3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV

Issue #217, 3rd September 2024

Happy Teachers Day, dear fellow educators. Here are three big questions we can ask ourselves to reiterate whether we are being the teachers our students deserve.

Am I effectively communicating the material in a way that students can understand?

Good teachers can break down complex topics, use relatable examples, and ensure their explanations are clear and accessible to their students.

Am I creating an engaging and supportive learning environment?

Effective teachers foster a classroom culture where students feel comfortable participating, asking questions, and taking risks. They make learning interactive and fun.

Am I tailoring my teaching to meet the diverse needs of my students?

Great teachers recognize that students have different learning styles, backgrounds, and needs. They adapt their methods to reach all students and help them succeed.

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Three images of the week

Two Thoughts of the Week

“Good teachers are the ones who can challenge young minds without losing their own.” –Unknown

“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.” –Scott Hayden

One Video of the Week

In this talk, Gregory Chahrozian delves into the profound impact of teachers and explores how their character and qualities have the potential to shape students’ lives. Through personal experiences and thought-provoking stories, he reveals the untold insights about the transformative power of educators that goes far beyond what they teach.

Gregory Chahrozian joined the American University of Armenia as an adjunct lecturer in the Fall of 2020. Gregory holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from The University of Sydney. He majored in Microbiology and Genetics and Science Education. He has spent the last twenty years teaching Secondary education students. During that time, his leadership roles included Head of Curriculum and Head of Science Faculty. He is keen to share his educational experience and be part of the education revolution here in Armenia, focusing on Curriculum and Assessment development. He recently repatriated to Armenia from Australia.

Reading with Ms. Meenu: Tip of the week

Literacy Trails: Trails take us somewhere new

With last week’s topic continuation let’s know deeper about trails of application and practice. We should try to design a trail for applying or practicing new ideas or skills. Like some learning experiences, trails of application and practice can be as simple as moving indoor classroom activities outdoors onto an asphalt play area, sidewalk, or existing path or designing one that is linear, serpentine, or a loop. Invite your students to apply and practice some of their literacy learning with your bucket of chalk and blacktop area or path. You’ll quickly figure out the range of possibilities, but here are a few sensory trails, curricular paths, concept paths, word pattern paths, and book trails to try as you launch your own.

Make a trail for book retelling or sharing: If you ask your students to do retellings, challenge them to retell the story on a path.

Use stones or signs with literary elements to prompt chalk responses from readers about their current books. Nonfiction could include types of nonfiction interesting facts test features. 

Keep Reading!

Meenu Gera

Consulting home and school librarian and reading guide.

Career guidance and placement case study:

Research Journey for a School Student

Student X hails from Alma Mater School in Jodhpur, the second-largest city in Rajasthan. Her journey with us began in Grade 10 when the school engaged us to provide our comprehensive three-step career counseling process.

Additionally, the school invited our research experts to conduct a 10-hour training session on research methodology. This immersive experience not only equipped Student X with essential research skills but also ignited her passion to explore a complex and socially significant topic: “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

Over the past six months, Student X has demonstrated remarkable dedication and progress. She has successfully completed an in-depth literature review and developed a research questionnaire. She is now in the final stages of conducting primary research and is on track to complete her research paper by October 2024, with the aim of publication.

Our role as career experts extends beyond traditional guidance; we strive to inspire young adults like Student X to engage in experiential learning. By nurturing their research and employability skills, we prepare them for meaningful internships and successful transitions to university life.

Case study provided by:Team Fermata, www.fermataco.com

Dear reader,
I have been a research scientist, a journalist, and an educator for over 3 decades. I read and, I write. With this weekly newsletter, I share what I read, learn, and, experience. At the same time, I engage with students, parents, and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and ed-tech organizations.

3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms. Niv is a newsletter you can subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.

And Finally…