Sumit Kumar Agarwala’s Post

[GIVING THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT] Certain key moments defined my time as an undergraduate in university. One such moment was getting back an essay that I had written on Victorian Literature. I had gotten a C+. And I was not ok with that. What made it worse was the comment that my professor had left on my paper: You did not put in enough effort. Those words stung because it was far from the truth. I did the best I could at the time, with the amount of resources that I had. Yet, I didn’t confront my prof or call her out on her presumptions. Instead, I switched off, bore resentment and decided that I was just bad at Victorian Literature. Lo and behold, when I became a literature teacher, I had to teach Victorian literature. And I struggled. What that comment did make me realise though is the importance of teachers’ comments. This is why when I started teaching #undergraduates, I always give them the benefit of doubt. If they are not performing, I will check in with them to have a better picture. What problems are they facing? What obstacles do they need to overcome? It will be so easy to assume that they are lazy or unmotivated but what I’ve found out is that this is often not the case. As #youngadults, they are trying to balance so many different things at once while navigating the challenges of ‘adulting’ and burdens of the expectations that the world places on them. Most of us have been there. So why not give them the benefit of doubt? Have #conversations and help them instead of making quick judgements. And what can arise is a whole new level of #clarity and #understanding between both parties. How are you giving someone the benefit of doubt? #education #university #tertiaryeducation #teaching #dayinalifeofateacher #communications #assessment #learning #leadership

Remember the stanza of a poem written by the great poet Kusumagraj “Shattered to pieces is the life Sir, but my spine still holds its might, place your hand on my back, And just say, ‘Go. Fight.’ A teacher’s touch will give us the strength to stand tall in any dire circumstance and accomplish the seemingly impossible. Teachers, your touch is golden because of this. Dear students: Get in touch with your teacher if you wish to go toward excellence. This will also help to excel Teacher and Organization. Plz take care of Student-Teacher interaction https://lnkd.in/dpiHJeaa

Tao Te Ching – Verse 70 My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you’ll fail. My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look inside your heart.(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995) -+-+-+- My words are easy to understand, easy to practice The world cannot understand, cannot practice My words have basis My actions have principle People do not understand this Therefore they do not understand me Those who understand me are few Thus I am highly valued Therefore the sage wears plain clothes but holds jade (translation by Derek Lin, 2006) -+-+-+- The words have no meaning, Outside Nothingness. . . . I must leave soon. (translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)

Undefeatable This story I had to share, a great lesson and particularly during these hard times, something to gain insight from for us professionals working in tough scenarios. A story of undefeatable tenacity, resoluteness, ingenuity during knee breaking tough situations. Please study them carefully :- Japanese master of prison break - Yoshie Shiratori And another whom I consider as one of my valuable teachers - The legendary world renowned dueler, unbroken record holder in Sword duels - Miyamoto Musashi Who will teach you why philosophy is necessary to balance things out in life so one's mental sanity remains intact. Note :- As my Masters taught me :- 1 Respect failure much more than victory, for in victory you might celebrate but in failure " u think - Why ? " and a new learning begins. what can be a greater teacher than that?. 2. Respect your enemies " for who else could show you your weak points?" 3. Better let go than arguing with them who just cannot understand . 4. Don't waste your smile on someone who cannot appreciate the sun rise and set everyday.

It's time for our final Compelled to Teach blog post of the semester! I wrap up the faculty blog with a post considering what teaching for wisdom might require of Christian faculty. This is particularly challenging (especially saying this on a place like Linkedin!) as we teach amidst a cultural and educational landscape dominated by the pursuit of "upskilling," pragmatism, and a "when will I use this?" mentality. Could there be more to pursue in learning than simply knowledge or skill? https://lnkd.in/gt7Qj7qd

THE POWER OF REPETITION One area I usually find quite difficult as a teacher is going over a given point repeatedly. It kinda wears me out. Sometimes, I barely remember to say the same thing word for word. Perhaps, it is not possible to do that all the time, yet it yields good results. Every good teacher knows the power behind repeating the basics of a given concept. It reminds the students of what they have learnt and puts them right again if they have stepped into error due to amnesia. This is true also for biblical Truth. Apostle Paul told the Philippians church in the first verse of the chapter 3 of his epistle that writing the same thing to them is not grievous but it is safe for them. Teaching it again is not a bad idea. It keeps your students safe. As a teacher (parent, pastor, teacher of any skill), always endeavour to repeat things when you discover that your students are not getting it. Repetition can shed new light on a given truth. It provides another opportunity to find better examples or illustrations to give. Dear pastor, don't be weary to repeat topics like salvation, repentance, consecration, soul winning, and quiet time. Yes, when something is wrong at the top, go to the foundation. Repeat the foundational topics again. You can get things right again from there. Don't assume that they have known it. A student is like a tender plant. Your job is to tend it daily and direct its heart to receive sunlight in order for it to bloom. So brace up, dear teacher. Don't allow this discouragement of slow comprehension to discourage you. Be willing to repeat that concept no matter how laborious it might be. God is your strength and I am rooting for you. ❤️💕

TEACHER TIP TUESDAY This is the third post on the acronym. “TEACHER”. Today we are talking about letter “A.” A stands for AMBITIOUS. This is the cornerstone of a great educator. An ambitious teacher has a great dream, desire, determination to achieve his or her goals. He or she does not set lofty goals. He sets goals to upskill himself, he sets goals to impart more students. An ambitious teacher is committed to the academic goals and success of his students. He is persistent to make sure his students learn. An ambitious teacher does not join the bandwagon who believe a student is not brilliant. To an ambitious teacher no student is a dullard. You have to just create interest and look for ways he or she can learn better. An ambitious teacher steps out of his or her comfort zone. Talk about positivity and optimistic mindset, an ambitious teacher has that. They know their outlook will have effect on their students and so they put on their best look. Ambitious teachers have urge to help their students, right attitude and even expect good results from their students. An ambitious teacher is a calculated risk taker. He tries new methods and challenge the status quo to help his students. Dear teacher, are you an AMBITIOUS TEACHER? I am Teacher Elizabeth. You can follow me for more valuable contents. #englishlearning #ElizabethAbraham

My philosophy of teaching.

The Importance of Making for Yourself a Teacher https://lnkd.in/gNWAqy9F #spiritualpractice #RebbeNachman #practicalspirituality #personalgrowth #achievingsuccess #humanpotential

I come from an academic family, so everyday was a teacher's day. The daily inculcation of the values and the discipline, instilled a feeling of deep respect and love for all the teachers. The struggle, the difficulties and the grind was all too familiar to me. As a child, my own priorities would come second, because both my parents would have to prepare their lectures for the next day or check answer sheets. They would sometimes, burn the midnight oil to do this. Teaching was not as easy as it seemed. Courses would be changed and then, the whole syllabus would have to be redone. It was a work in progress, with a preparation and a test everyday. For they had to be perfect in their presentation of the lectures. Teaching had a fun element and it was also a way to stay young. Every year, I would make new friends, because some student or the other would be coming home to take help or an extra class. Both my parents would oblige whole heartedly. Those were the no tuitions days. Their love for teaching was their passion and above all. It was like an oath which they had taken. It was one of the most respected professions and I always felt proud to be an offspring of. They were my heroes in this way. I grew up and with my profession, teaching was never a part. I changed my line and also, dabbled in multiple things. Teaching somehow, remained a latent desire and to a larger extent, something that I was unaware of. Last year presented me with an opportunity to teach and I lapped it up with both hands. These experiences gave me a lot more than I gave them. As I met various people, I learned from them. Their struggles, their way of life, their attitudes, their thinking patterns and their personal traits. Each one was different, yet so similar. Actually, caste, Creed, nationality, religion, education etc.,all did fail. For the connect was at the cellular level. This then brought me to the face to face with the greatest teacher. Life itself. For this felt like a culmination of sorts. I was not teaching, rather I was interacting. The years of my life, which had made me who I was, I was showcasing that. Even though, it was wrapped up in some subject jargon. But in reality, this was food for the soul. This was essentially, "Silent Talking." This did not need words. It was an affirmation that, "Yes! You and I coexist. We belong." That is the mantra. That is my mojo. That is me. For that is what I teach. And learn. It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. That is the true teaching and the true imbibing. Llet us open our eyes and bare our souls and embrace everyone. For each one is a teacher. If only, we care to learn and to listen. I salute all the teachers who have been in my life. I salute life. For till the time I am alive, I will embrace what it will be willing to teach me. Unfailingly. Continuously. Experientially. Lovingly. For life owns me. As I own it.