One Size Does Not Fit All!

Amita Raina

When I was asked about my professional journey. I didn’t know where to start as most journeys start with a view of the destination.  When I started this journey, I had not put down a destination name, instead just a process of learning. 

I have trained as a Software Engineer and worked in the IT industry for 5 years, until I realised I wanted to do something more… to add value to myself and make a difference to society… 

After spending a year of self-discovery, I came upon the Montessori Philosophy and researched a bit more in detail until the day I enrolled for a 1 year full time course in London. 

I shall not go into details of what a Montessori Education is. In simple words it has given me the skills and tools to look at the child as a Unique Being and educate or nurture the Whole Child who can contribute to the society. 

It’s never an ideal day at my workplace because every day is guided by our children’s interests and as a teacher, we have to constantly EXPLORE new pathways, BE INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE and ADAPT new methods or plans to continue the learning process. It could be an interest in dinosaurs and the next day it may lead to volcanoes! One has to be abreast with knowledge and open to learning, even from children. 

I learnt more about dinosaurs when I first started my teaching career than I had ever in school !! 

The only highs and lows while working with children would be one’s own inhibitions to be Involved, Inventive, Experimental, Improve and Adopt new learnings in order to provide the children with the best and continuous provision of their educational journey. Challenge would be to try different methods and styles of learning to impart the knowledge in order to be an Effective Teacher / Guide. As a Teacher, one has to develop their capacity to understand and observe children individually. Its a constant learning process for the child and the teacher.

A child will teach you that there are 10 different ways to approach things and respecting each opinion will teach them to be kind & respectful individuals. 

It’s amazing and mind boggling how much a child can absorb. 

I’ve heard children pronounce big words and dinosaur name with such ease, even an adult could find it a tongue twister. 

Recently I had a child come up and say, “Do you know that the biggest number is ‘googolplex’!” I said, “Thank you for sharing that, I didn’t know until now.” He says, “google it.” Or sometimes as simple as “Hippos like mud baths!”

To be an Educator / Teacher … 

• You have to have the ability to constantly EVOLVE and add to your knowledge. 
  
• The HONESTY to accept that we have made a mistake but teaching them how we can correct ourselves. children often say to me when i make a mistake, “Oopsy daisy, silly Amita, never mind, lets try again!!” 
  
• Children do not judge you, they judge how you treat them and remember you for that.
  
• As a teacher, the most important gift you can give them is thePower to believe in themselves, the curriculum will follow!! 
  
• Raise their self-esteem:  It’s the most selfless but the most rewarding job at the same time.
  
• You have the responsibility and ability to make a difference in a child … who will be an asset to the society ! 
  
• Be a rolemodelthat will make you proud of yourselves for making that difference! 
  
• You have to be physically fit, a Quick thinker and Compassionate.

Working with children has further driven and inspired me to organise Career Webinars for older children who are in their crucial years of decision making. I welcome grown ups and youngsters to come forward to share their knowledge and ask more and more questions to know about what different careers entail! 

Thank you for taking the time to read my professional journey and It would give me great joy and thrill to mentor anyone who is passionately driven to work with younger children thereby making a difference in their formative years. 

By: Amita (Anu) Raina

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https://amitaraina.wixsite.com/website