A Teacher’s Journey to

Transforming Her Classroom

Empowering Educators: Sonika Ma’am’s Journey to Transforming Her Classroom 

At the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) School of NPV Baljeet Nagar, Sonika Ma’am who teaches math, faces challenges that many teachers in under-resourced schools endure daily. With a shortage of teachers, she is responsible for managing two sections of 3rd grade - nearly 70 students in a single classroom. The school also struggles with basic infrastructure, such as a lack of piped water, adding to the everyday difficulties of teaching. Despite these challenges, Sonika Ma’am’s dedication to her students never wavered. When Peepul conducted a three-day ‘Numeracy Workshop’ for Grades 1, 2 and 3, she eagerly participated, hoping to find new ways to engage her students and manage her large class effectively. Throughout the workshop, she was an active participant, taking meticulous notes, asking insightful questions, and making the most of break times to seek further clarity. 

Part of its math intervention, the workshop focused on both math pedagogy and classroom management strategies, aiming to boost teachers' confidence and effectiveness. Sonika Ma’am quickly embraced these learnings, and her commitment became evident when a Mentor Teacher (MT) shared a classroom video showcasing her implementing key techniques from the session.  

When the Peepul team visited her classroom as part of one of their observation, they were pleasantly surprised by the her practices. Sonika Ma’am began her lesson with a math talk, reviewing previous concepts before introducing a new topic. She guided students through an activity, facilitated preparation time, provided individual practice, and supported struggling learners - all while ensuring every child remained engaged. The highlight of the lesson was the active participation of all 70 students throughout the 40-minute session.  

Sharing her learnings she said, "The workshop helped us manage the class effectively, introduced new revision techniques such as Math Meetings, and simplified the teaching of pictorial concepts using the cards provided in the toolkit." 

Sonika Ma’am’s journey is a testament to how empowering educators can create a ripple effect, transforming classrooms and shaping brighter futures for students.