Empathy is the ability to understand a person’s emotions and feelings. It is an essential component for both social as well as personal lives. It is the ability or trait to understand other people’s values, beliefs, and cultures. Empathy is the power of connection. It is a sensation of experiencing what the other person is going through. We need empathy because it’s the main trait that helps us form social bonds with each other. We feel more attached to other people when we understand them.
As Jane Goodall, the British anthropologist aptly said “Empathy is really important. Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our full potential”.
The virtual assembly conducted by Grade 5, on 4th February 2022 began with a melodious prayer sung by Avni Saxena, which was followed by the ‘The thought for the day and ‘the News’ presented by Kalyan Tejas and Amy Mathew respectively, who gave us an insight into empathy and updated us about the recent news.
Highlighting the importance of empathy through a video and a PowerPoint presentation was done by Vivaan Talwar. This medium enabled students to understand the significance of empathy and how just by trying to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and how just by trying to understand another’s, this world would be a better place. Students who witnessed this virtual assembly were given an opportunity to share their experiences in displaying empathy to others in their community. A video on the difference between empathy and sympathy was apt as it emphasized not only the contrast between both values but also educated everyone to be kind, generous, and empathetic to those in need.
Our School HOS, Ms. Shubhra Sinha, shared her thoughts about the importance of empathy which should be revealed through our deeds and words, especially in these tough times where all human interactions have considerably reduced and the sense of empathy is lost. She encouraged everyone to practice empathy in simple ways that could make their personal life, as well as others’, lives a little better.
The MC of the show, Twisha requested the students to give their views on the topic and the class received positive remarks in the Padlet shared with them. The assembly ended with the national anthem.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”- Helen Keller
Knowledge is powerful, but it’s much more powerful when it’s shared! The organization's progress depends on how well the team members collaborate with each other. Instead of individuals in possession of the knowledge of doing something; when the same know-how is shared on a common platform with collaborators; then the doors are opened to a whole host of benefits!
Educational and teaching expertise is a powerful gift, especially when shared. Sharing each other’s experiences can help discover these successful behaviours and strategies and promote their adoption. Sharing their expertise means having new conversations that open up what they have learnt to a new perspective, helping them and others to grow. Sharing good practice builds a teachers' reputation and contributes to their professional value. Rather than telling people, they're an expert, sharing lets other teachers discover it for themselves in a way that helps them to raise their own level of expertise.
Sharing good practice is a great start. However, sharing alone isn’t enough.
David Hargreaves explains it best in ‘A self-improving school system: towards maturity’
“The people who originally designed the new practice had to develop it over time, learning to adjust it in minor ways until it assumed its final shape. But this learning on the job is difficult to transmit to a listener or reader, who without help and support may find that the transfer is simply too difficult and so give up. The practice was shared, certainly, but not actually transferred.
However, if the sharing also includes mentoring and coaching, then the necessary help and support are at hand, so when problems in the attempted transfer arise, they can be talked through and demonstrated with reassuring encouragement.”
How can we teachers and educators collaborate with each other?
Videos of the classroom practices of successful teachers provide a means to identify exactly how they are being successful. These videos can be annotated with detailed, specific explanations of exactly what is happening in their teaching practice.
Subject teachers may sit together and exchange thoughts, plans for the classes, use instructional tools and design your micro plans.
Discussion forums are an effective way to share your thoughts and expertise with the group.
Co-Curricular activities may be planned with your buddy teachers and the results will be a great experience for your students.
My own experience
As a teacher, I find that the touchpoints from respective subjects provide a great platform to know the best practices followed and that can be adopted, without having to reinvent, in our classes.
While studying the behavioural issues of a child we teachers discuss ways and means to contribute to the development and betterment of the child and follow the same.
I have always collaborated with other teachers when in doubt while planning for the classes or while using instructional tools. Also have contributed and learnt through discussions with teachers on micro-planning and successful delivery of lessons to the class.
I have worked together with teachers in planning the assemblies or learning showcase. I have learnt a lot and the final outcome has been exceptional as compared to the individual approach.
In your life, you travel to many places. Some stick to you, some simply evaporate out of your memory. However, there are some places that cling to you more than the rest. For me, this place is none other than Japan.
Commonly entitled “The Land of the Rising Sun”, this mesmerising place is so much more than that. From dreamy cherry blossoms, the snowy peak of Mt.Fuji to rapid fast Shinkansen (bullet trains) and new technology, Japan, the country I visited in 2019, is my most memorable and relished trip!
Let me share with you my adventure and experience of my trip.
On arriving at Kansai airport in Ōsaka prefecture, the very first thing that amazed me was the high technology seen everywhere. My family and I had reached our hotel late at night, however, there was no one there to hand over the keys! Instead of a hotel receptionist leading us to our room, there were machine-operated number locks and little monitors which instructed what to do!
In the city of Osaka, we visited the famous Osaka Castle which the cherry leaves had decorated making the castle even more splendid!
Next, we visited the city of Kyoto. Here, we visited countless temples, shrines, and gardens but my personal favourite was Togetsu Bridge- A wide wooden bridge constructed on a scenic valley with Cherry Blossom trees on either side. Doesn’t it sound dreamy?
In this crowded seaside city, the most interesting place that we visited was the cup noodles museum. I love eating and slurping a hot cup of ramen but getting to know how it actually originated was even exciting! The below picture shows some of the hundred flavours of cup noodles from all over the world
Tokyo- one of the busiest cities in the world! Being one of the busiest, cleanest and safest cities in the world, there are a lot of places to see in Tokyo. One of them is the Shibuya Crossing. Here, when the traffic lights turn red, a huge wave of pedestrians flood into the intersection for a few moments.
Have you watched the movie “Hachikō”? Well, the movie was about a true incident of an Akita dog that lived with a family in Tokyo and would come to the train station daily to meet its owner after he finished work. This dog continued to do so even after the unfortunate death of its owner. In memory of this well-behaved friendly dog, the locals constructed a statue which can be found in front of the Hachikō train station.
Hakone- a town with a beautiful view of Mt.Fuji In order to get a nice, up-close view of Mt.Fuji, we visited the small town of Hakone. The best part about going near Mt.Fuji was that not only was it very scenic but also was very informative. This was because of the Sulphur springs located at the base of the active volcano, Mt.Fuji in the Owakudani valley. Did you know that the local people sell eggs boiled from the Sulphur Springs and these eggs turn black?? Here are a few photographs of my adventure in Hakone, Yamanashi, and Gotemba
Riding the Shinkansen for the First time! While travelling from Osaka to Yokohama, we had to use the Bullet train or the Shinkansen. Moving at around 320 km/h, as it speeds up, the power of magnets allows the train to almost float four inches above the ground!!
The trip came to an end just like how any other travel does.
However, I will certainly visit Japan once again in the future because this is my “perfect travel destination”- probably due to the beauty of the place, courtesy of the people, the taste of food, technological marvels, or perhaps just a combination of all of these. Sometimes, you may not be able to point out exactly what it is. Whatever it may be, ultimately I can never forget even a single moment of the 14 days spent on my favorite trip!
Leave a reply