‘Children have always needed adults in their lives, but home and community have less influence than they used to. Sometimes teachers are the most stable adults in a child’s life, the people they can count on the most’ – says Machuk

Being a teacher is fantastic. Teaching is also challenging. ‘Expectations are high from students, from parents, from management, from society and it goes on’.

Here are some of the difficulties I faced and how I overcame these challenges

Teaching styles and requirements have changed over the years. When I first started teaching, it started with activity-based learning (ABL) followed by samacheer and then now CBSE. So, the foremost priority for teachers is to be updated with the current scenario and I had updated myself in teaching methodologies….

One size fits all concept doesn’t work with teaching students as each and every student who walks through my door is different. Some struggle with Math and some with English and some need extra help. Some learn really well. Hence, as a teacher, it is important to be flexible in rearranging plans and having backup plans. I believe that good communication skills and efficient planning can help to ensure that students are getting the full educational and social experience of school. I handle class I students and I make it a point to give individual attention to my students and I achieve this by having periodic discussions with their parents and actively involving them in their child’s education.

At the beginning (first 2 months), I faced difficulties in ensuring regular attendance of my students which I thought could be due to a lack of interest and motivation. To motivate and encourage them, I started appreciating my students for every work they do and gave gifts to those who maintained regular attendance. Those words of appreciation and small gifts excited them which motivated them to come to school daily and get interested in studies. This also enhanced their competitive skills and they started participating in all the competitions and events at school. Probably, incentives work better than punishment for children of the present generation.


As a teacher, it is important to understand the community to which his or her student belongs to as their exposure and needs differ. The community I teach is a more rural community, where many of my students are the first generation learners in the family. So, these children do not have much exposure and most of them don’t even understand the value of education. I spend time talking to them about their future and their goals. Since my students love to listen to stories, I tell them inspiring stories and play videos of celebrities and legends depicting their life stories where they have overcome all hurdles to become successful. The seeds of values need to be sowed early to lead them on the right path.

Since teachers are students all throughout their lives, they need to keep themselves updated with the rapidly changing world. With the advances in technology and the exposure children are having in the present scenario, there is so much information available both good and bad, relevant, and irrelevant. Only a teacher who is adequately informed and updated will be able to deliver the right information to the upcoming generation. Moreover, children look down upon a teacher’s ignorance and lose interest in their teachings. Only a well-informed teacher on par with the recent advances in all spheres of life will be able to attract the attention of the children.

There are different ways in which a teacher could update himself or herself both formally and informally. Formal ways could be by attending seminars, workshops, etc., or reading books, journals, and publications pertaining to the improvement of their teaching skills as well as their knowledge on their subject. They need to keep themselves updated on their subject with the changing theories and ideas. Informal ways can be by discussing with other colleagues, discussing with students and their parents, and learning from internet-based resources. They need to be open to the requirements and interests of their students and be updated in the use of recent technological advances like the use of computers, audiovisual projections in contrast to conventional blackboard teachings to be able to efficiently deliver their teaching skills.

A teacher has a significant impact on the overall development of their students which being the case, the overall development needs to begin from the teacher himself or herself. Nevertheless, despite all the challenges faced, the selfless love of the students, and love for the students, and the atmosphere of learning something new every day keeps the teaching profession the most satisfied and happy profession.


So we as teachers need to keep on searching, keep on learning and keep on giving something new to our children.