Ms. Aviana Bhatnagar, a senior at Monte Vista High School in California, interned with The Teachers Collective in June 2023. This is what she writes about the experience.
Hi! My name is Aviana Bhatnagar, I’m currently a senior at Monte Vista High School in California (USA). Throughout the month of June 2023, I worked as an intern at the Teachers Collective in Bangalore. It was a valuable, eye-opening experience and I want to share my observations, especially as a foreigner, on this exceptional organization.
First, some background on myself: the past few years I have had an interest in special education. Last summer, I worked at my local elementary school as a teacher aide. I would help students around the age of six and seven with basic math, reading, and writing skills. While most of my time was spent with neurotypical kids, I got some experience with neurodivergent students as well. I witnessed first-hand how teachers in the US work with students with special needs such as ADHD and autism. This is when I noticed that all the neurodivergent kids get grouped together and are then separated from the neurotypical kids into a separate classroom. I didn’t question this at first because even in my own high school, students with special needs have always been separate from me, and I rarely get the chance to interact with them. This is why The Teachers Collective sparked my interest – they take an approach that allows all students to be included.
Rather than making the students adapt to new environments and separating them, The Teachers Collective aims to give teachers practical skills on how to educate neurodivergent kids as well. During my internship, I noticed how meticulous Ms. Krishnamurthi and Ms. Mathur are in making sure the students get the exact amount of intervention they require. I learned the process in which they thoroughly assess each kid on their reading and social skills, also allowing them to notice any possible learning difficulties. These assessments are crucial especially at elementary grade levels because the earlier you know how much intervention is needed, the less risk there is of students falling behind.
In order to implement a new teaching method, it’s important to establish extensive connections that can effectively reach a vast population. I had the chance to accompany Ms. Mathur and Ms. Krishnamurthi to a panel at Goldman Sachs about creating a more inclusive environment in the workplace. Being able to provide their support and teaching outside the school environment is incredible because it brings attention to the fact that change is needed elsewhere too. By continuing to build connections and take part in many outreach opportunities, The Teachers Collective is getting recognition by many different crowds of people, which will help it continue to grow.
After seeing how effective The Teacher’s Collective approach has been, it made me reflect on my schooling back in America. I’ve been thinking “So which approach is better?”, but honestly I don’t think there is a single correct answer. It depends a lot on the student, resources available, and several other factors. I am convinced though that The Teachers Collective’s way is an efficient one in providing sufficient skills and including neurodivergent kids, specifically in a country with a rapidly growing population and resource constraints. This is because they recognize that each student learns differently, there is no one correct way to teach. I believe it would be beneficial, no matter the country, for teachers to know how to adapt to the students. This would allow classrooms to be much more inclusive for every student, neurodivergent or not.
My internship in India was a truly rewarding experience both educationally and culturally. I’m grateful for the opportunity provided by the Teachers Collective, and observing the positive impact they are making. If you are a teacher in India interested in creating a more inclusive environment in your classroom, I encourage you to reach out to The Teachers Collective.
Thanks for the kind words, Aviana! We enjoyed having you intern with us and wish you the very best in all your future endeavors.
- The Teachers Collective Team