 3 kids were able to come up with answers and every kid had their eyes on them only and as soon as a colour was lifted, in 2 seconds 70% of class would have their hands lifted. In IP, cheating was at its peak. I asked Alika that what should be done to discourage it, to which he suggested me to make a sad smiley on paper in front of kid and not to evaluate it and then make that kid do the paper in AIT time. I liked the idea and have to discuss that with my PM group. Discussion is more of a formality. My PM group is good. Very rational and open to ideas. Then observed Aniket's class also and made a sheet for my AIT group kids as through the weeks experience I now knew the level of my kids. I gave them to read at home but lets find out tomorrow if they do it. In evening we were greeted with a PPT by sandeep which was highly encouraging. In the middle of PPT we were supposed to get a paper stuck at our back and people were writing all sort of things. It was so much fun. And at the end a PPT with our photos teaching kids was shown. I felt good. Then I tried discussing my problem in first person, I don't know how successful the meeting was but to a certain extent yes it was. Got into a discussion with another person that day.
Saturday:
Another wonderful day. Started with a very boring lecture by Sanaya and in few minutes, people came dancing. Then it was told that we had to get split into 2 groups-one for dance and other for art. I went for dance and the 1 hour and 30 minutes of training was so good. I loved the dance time. Then all the fellows were divided in 5 groups-red,green,yellow, blue and black. We were also asked to dress as much as possible in the colour and prepare a chant. We displayed our chant in football court. Then we had Tug of war in which our group came first. Then was a relay race with 3 couples for hand barrow and 3 couples for 3 legged race. Then we had a pass the marble game which had to done twice due to not clear instructions. Then we had a catch the water balloon game. And at the end we all received a diary and a water bottle. Oh. what an amazing day. Then came back, washed the clothes and other minor pending work. Day just ended so soon.
Sunday: Woke up with 9 hours of sleep to find a mail from Maureen stating that brunch would start at 10 AM. I was very hungry so was just waiting for 10 AM. And I reached mess just to find that mess people were not informed anything like brunch. But due to the many people who were coming they extended the brunch hours for more half and hour. After coming back I had to work on one of my college project work because my proffessor wasn't able to understand few things. I had replied him that I would reply back on weekend hoping to be able to do on Saturday only but didn't get much time then so finishing the project work was no. 1 on my priority. Finished that, then had to get hold with ISAT data updation, then started LP. Then went for a jog till a slight distance ahead of " The spot" to meet a friend. It was good and very tiring physically and conversations on return was icing on the cake. Enjoyed the communication. Coming back took us around 45 minutes. Came back to finish my LP. From this week a system of Buddy review was introduced by our PM in which another PM member would review my LP and I would do his/her. I had given very harsh review on my buddy's LP so I was trying to make a good one myself. After finishing that, I started the chatting and all and now I am writing this blog. Huhh. Finally completed noting down all relevant details of the week. :)

Week 2

Well the point that I am writing it today, i.e. 2nd July, end of 3rd week, that is Saturday after the 2 weeks of teaching itself explains the fact that I didn't get the 15 minutes needed daily to write the experiences. As soon as the work got over, my eyes refused to cooperate. Now also at 6 PM in evening, I know of how the day just went by.
Well let me try to think what all happened between last to last saturday till today.
First weekend and just relaxed, washed my clothes and got to sleep.
Monday: The first day to School and things were very unplanned. As per the schedule classes were supposed to start at 2 PM but it did from 3:10. We had to take Maths and English assessments and the whole classtime I was just engaged taking the PDQ. Oh I missed out the ice breaker session we had before the starting of classes. It was a fun time. We blind folded kids, one at a time and drew a elephants back on board and other team members were to help him point out the tail of the elephant. It was a fun time and I was really surprised to see kids understanding English and also replying back in English. Later while taking assessment I found out that the good kids didn't register for our summer school and only the weak ones did and many kids from other not so good schools also joined our classes. The kids hence were of a very different level. Well not being able to take a class I was sad. We had a city debrief session where people shared their experiences and I got to know that giving stars on hand is a good technique and worked for many kids.
Tuesday: I had my first class and I actually took 2 classes as I missed one the previous day. I taught them the rules and procedures to be followed in the class. Since I was continually repeating them again and again, I think kids understood them. I had to send my kids to toilet after my 2nd class and I managed to get them in lines in good way and send them. Then I saw that Kavita had come that day. She was the one who took my interview of TFI and she said that she liked the procedures. I loved a compliment on my first day of school. Late that evening I told Madhukar my PM about this and he told me that he already knew that. He informed me that when she came, she actually enquired about me from him only and wanted to see my class and after complimenting me she told him also that she liked my class. Then he told me that Kavita was among the godmother of TFI as she was among the ones who were actively involved in setting of TFI. I never knew that I was interviewed by such a big person. She was also the PM of Madhukar so he was impressed and I can also understand the value of any compliment Madhukar would make after my 2 years of experience. I will have to believe it almost blindfoldedly. :)

Wednesday: I took the class on Investment strategy. Well it was more of story telling and nothing else.
Thursday: I was to give my first Reading comprehension lesson and my PM was observing me. I had already told him that it is not going to be good as I don't know the level of kids. And I was teaching the same topic which my colleague had taught for 3 days. So I had thought that kids would bring their books too but to my surprise they didn't and my PM was observing. I was really confused as to what to do. I decided I would just make my kids repeat English sentences to keep everyone engaged. Well I could clearly see that kids are not learning anything but I didn't have any choice then. In my PM debrief again he mentioned these things only. He told me to improve my implementation of consequences and I heard that.
Friday: I just had to take assessment. Well I understood what it meant to keep kids away from cheating. Well I couldn't stop them at all as eyes were just wandering around and I didn't know any solution. Then after coming back our PM expressed his wish to go out with us and so we agreed. We went to a place called Lemon Grass as far as I remember. The non-vegies were happy because they could have non veg after such a long time. Half of us also got drinks. We played two amazing games- "Never ever did I" and "Chuck Fuck Marry". I just loved it and it was more fun because many of us were drunk, so the fun was escalated. There was a pond nearby also and the view, the scene was amazing. As the clock ticked 12, it was birthday of Shravanthi. She was filled with phone calls and Vivek had arranged a paneer cake. I just loved the idea of it. We clicked photos, drunk people made their own insane activities and I being the specatator was loving it. While coming back, we stopped at a place called " The spot" which gave us a very nice view from a height of the city. The view and ambience was so amazing. We reached back to institute at night 3 AM. Well tried to resolve my only problem also in institute then and it quite happened too.