al connectfinal

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K J Somaiya Comprehensive College of Education, Training & Research,
Vidyavihar Mumbai 400077.

Website: www.somaiya.edu, contact: 21022265
Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Message from the Founder

K. J. SOMAIYA
COMPREHENSIVE

COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION, TRAINING

AND RESEARCH

(Adhyapak Mahavidyalaya)

VIDYAVIHAR, MUMBAI –
400 077

My Dear Young Students,
Welcome to the Institutions of the Vidyavihar!
Your finest hour is here. The future belongs to you.
Let us all zealously work together and dedicate ourselves to build India of our dreams.
Remember, nothing was ever achieved without hard work.

Be bold but be not bowled over.
Let truth and duty be our watchwords. Never despair in the face of setbacks.

Keep courage and continue to work with fortitude.
Have faith in yourselves and in the Almighty.
Strive for your goals and the future is yours!
Padmabhushan
(Late) Pujya Shri Karamshi J. Somaiya
(May 16, 1902 – May 9, 1999)

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Thank You K.J.Somaiya !!!!! Proud To Be A Somaiyte !!!!!

‘

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage
to continue that counts‟‟

Winston Churchill

And now it is our very own Alumni Gauri (2011-12) D/O Meghana and Rohidas
Bhat who swears by these words.
It indeed gives me immense pleasure as well as great pride to inform you all that
Gauri , all of 28 years is now the proud Principal of St. Xavier‟s School(CBSE),
Electronic City, Bangalore.
She was just 4 years old when she had decided to be a teacher and at 25 after
completing B.Sc (Genetics), M.Sc (Biotechnology), B.Ed (Maths, Science,
Guidance and Counseling), M.Ed(Education), Diploma in Bioinformatics and Dip
in Commerce(Finance & Marketing) she achieved her long awaited passion as her
profession .

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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She is not at all a bookworm ( as her qualification reflects) and in fact enjoys
painting, dancing, acting, baking and doing creative art forms of all kinds with

equal gusto. Now after being in the teaching industry, Lady-Luck has bestowed
upon her another golden opportunity of proving her worth in the noble cause of
imparting education.

Gauri-a certified Calligraphist and Graphologist, an amateur behavior and body
language analyst with 3 research papers published to her credit has also
currently enrolled herself in the Ph.D Programme and attributes her success to
her parents who she says never appreciated any of her achievements ( in order to
avoid success entering her head) which in turn motivated her to excel even better
every next time, her elder brother Prashant and younger sister Tanusri whom
she always dominated being a „teacher‟ at home and most importantly her
husband Amit who she says always stands by her in any endeavor that she wishes
to pursue and encourages with all the extended help possible .Not to forget she
also feels that her Baby „Hatchiko‟- a fawn Labrador (pet dog) has bought her the
success as her name in Japanese means „good fortune‟

Ask her how was all these possible? And quick comes the reply, “I never dreamed
about success but rather worked really hard and sincerely for it and God was kind
enough to notice it and reward me plus the ancestral blessings go a long way”

She has special mentioning of Dr Vasundhara Padmanabhan‟s (our dear Principal)
role in her life whom she idolizes and considers her as the „ultimate‟ model to
reach greater heights in the field of Education. She says, “Ma‟am is the only
reason I see in order to do my Ph.D failing which there is no other reason”

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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The Ride of my Life

Amita Mange

As a young lad, a special dream I had; I was fascinated by my school bus, where
on dispersal I wanted to rush, but I lived nearby, and always asked god why; I
always prayed to him and expressed my whim, finally my dream came true, and
we shifted to an apartment new; my parents thought I would be sad but it was a
dream I always had; even my new cozy bed could not put me to sleep, I was
dressed well before I could hear the bus beep; finally it arrived and with my first
step on the bus, I had a twinkle in my eye and I blushed; then there awaited a
treat when I got a window seat; cool breeze touched my soul and I felt happy and
whole; all the passing cars seemed so small and not to forget the buzzing tea stall;
early birds were taking a round, future cricketers practicing on the ground; then
there was this marriage procession, bridegroom on the horse was a fashion; I too
danced and swayed to their tune until we reached and I heard our peon; so here I
was back to my school but for the first time I too felt cool; all geared up to start
my day, the journey in my school bus made my day.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Support Women's Education after Marriage

"The strength of a woman is not measured by

the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her, but the
strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to
allow those hardships to dictate her"

“Marriage – The End of Girl‟s education” is the myth which still lingers in our
society. But, fortunately my husband and in-laws didn‟t belong to that part of
society. Yes, for me, B.Ed and marriage went hand in hand, when I decided to
pursue B.Ed after marriage. Trust me; it‟s not a cake walk at all.
As a daughter, you are a princess at home, getting everything in your hand from
breakfast to tiffin box to your college bag. The only task you are expected to do is
to focus on your studies. But as a wife, daughter-in-law and a mother, it‟s
altogether a different story.
B.Ed is really a very demanding course. You really have to put in lots of efforts
and hard work to get this knowledge and degree in your hand. And if you are
pursuing this after marriage then it‟s just like breaking a big rock. You will have
to wake up early, prepare breakfast, lunch and complete other household chores
before you start for your college. Once you are back from an exhaustive day at
college with assignments, lesson plans and test preparations to be worked upon.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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There are still other household chores waiting for you to be finished off. You are
expected to be a super woman who can multitask 24x7.

I know this all may sound scary but believe me you can achieve all this, if your
husband and in laws understand and support you in this journey. I still remember
my husband helping me out with the lesson plans, making me practice for demo
sessions, taking up my lessons before exams; he also gave inputs for
improvements. The support also extended in the kitchen, where in we used to
cook together, have some outside food when I was totally pressed with time .He
helped me in many other countless ways & without his help I wouldn‟t have been
able to complete my B.Ed smoothly.

Our teachers give their best in lectures, they adopt different innovative methods
of teaching, they too sat back with us till late to discuss what more we can do to
make our demo lessons in schools interesting & best

"No one can whistle a symphony; it takes a whole orchestra to play
it".

so it‟s a joint efforts of student, teacher & family members & I am lucky to be part
of a team who helped me to pursue my B.Ed, and they deserve as much of the
credit for my success as I do for the hard work we have all put in on the academic
journey.

Once again, I would like to thank my hubby for making lots of adjustments, my
family & my mentors (teachers) to guide & motivate me. Without you all I
wouldn‟t be able to become good teacher. Thanks for making my B.Ed journey
smooth & memorable.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Iram Khan ( B Ed )

Kuch Meethi Yadein..
Yun to zindagi mey bahot se pal aaye hai..

Par B.Ed jaisa kuch na tha..
Ye waqt kuch yu dhala..

Jaise haathon se reth pisalta chala..

Yaha ek rule tha waqt par aana
Warna (compensate) ki maar thi usko khaana..

Pehle micro-teaching ka daur aaya..
Creative ideas ka bhandaar laya..

Tinka tinka karke isne bahot kuch hai sikhaya..

Lesson plans ka bhi aaya zamaana..
Set Induction key liye soch mey tha pad jaana..
Usme core element ka chaska bhi tha lagaana..

Itna sab dimaag me tha baithaana..

Practice teaching ka jab waqt aaya..
Isne sabka sar hai ghumaaya.

Lessons kaise jaayenge sabke dimaag me aaya.
Ma'am kya comments degi..soch k dil ghabraya..

Par in sab key beech mauj- masti ka bhi thikana tha.
Har tyohaar ko dhoom-dhaam se manaana tha

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Naye naye pakwaan bhi khaana tha..
Aur naye rishte bhi banana tha..
Safar to hamaara chalta raha..
Pr ye safar bahot kuch sikha gya..
Hame ek nayi manzil dikha gya..

Ab ye seekh doosro tak le jaana hai..
Unhe be sahi raah dikhaana hai..

Aur sabko mil julkar ek achi soch laana hai..
Bas kuch pal ka tha ye safar..

Yaha hasi bhi thi..To aansuon ka behna bhi tha..
Yaha pyaar bhi tha..Aur dosto ki daant sehna b tha...

Ab ALVIDA kehna tha is pal ko...
Jis pal me hamaari hasi khushi ka thikaana tha...

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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A New Beginning

Amita Mange(B Ed2013-14)

It was fifteen years since graduation,
living a simple married life was my
only mission; but a thought always
haunted me and even though I kept
shy, I asked myself, what am I doing
to my life and why; Then I got a buzz
from my friend, encouraging me to do B.Ed.; I thought of going with
the flow and my family also said just go; my first day in class, refreshed
memories of my past; each and every day was a new challenge, as the
concept of teaching had completely changed; It was not merely
blackboard and chalk, the traditional style where the teacher merely
talked; innovation and technology took the forefront, learning these
new techniques I was stunned; now teaching and learning is so much
fun, touching the hearts of each and every one; with valuable guidance
from my devoted faculty, I became a capable facilitator without much
difficulty; now there is some spice in my life, learning and sharing has
become the real purpose of my life; so you see it is never too late for a
new beginning, all you need is a little bit of an awakening.
As a young lad, a special dream I had, I was fascinated by my school
bus, where on dispersal I wanted to rush, but I lived nearby, and always

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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asked god why? I always prayed to him, and expressed my whim,
finally my dream came true, and we shifted to an apartment new, my
parents thought I would be sad, but how to tell them it was dream I
had, even my new cozy bed could not put me to sleep, was dressed well
on time before could hear the bus beep, when I put my first step on the
bus, had twinkle in my eyes and I blushed, then there awaited a treat,
when I got a window seat, cool breeze touched my soul, and I felt
complete whole, all the passing cars seemed so small, and not to forget
the buzzing tea stalls, early birds were taking rounds, future cricketers
practicing on the ground, then there was this marriage procession,
bridegroom on the horse is now a fashion, I too danced and swayed on
their tune, until I heard our peon , soon I realised we reached school
,and for the first time I too felt cool, all geared up to start my day, my
journey in my school bus made my day.

It was fifteen years since graduation, living a simple married life was
my only mission, but a thought always haunted me , even though I kept
shy, What am I doing to my life and WHY? Then I got a buzz from my
friend , Let 's do B.Ed , its new trend, I thought of going with the flow ,
getting approval from family , just go, The first day in the class ,
refreshed all the memories of my past, Each and every day became a
challenge , as the concept of teaching completely changed, It was not
merely blackboard and chalk, the traditional one were teacher merely

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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talked , innovation and technology took the forefront, learning new
techniques I was stunned, now teaching and learning is so much fun,
touching the hearts of each and every one , With true guidance from
my devoted faculty, I emerged as a true facilitator without much
difficulty, now there is spice in my life, Learning and sharing , the real
purpose of my life , So you see there is always a beginning, just requires
a little bit of awakening .

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Vrinda Nagpal(B Ed 10-11)

As I pen down to write my „success story as a teacher‟ I want to dwell
on two aspects –„success‟ and „failure‟.
I was a failure in my school, dropped from grade 9. The subject that I
lacked in was Math and today I teach math to my students.
Prior to charting out my career path others had discovered the „teacher‟
in me. These „others‟ were none other than my own family .They
identified my love for kids. The latter were „taught‟ by me to make
them understand better the subjects they lacked in understanding.
I found that the more I gave, the more I got. This was not in terms of
material gains which my job as a teacher could offer to me but
happiness. This I got when I interacted with my students. What
satisfaction people in their high profile jobs, I achieved it in a say 45 or
35 minute interaction with my students. This experience itself is the
daily dose of my success story.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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My goal as a teacher is to not let the students face a problem that I
faced in the process of learning. Some teachers teach for others to learn.
That is not me. Some teachers teach for others to accomplish. That is
me. I would like to end by sharing my secret recipe for my success
story as teacher:
Passion – to keep going further
Hope – for a new morning
Will- to keep crossing the milestone
Strength – to set new records
Power – to set new benchmark
Spirit – to touch new skies
Intention – to change the times
Inspiration – to go beyond myself

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Peace Education – Need of the Hour

Sneha Das( B Ed 2014-15)

„One child, one teacher, one book and one
pen can change the world.‟

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is an amazing teen activist campaigning for the rights of girls
and women to receive education who was shot in the head by the Taliban on her
way home from school and recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. In her
war raged world, she finds solace in education. For her, peace is a choice she made
against the extremists, who are afraid that education will destroy their selfish
motives. Even in a multi-cultural nation like India, we deserve sustainable
education for children and communities who are in the developing their mind sets
for a better world. We need to go above and beyond what is expected of us in
order to accommodate diversity. In other words we need to move above simple
tolerance of diversity, to embracing and celebrating the rich extents of diversity
that each individual has.

"Children, Teach us to wonder, to be surprised, to accept possibility;

to continue to believe that we can be better, that democracy is
possible, that peace is possible"

- Carla Rinalda via Bellelli Education

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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One of our favorite Robin Williams movies, Dead Poet's Society focuses on the
magic and freedom education brings to young minds willing to embrace its
wisdom. Even in classrooms, we can sensitize the students with the help of
various activities like poster making on peace education. The students can come
together to discuss their ideas on peace. They can be asked to write down the
values that they have in them, and how they follow them in their lives. Games
like „what do you see when you close your eyes and think of peace?‟ , bulletin
board of ideals, role plays and so on can be conducted in the class. For a successful
recipe of peace education, it is important that we approach with positive attitude.
The five main C‟s for this approach are critical thinking, creativity, collaboration,
communication and commitment.

“The Child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for
all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work,
gives us reason to hope...hope for peace in the future.”

"There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies.
My mind and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness."

-Dalai Lama

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Ms. Ramaa Medar(B Ed 2011-12)

“For what is it to die but to stand in the sun and melt into the

winds”

-Kalil G.

Well well! It is such a pleasure to sit down for some time and scrawl something
about how I got so busy in life that I realized I didn‟t have a LIFE… From being
a School Teacher to becoming a Junior College Lecturer and also a Graphologist/
Handwriting Analyst / a would be Classical Dancer… and many things more.

The four letter word LIFE is so small and short to write and pronounce but
ironically is way too difficult to live, survive and fight through it. Isn‟t it strange
that one needs to prove so much to one self and others to get a name, a
recognition in society, yes otherwise we wouldn‟t have great personalities like
Mr.Dirubhai Ambani, Mr. Narayan Murthy, etc who are marked as the epitome of
Hardwork and Struggle for their admirers to make a place for themselves in the
cooperate world . Until and unless we make efforts to make a change in our life
we don‟t become satisfied and content just like the above names mentioned. Who
worked hard and struggled in life to reach the apex of success and stayed there
permanently by not loosening the reigns of the horses- hard work and struggle as
well as they made their horses run with the speediest pace allowing and coping up
with modern advances and changes in the cooperate world. Life also gives us
examples of personalities who are similar like Mr. Ambani and Murthy started at
a good speed then fell than again rose and restarted to rises higher then earlier or
else we wouldn‟t have NEXT after Steve Jobs left APPLE. Or Socrates after

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Plato.. Here Socrates and Steve both shared feeling of a little different way to do
work than the normal one, a difficult and a slippery step to keep their foot on, an
insecurity of being isolated and rejected by the society but I guess they succeeded.
Well life is a teacher after all, don‟t you all agree mates?

Sometime life makes a man take a path which is more passive, more modest
and very very simple which results in great achievements not only to ourselves
but to our near and dear ones, to society, to the world, to the universe and such
achievers are never ever lost in the books of history and from the minds of the
people as we don‟t search on Google who is Mahatma Gandhi and who is Dr.
A.P.J. Kalam (do we?) They did something great in life not to prove anyone in
particular but that something they proved became everything and a BIG thing for
the nation as well as the world. I wonder sometimes being all that I have
mentioned above as my alma mater I wonder if I and we all will continue being a
human, a daughter/son to our parents, a friend to your pals, a true citizen to our
nation, a companion to our life partner, etc like these above mentioned great
personalities have tried to maintain in their busy schedule. Well we can always
Hope for it …..

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

Why does the apple fall? 20

Shruti Kulkarni (B Ed 2012-13)

Teaching Science to 9-year-olds is much more than
“Okay class, today we will be learning about…”! Your
brain is set into circular motion and before you know
one question hits a tangent, to which later you will
definitely find a perfectly logical and reasonable
answer. “If water from sea evaporates and comes down
as rain on land, does it rain in deserts near the oasis? If
a grain of wheat is solid as has its own shape then is a
handful of wheat liquid? If humans can live on both land and water, are they
considered to be amphibians too? And there will be more…

A plethora of sources like internet, television, books and encyclopedias and theme
parks like Kidzania are today‟s sources that are constantly feeding a child‟s
curiosity. Thus, it becomes very important to allow students to ask questions in
the classroom. Are we, as teachers, ready to answer this endless series of doubts?
Teachers often ponder over (that is if they have enough time!) how much rather
than which way to teach a certain concept in class. You may choose to differ, but
every teacher knows that feeling of having one smart student in the class who
will leave her speechless with his questions. One can only imagine the plight of
the teacher who has thirty such questioning heads all the time! As educators, it is
our responsibility to modify our teaching strategies to satiate this imagination
and creativity of the learner. To this end, schools are undergoing a paradigm shift

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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to change the way knowledge is imparted and encourage the use of strategies like
inquiry-based learning, group discussions, laboratory assignments, field work,
research project and hands-on activities in the curriculum.

In this scenario, teachers are facing difficulty at every step probably because of
the lack of know-how of using these methods in class. New teacher training
programs should therefore focus on developing the understanding of the
importance and organization of creative activities in classroom, design teachers‟
learning modules, prepare audio-video lectures or practice lessons, use peer-
feedback for improvisation, enroll for open/distance learning courses for
knowledge up gradation, work on soft skills like class control and management
and leadership.

Today‟s children are intelligent and have more energy than a bundle of
firecrackers. In her TED talk, child development psychologist Alison Gopnik says
“… young children are like the research and development division of the human
species… Another way is to think of children as a different developmental stage
of the same species–kind of like caterpillar and butterflies–except that they are
actually the butterflies who are flitting around the garden and exploring, and we
are the caterpillars who are inching along our narrow, grownup, adult path.”

So next time a student asks you who spins the Earth on its axis, answer the
child‟s question and be ready to face another one the very next moment!

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Respected Principal and my teachers,

The temple of learning is reaching its epitome
of success. I am glad I could be a small part of it.
I, Sonal Khanna Jalan passed by B.Ed course in
May 2010.Currently working in Green lawns
School, Worli as the primary coordinator. We
were a batch of 100; this year was a rollercoaster
ride for all 100 of us.

Our teachers were constantly encouraging and
pushing us towards the goal. It seemed as they were keener for us to complete the
course than we ourselves. Each teacher has been an Inspirer, an Empower and an
Engager.

Too often we progress through the „ropes of life,‟ and do not invest the time to
express our gratitude and authentic value for the support you‟ll so eagerly share
for our growth.

You‟ll make me feel authentically supported when you‟ll would say, “Please let us
know how we can be helpful” and genuinely mean it. Also, the excitement you‟ll
expressed to co-learn with me rather than teach me, makes me feel like a partner
in my learning experience, when it is so easy to feel like „a sponge that can only
absorb.‟ You‟ll had so much to share, but I love how you‟ll also openly articulate
how much I have to share as well and how much you‟ll learnt by engaging with
me!

As an educator, your title can ensure a role of heightening my knowledge in

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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academics. However, you‟ll saw me not as one of the many students you have, but
instead you‟ll valued me and each and every student for their uniqueness and
strengths. You‟ll promoted an environment where I felt l could and was able to
not only share my contribution, but also know it is actually considered and
appreciated.

Thank you for being genuine. Thank you for seeing me as a partner in learning
and sharing. Thank you for being you. May you‟ll continue to inspire others to
achieve the greatness you have. Thank you for being my teacher.

I wanted to take this opportunity to write this to all of the teachers who
understood the grave importance of their occupation, and who do not take the
responsibility lightly. This letter is for my teachers that have never known the
true definition of an eight-hour work day. My teachers have touched my life and
with each passing day I am reminded and reminded of I. Being a coordinator is
not an easy job it hold more responsibilities towards teachers and students. Still
unconsciously always compare a teacher trained in another institution to as
compared to the way I was trained. My teachers were strict and made sure we
understood the value of time and quality of work. There was never an easy way
out. With each passing day I try to imbibe in me at least one quality that I saw in
them.

With gratitude,
Sonal Jalan (B Ed 2010-11)

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

24

Are You a Winner or a Loser?

Ms. Senaiyar Sumathi Shankar (PGDME 2014-15)

Are you a winner or a loser entirely
depends upon the way you look at
your success or failure? When we are
successful, no doubt we are happy,
we enjoy and remember that moment
for a very long time. Our parents,
teachers, friends and people around
us praise and appreciate us and we
bask in the glory of success. But does
winning only mean standing first in
the competition, ranking first in the
class or always winning a race? No, for
me, I am a winner when I lend a helping hand to the needy, I consider myself a
winner when I help a friend or a sibling with his work when he is unwell, when I
do some good work and my elders bless me. I am a winner when I help a blind or
an old person cross the busy street, when I keep my heart and mind clean and
make an effort on my part to preserve and conserve the environment. That makes
me the winner!

On the other hand losing in a competition or a race does not make you a loser.
Just remember, „When we lose, we should not lose the lesson.‟ We should learn
from our mistakes and also from the mistakes of others.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

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Winning is like a rainbow comprising of seven bright colors which everybody
likes to see. But in order to win we must also learn to brightly organize ourselves
like the seven colors in rainbow. Try hard, face all the hurdles and problems, give
in your best and wait. Whatever the result, accept with a smile. Always know
more, learn more and expect less. That makes us a true winner.

When we win, we should not rest on our laurels but work harder next time.
Always mind the efforts we made to get the success, the hard work we did,
difficulties which we faced and also the people who helped in our way to success.

Along with this it is very important that we do not become over confident. Here
let me tell you a very short story of an egg. Once an egg jumped down from the
first floor of a building. It survived. How? Good luck! It was very happy. It
became confident. Then it went to the second floor and jumped from there.
Nothing happened. It survived again! Egg was happy again and thought that
nothing can break it down. It was broken into pieces. It was his overconfidence!

It is very important that we have a positive attitude towards our success and even
our failures. Failures are nothing but a stepping stone to success. We should not
lose our confidence but prepare ourselves better. Slowly and steadily we should
aim for the peak. And as rightly said, where there‟s a will there‟s a way. We
should remain quiet, calm and focused while we are doing our work. We should
not claim success of others as ours. Our humbleness, goodness and hard work
make us the winner! It is rightly said that

It is not a miracle to fly in the air.......,
It is not a miracle to walk on the water.......,
But when you are a winner and successful.......,
It is a miracle indeed to walk on earth.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

26

'Bridging the Gap' Varun Menon (B.Ed 2012 - 13)

The first and foremost quality that a teacher needs to have is 'adaptability and
flexibility'. And what do I mean by that? Adaptable to the world of teaching which
are full of challenges and dynamic in nature. A trainee might have to learn, unlearn
and relearn whatever had been taught during the course of B.Ed program,
understand and incorporate issues according to the requirements of the institution
that he/ she is presently working in and strive for excellence all throughout his/ her
career. And by the way, excellence is not a one day affair! A trainee needs to
showcase his/ her worth. I still remember what was told to us in the beginning of
our career. A teacher in R N Podar needs to have the 'mettle' (English one) and not
the 'metal' (Scientific one) to work in a competitive environment like ours.
So a trainee needs to be 'flexible' enough to face the daily grind of ups and downs in
his/ her career.
The next is the 'never say die' approach in life. In the beginning of your career, a
trainee might want to quit because of the demanding nature of teaching job (we have
seen such cases in the past!). But my advice to the future teachers is to 'hang on'.
Give your next possible best shot. Do whatever it takes to sustain in such a scenario
(even the Government of India wants sustainable development!). In the due course of
time, a trainee will get the essence of teaching and gradually move up the ladder.
One of the best examples of this approach is my teaching career in R N Podar
School, Mumbai.
Last but not the least, the most important piece of advice that I want to give to the
future teachers (leaders) is to read....'Read, Read again and Read some more'. The
more a trainee is resourceful, the better are his/ her chances to stand out in the
crowd. Don't limit yourself to your area of specialization. Instead 'explore'. Get out
of your comfort zone and the world will be yours....
Wishing all the trainees good luck

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

27

A Journey

Life is like a journey
Taken on a train

With a pair of travellers
At each window pane.
I may sit beside you
All the journey through,
Or I may sit elsewhere
Never knowing you
But if fate should mark me

To sit by your side
Let‟s be pleasant travellers

It‟s a short ride.

Ms. Senaiyar Sumathi Shankar
(PGDME 2014-15)

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

28

Flower of Achievement

Deepali Ghosalia (B Ed 2014-15)

First time I saw, my mom flying in sky,
With the flower of her achievement, after a long time,

She became a teacher, what was her with,
Not able to explain, how happy she was,
When she achieved, the flower of her dreams.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

29

The soldier in green

Drishti Sheth (B Ed 2013-14)

People on the earth are so mean
to protect them, there is a soldier in green,

This solider is prestige of earth
That provides us everything right from our birth.

I consider that soldier as my god
Anything I have wished to him I have got.

But now that soldier needs my help
I am ready to give him all I have.
That soldier is no one but our nature
Let's help the one who has given
Us highest personality of creature.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

30

Peace

Sandeep Vishwakarma (B Ed 2014-15)

Peace is the thing which is kind,
Nowadays don't know where to find.
It is lost somewhere in sand.
Realize the value of peace oh man.

Stop this war, stop this roar,
Stop all nonsense, its taste so soar,
Peace is a sense of achievement,
As we have done our assignment.

If fight is your motto,
than fight for peace,
Peace is like a growing seed
Spreading all what we need.

Peace has also some weapons,
That are prayer and petitions,
Peace needs to go global
So our earth will be nobel.

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016

31

Metamorphosis of a House-wife

Mridula Chandra (M Ed 2010-11)

Today everyone talks of educating women, making them independent etc., but in
reality, how much it is working? Is there any difference between educating a girl
and educating women? Yes, there is. Education of a girl starts with enrollment
in school. Some continues to study, while some stops in between due to certain
constraints or personal reason but the real awakening is when one understands
the need of continuing education at any stage of life.

I was fortunate to get an opportunity to re-start my education after a pause of 15
years. I would have never thought of studying further, if my kids at that time
aged 10 & 7, helped me to realize my abilities. One day, they said “Look at our
teachers, they also have children, family and even then come to school to teach us,
love us like you, then why don‟t you become a teacher”. This respect for their
teacher gave me a thought and awakened me towards self realization. I went
through the process of getting enrolled myself to B.Ed. course, got it cleared and
then enrolled to M.Ed. course at this prestigious Somaiya College.

The professors at this college not only educated me about the course curriculum
but also guided me towards the life curriculum. Under their able leadership and
guidance, the same year, I cleared my UGC NET too. It was really difficult for
me to re-start the study after a gap of so many years, but my professors‟ guidance
made it possible for me to achieve the goal. Not only my career in education
shaped here, the learned professors motivated me to complete my M.Sc. and clear

Editor : Ms Usha Sharma ,Asst Prof, K J Somaiya College of Education, Training & Research
Al Connect , Volume 1, January 2016