English Translation:
December 30, 2010
Greetings,
There has been a big improvement in the English and math performance of tenth graders in the six rural Adivasi schools in the Vikramgard-Thaluka district, thanks to the
educational program started by Each One Teach One Institute, Mumbai, and the M.L. Dhawale Memorial Trust, Bhopoli.
Mr. Rajeev Vartak and his team have taught math, science, geography, and general knowledge with educational tools and scientific experiments. They have created
enthusiastic students who are happy to learn. They ensure participation of the students by asking questions and requiring participation, which has been very valuable.
In class, students concentrate for three hours, and by the end, don’t realize three hours have passed. Teacher Vartak and his team work hard to ensure student
progress. I have listened to Mr. Vartak’s lessons along with the students; his teaching is valuable even to teachers. I hope that Mr. Vartak’s program will be available
to every school, and an even larger number of students. I thank Each One Teach One, Dhawale-Trust, and Mr. Rajeev Vartak and his team.
Yours Sincerely,
Shree Vijay Madhukar Werawande (Sir)
Co-teacher in Kurzai High School
English Translation:
After we received Honorable Mr. Vartak’s direction, I felt that we had been very behind until now. Every teacher should have the inspiration with which he teaches. Every
teacher should have the ease with which he explains ideas. He really knows how to speak to the students in a way that makes concepts crystal clear.
He makes the hardest scientific experiments, such as those on glass, light, and waves, which even I had not understood, clear and easy. His teaching allows students
to understand lessons. There was a lot of conversation going on between the students and Teacher Shree Vartak. Students would, on their own, come to talk to him. I and the
students could tell he was skilled in both Marathi and English. He taught geography, science, math, and English. Because you can see the stars and planets clearly in the rural
sky, we can observe stars with the students at night. After Mr. Vartak taught students how to read maps, I felt that if I had taught the same way, students would have never
forgotten the skill. We cannot teach all subjects like this, but definitely some subjects.
With easily available tools, he demonstrated proofs of difficult geometry theorems. It is hard to memorize theorems, but Mr. Vartak proved many theorems in minutes.
With an OHP (Overhead Project), concepts can easily be made clear. OHP makes experiments in water and light very clear. We are doing the experiment to see if it will
be possible to teach students who have attended school to teach other students. Students have responded enthusiastically to this pilot program.
Students are truly learning to learn in a very different way. We suffer from a lack of materials when we are trying to teach scientific experiments, but we have tried
to find solutions for it. Using the OHP and magnetic board, we have been able to do experiments on magnets.
The OHP is useful for teaching English. Teachers can save time writing, and because of the novel method of instruction, students are more interested.
Shree Vartak’s teaching has caused a lot of positive change in the students, and in my own teaching style. I can see that it is beneficial to teach things that
interest students.
The behavior of the students demonstrates the result of the change, in me, and in the students.
Shree Umesh Gajanan Patil
Co-teacher in a Vikramgard District of Thane High School
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