Nivedita Mukerjee
Education consultancy for parents and schools
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 62, 14th September 2021
Should students learn about different religions while in school? Would it confound the minds of young children? Would it help them grow religious tolerance? In an increasingly connected world, for citizens of the future, where should the understanding of religious beliefs of their family and their friends grow – In the classrooms? with text books? With educators? With devised curriculum? With celebrations and stories of every festival that their classmates’ families celebrate? What is the right balance? What would be considered as education and what would be construed as indoctrination?
Check out the 7th grader’s talk in the video of this week. Subscribe to this newsletter by just entering your email here.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
- Albert Einstein
I believe that religious education must be the sole concern of religious associations.
- Mahatma Gandhi
One Video of the Week
Diego Meneses, current 7th grader shares his perspective on why religions should be taught in schools. Individuals these days are afraid of teaching religion. There is a misinformed fear that the teaching of religion will lead to offending one’s culture and spiritual beliefs. However, it is actually the opposite. Teaching religions in schools offers individuals a chance to gain a better understanding of one another and can help build perspective and therefore, acceptance. His talk speaks on this fear and its repercussions. Although Diego was born in Mexico, he has both Peruvian and Mexican citizenship. Diego has had the privilege to live in Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and will soon be moving to the United States.
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while 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 for you to subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This Newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 61, 7th September 2021
The festival season is here and so are the amazing mythologies, folktales and legends that go with it! Eternal truths are embedded in mythologies. There’s a certain beauty and depth in them that take many years to unfold and multiple life situations to fathom. They offer us an amazing roadmap to the human psyche.
What is your favourite mythology? who is your favourite character? what has been your recent read of a mythological story – for yourself or to your student/child? how did you interpret it? Share your thoughts and insights, find some tips here if you are on the journey of reading and interpreting the hero-stories. Subscribe to this weekly newsletter by just entering your email id and enjoy with me a learning journey.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”
― John Lennon
“Mythology is not a lie, mythology is poetry, it is metaphorical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth–penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words. It is beyond words. Beyond images, beyond that bounding rim of the Buddhist Wheel of Becoming. Mythology pitches the mind beyond that rim, to what can be known but not told.”
― Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth
One Video of the Week
How to think mythically and sense archetypally to better understand our shared humanity, yet honour the diverse ways we live and make meaning. Australian-born Lithuanian Kristina Dryza is recognised as one of the world’s top female futurists and is also an archetypal consultant and author. Kristina has always been fascinated by patterns for she feels we are patterned beings in a patterned universe. She writes and speaks about the patterning of seasonal, tidal, lunar and circadian rhythms and their influence on creativity, innovation and leadership. She also explores archetypes and mythology to perceive the patterns in the collective unconscious and their expression within our psyches, society and media.
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while 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 for you to subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This Newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 60, 31st August 2021
Do you remember a teacher that made a difference in your life in any way? In which way did s/he change your heart? In what manner did s/he change your mind? How did s/he change your life? I know of school founders who became teachers and started school because they had lousy teachers growing up and also of many who became teachers or picked a subject and career because of the passionate teacher they had. I have come across many students who remember how their teacher made them feel about life and learning. Share about your experience of your teacher that you remember as a response to this post and yes, do go ahead and thank them.
Teacher’s day is around the corner. Time for us to reflect as educators, what is our own vision as a teacher and as parents who are their child’s first and primary teacher.
Happy Teacher’s Day!
Come, join me today in my learning journey. Subscribe to this newsletter here just by filling in your email id.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.” –Scott Hayden
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” –Henry B. Adams
One Video of the Week
In this talk, recorded at TEDxEustis in January 2019, Dr. Julie Hasson shares her research into the impact of “The Teachers We Remember.” Her engaging talk details the experiences of students with teachers who impacted their lives and reveals ways techniques that teachers can utilize to have a greater impact on current students. Dr. Julie Hasson is the Nina B. Hollis Endowed Chair in Education at Florida Southern College. In addition to teaching graduate students, Julie is engaged in qualitative research exploring the lasting impact teachers make on students’ lives.
She founded the Chalk and Chances project, an online community committed to celebrating and elevating the teaching profession. As a a former teacher and school principal, Julie is passionate about making schools better places for teachers to teach and students to learn. Julie speaks to groups across the country about her research. She is also the author of Unmapped Potential: An Educator’s Guide to Lasting Change. Teacher, Researcher, Story Collector.
Showcase of the Week
The highly interactive, story-based virtual field trips, ReReeti Visits, is embarking on two journeys, to the Indus Valley Civilisation and to the events of 1857 in British India.
ReReeti Visits… Indus Valley Civilization: Discover new facts and details about the ancient cities of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, Indus Valley Civilization. In this hour-long virtual field trip, students will get a chance to be imaginative, collaborative, and reflective while considering contemporary concepts of town planning and climate change through the lens of ancient objects and lives lived in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Revisiting 1857 Interactive Workshop: Students will get the chance to don their historians cap and explore why the events of 1857 are known by multiple names – mutiny, revolt, freedom struggle. In this 90-minute module, students will also explore this conflict from the perspective of personal and social value systems.
1857 for Grades 6-12 (90 minutes) – Rs 450/student
Indus Valley Civilization for Grades 4-12 (60 minutes) – Rs 350/
To book a slot for your students, fill form: https://forms.gle/1ZW3PD6NfGcVBDXh6
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while 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 for you to subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This Newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 59, 24th August 2021
Da Vinci said ” Everything is connected to everything else”. To connect the dots, we need to learn many things if not every thing. To survive and thrive in today’s times, our students, our children and us need to learn new things every so often even if not perfectly. The various kinds of skills, the new knowledge, the experience and exposure that we get and share with our colleagues and students makes us better skilled in whatever we pursue. Life long learning is the way ahead, most certainly in the post pandemic era.
Here are a few tips on how you can try it for yourself and with your children/students as parents and teachers. Come along with me in my learning journey every Tuesday. Subscribe to this weekly newsletter by your email.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
― Albert Einstein
“Working life has extended so much in the last fifty years that it exceeds life expectancy of even the most successful businesses. Very few businesses are successful for more than 25 or 30 years. And yet most educated people who go to work in their early twenties will keep working until they are 70. And so they had better be prepared for a second career whether it’s in another organization where they are doing what they have been doing or in a new line of work. They must be prepared to learn again. They must be prepared to position themselves. They must be prepared to want to learn- to see it not as something they need to do, but as something they enjoy doing. They will have to learn how to learn.”
― Peter Drucker
One Video of the Week
How does one pursue all the varied interests when stuggling with the inevitability and harsh reality of earning one’s living? Not taking the easy way of giving up on her interests, Gitanjali JB decided to go ahead chasing her dreams of doing what she felt a keen interest for, without worrying if she ever had a chance of bringing them all together for a constructive cause. While pursuing her passions, she realised that each of her interests was enhancing her life in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. It was not just the thrill of learning something new, but the process of learning gave her insights that made her expertise in the complementing fields more pronounced.
Before you decide to give up an interest because of lack of time or just wondering what will you do by pursuing it, watch this inspirational talk by Gitanjali, and you will have a totally new perspective on learning and life and how they go hand in hand! Gitanjali JB is a multifaceted social entrepreneur and educationist. An alum of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), her interest in educational reforms was ignited when as a child she could not relate to what she was studying in the books. She gave up her flourishing corporate career of 20 years to set up Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) as its Founding CEO. HIAL is an alternative institute for mountain development that aims to revolutionise higher education in India through the pedagogy of contextual and experiential learning.
Showcase of the Week
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while 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 for you to subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This Newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 58, 17th August 2021
What is your idea of right? or your duties? of freedom and freedom of speech? India just celebrated its 75th year of Independence and Afganisthan just crumbled…. How do we teach and talk with our children and students about rights and responsibilities? what constitutes independence? In the times of social media where all of us can be seen or heard, how do we exercise our freedom of speech?
Here are some ideas for you. Don’t miss subscribing to this newsletter by just entering your email here.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
“Begin with duties of a man and rights will follow as spring follows winter.” Gandhi
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” Gandhi
One Video of the Week
Does Freedom Of Speech Give Us The Right To Offend?
Freedom Of Speech and Offense, how often do they exist hand-in-hand? Trisha Unnikrishnan tackles this question through this speech, delving into the differences between speaking up against a person and speaking up against a belief.
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while 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 for you to subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 57, 10th August 2021
“Tune yourself to different emotional frequencies”
“Empathy is a skill” Then habit, and at last quality of a decent person.
Imagine you get paid for getting emotions correct! Incentive vs Trait. Getting paid by being surrounded by good friends, great colleagues, better relationships. Worth it? We are not stuck at a particular empathy level all our lives. Certain environments make them atrophy and certain others nurture it. What can we do as parents and educators to support empathy in our children and students?
Here are some ideas for you. Don’t miss subscribing to this news letter by just entering your email here.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.”
― James Baldwin
“Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.
One Video of the Week
“Being a psychologist studying empathy today is a little bit like being a climatologist studying the polar ice caps,” says psychology professor Jamil Zaki. That’s because according to research, our collective empathy is eroding. But there is good news: Empathy is a skill, it can be built, and he explains how he — and others — are doing just that.
Jamil Zaki is an assistant professor of psychology at Stanford University. His research examines social cognition and behavior, especially how people understand and respond to each other’s emotions. This work spans a number of domains, social influence, prosocial behavior, and especially empathy (see ssnl.stanford.edu for details). In addition to studying the mechanics of empathy, Dr. Zaki’s work focuses on helping people empathize better. For instance, new research from his lab examines how to encourage empathy for people from distant political and ethnic groups, and also how caregivers and healthcare professionals can effectively empathize with their patients while maintaining their own well being.
Showcase of the Week
![YuviPep One day workshop Course Details [25]](https://niveditamukerjee.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/yuvipep-one-day-workshop-course-details-25.jpg)
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while I engage with students, parents and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions and, ed-tech organisations.
3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms Niv is a newsletter for you to subscribe and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 56, 3rd August 2021
Definition of Feedback : The return of information that is provided following an activity or process. or. The process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output. In fact, feedback is ubiquitous.
This would mean that feedback is actually feedforward right? Why do we then hesitate in giving it? Importantly, why do we fear receiving it? What can we do to give and receive feedback better and, improve ourselves. We can possibly teach this to our children/students at a young age so as they grow older, they get better adapted to the process of feedback.
Here are some ideas for you. Don’t miss subscribing to this news letter by just entering your email here.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
“The biggest problem is that Facebook and Google are these giant feedback loops that give people what they want to hear. And when you use them in a world where your biases are being constantly confirmed, you become susceptible to fake news, propaganda, demagoguery. ” Franklin Foer
“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” Bill Gates
One Video of the Week
What if getting feedback wasn’t a source of fear, but joy? In this personal talk, speaker/author Joe Hirsch makes a passionate case for sharing “feedforward,” a new view of human potential.
When feedback draws others closer to their future selves, they experience the joy of self-discovery that leads to positive and lasting change. Joe Hirsch specializes in helping schools and businesses master the art and science of high-performance feedback. An award-winning educator and instructional leader, Joe has spent more than a decade in the K-12 and higher-ed markets training, coaching and empowering teachers and school administrators for success.
Based on his 2017 book, The Feedback Fix, Joe has shown clients like the Gates Foundation and members of the U.S. armed forces how to boost creativity, foster collaboration and deepen self-awareness. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Inc., Educational Leadership, and other major outlets.
Showcase of the Week
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while I engage with students, parents and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions and, ed-tech organisations.
3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms Niv is a newsletter for you to subscribe and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 55, 27th July 2021
The two key pillars of teaching for future I think are research based strategies and relationship. In my 3 decades of experience as a communicator and educator, I have come to realise how important both are. Not one more or less than the other.
Many of you have asked why did I pick the format 3-2-1 : 3 images, 2 videos and 1 thought for this newsletter that is for students, teachers and parents. The reason is that as an educator, I have used many strategies for teaching that have 3-2-1 elements. I find these interesting, easy to remember and fun at the same time. What do you think? It is also reminiscent of when we had to pose for a group picture and would say 3-2-1 – cheese 🙂 A countdown that always brings a spontaneous smile to my face.
Here are some of the 3-2-1 teaching strategies, please share yours as comment to this post and subscribe to this newsletter, by simply entering your email id here.
Three Images of the Week
Two Thoughts of the Week
‘When one teaches, two learn.’ –Robert Heinlein
‘Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.’ –Aristotle
One Video of the Week
Collaboration. Communication. Critical thinking. Creativity. – Should be present in all classrooms. Joe Ruhl received his bachelors and masters degrees at Purdue University and he has been sharing the joys of biology with kids for 37 years. He presently teaches Biology, Genetics, and Science Research courses at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana. Joe and his wife Gail have two children and two grandchildren. The National Association of Biology Teachers named Joe Ruhl the Outstanding Biology Teacher of Indiana in 1987. In 1988 he was awarded a Golden Apple Teaching Award by the Lafayette, Indiana Chamber of Commerce. In 1989 he was honored at the White House as Indiana’s recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. In 1996 he received the Purdue University College of Science Distinguished Alumnus Award for Excellence in K-12 Science Teaching. In 2004 he was awarded the Purdue College of Education’s Crystal Apple Teaching Award. And in 2012 he was honored with the Shell National Science Teaching Award.
Showcase of the Week
And Finally….
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 intend to share what I read, learn and, experience while I engage with students, parents and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions and, ed-tech organisations.
3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms Niv is a newsletter for you to subscribe and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 54, 20th July 2021
Online learning continues! learning from mobile, youTube, free videos, paid classes, everyday learning, course learning, hobby learning… In this issue, I am sharing some quick and easy lesson plans for online teaching. Don’t miss the ted talk of Sal Khan of Khan Academy – my go-to place to learn any and many things online.
Three Images of the week :
Two thoughts of the week :
“You can’t teach people everything they need to know. The best you can do is position them where they can find what they need to know when they need to know it.” – Seymour Papert, MIT mathematician, educator, and computer scientist.
“Instructional designers need to run, not walk, away from classroom-based thinking and get to the point of providing short, quick business-focused learning points that are easily accessible when and where our learners need them. This means leveraging new technologies to deliver non-traditional instruction.” – Karl M. Kapp, Professor of Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University.
One video of the week :
Salman Khan talks about how and why he created the remarkable Khan Academy, a carefully structured series of educational videos offering complete curricula in math and, now, other subjects. He shows the power of interactive exercises, and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script — give students video lectures to watch at home, and do “homework” in the classroom with the teacher available to help.
In 2004, Sal Khan, a hedge fund analyst, began making math tutorials for his cousins. Twelve years later, Khan Academy has more than 42 million registered users from 190 countries, with tutorials on subjects from basic math through economics, art history, computer science, health, medicine and more. Salman “Sal” Khan is the founder and chief executive officer of Khan Academy, a not-for-profit with a mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.
Khan Academy started as a passion project in 2004. Khan’s cousin was struggling with math, so he tutored her remotely and posted educational videos on YouTube. So many people watched the videos that eventually Khan quit his job at a hedge fund and pursued Khan Academy full time. Today Khan Academy has more than 100 employees in Mountain View, California. Khan Academy believes learners of all ages should have unlimited access to free educational content they can master at their own pace. Its resources cover preschool through early college education, including math, grammar, biology, chemistry, physics, economics, finance and history. Additionally, Khan Academy offers free personalized SAT test prep in partnership with the test developer, the College Board. More than 42 million registered users access Khan Academy in dozens of languages across 190 countries.
Khan has been profiled by “60 Minutes,” featured on the cover of Forbes, and recognized as one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.” In his book, The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined, Sal outlines his vision for the future of education.
Khan holds three degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Showcase of the week:
And Finally…
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 intend to share what I read, learn and experience while I engage with students, parents, and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and ed-tech organisations.
3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms. Niv is a newsletter for you to subscribe and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This newsletter is supported by:
3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV
Issue # 53, 13th July 2021
Here you go! “Happy Birthday month to me” theme continues and in this issue you will find some awesome ways to celebrate birthdays of your teachers, parents, students, virtually. Don’t miss the many ways little Reina has been celebrating her birthdays since she was 5 and listen to her idea of birthday celebration during the pandemic.
How are you celebrating your birthday this year? Do share as comments to this post and subscribe with your email id here.
Three Images of the week :
Two thoughts of the week :
“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.” William Barclay
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Oprah Winfrey
One video of the week :
Birthday parties can be fun and kind to the planet. Reina talks about how she has celebrated her special days in sustainable and eco-friendly ways. Reina is a 3rd Grader who loves going on playdates. Her favourite time of the day is to practice her double jumps in figure skating. She believes young children can also play a role to make the world a better place. Grace is a sunny and cheerful 7-year-old who loves to spend time outdoors. She wants to help others and be self-sufficient, starting with growing her own fruits and vegetables.
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 intend to share what I read, learn and experience while I engage with students, parents and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions and ed-tech organisations.
3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms Niv is a newsletter for you to subscribe and enjoy your learning journey with me.
This news letter is supported by:
Nivedita Mukerjee 