Teach for India

Fellowship | New Delhi

Classroom practice, learning design and school based initiatives.

As a Teach For India Fellow, I teach Grade 6 and 7 at Atal Adarsh Balika Vidyalaya in Gole Market. I teach English and Mathematics to students who came in at very different reading and learning levels, and were often disengaged from formal classroom instruction. My teaching therefore focused on using art and flexible methods to help bridge these gaps and keep learning accessible.

Lesson Plans and Data

My teaching focused on clarity, participation, and accessibility in a mixed-ability classroom. Lessons were designed with art at the centre, and supported by ongoing assessment and differentiation to respond to students’ varied learning needs.

Find sample unit, lesson, weekly, and culture plans here.
Find differentiation strategies here.
Find student data analysis here.

Student Growth

Average improvement in reading levels and maths mastery (Grade 7) over 1.5 academic years.

Initiatives

School Library with Kalisu Foundation

In collaboration with Kalisu Foundation, I set up a library for middle and senior school students within the school. Many students had little exposure to reading for pleasure, which felt worth addressing. The library created space for books to be approached with curiosity rather than obligation. I also host reading circles here, where we read together and sometimes simply sit with books, without an agenda.

School Wall Mural with Umang

In collaboration with Umang Foundation, I worked on repainting the main wall of the primary school, which had been peeling and worn down over time. Along with the students, we painted the wall together, learning the basics of mural-making as we went. The process was hands-on and joyful, and became a shared experience of learning, making, and spending time together in the school space.

Showcases

TFI’15 - Compassion in Action

As part of Teach for India’s 15-year celebration, I was selected as one of a small group of fellows from Delhi to represent my classroom work at TFI’15 in Mumbai. I travelled with two of my students (both flying for the first time!). We presented our stall titled Compassion in Action at MuSeO. The showcase included compassion-led worksheets, a peace train artefact, and student-created storyboards, all of which received thoughtful engagement and appreciation from attendees.

LC Showcase - Revision

As part of a Learning Circle showcase, attended by parents, school stakeholders, fellows, and students, with close to 150 people present, I presented revision practices, shaped by the reality that many students struggled with retention even after concepts had been taught multiple times. I shared seven revision techniques that had been used consistently in my classroom, supported by student data, and spoke about how slowing down and returning to ideas in different ways helped learning stick. Alongside this, there were simple games and activities set up around the space, which students and adults moved through freely, giving the day a sense of ease and shared presence.

Through Pictures

As fellows, the work we do is mostly qualitative and a few graphs cannot suffice what goes on inside our classrooms and hearts, every single day. Hence, I attempt to sum it up with a few photos below.

From Susan Thomas' visit to our classroom

Learning about graphic design by Flunkt's founders

Mahi learnt how to take photos with a digital camera!

A night spent making goodbye art for summer school students

Never let anyone leave without well-curated handouts!

They were so proud of their marks in English!

Reminder to give more credit to the young ones

A student showing her paper on display to her younger brother :')

We invite people to our class, and learn (play) with them!