This video features a conversation about fostering a love for reading, hosted at Gyan Anant Vidyalaya. Dutt emphasises that the best way to get children involved in reading is for teachers to be seen reading themselves. Gyan Anant Vidyalaya is a Special Project of the Good Schools Alliance.
Sunday morning with Karkit Bajoria
To learn proposal writing and discuss book reading with Kartik Bajoria and Jugjiv Singh.
Frame requests as opportunities: Present your need as a valuable opportunity for the recipient, not a subservient request.
Use a 5-part structure: A proposal should include Context, Proposition, Recipient Advantages, Preemptive Solutions, and a “Big Idea” conclusion.
Predict and solve problems upfront: Address potential recipient concerns directly in the proposal to demonstrate foresight and save time.
Adopt a “parallel career” mindset: Turn negative self-talk (“I can’t”) into a concrete goal (“I will”) to overcome inertia and pursue dreams.
Core Principle: Convert requests into opportunities for the recipient.
Key Elements:
Context: Provide relevant background to justify the request.
Proposition: State the request clearly and concisely.
Recipient Advantages: Detail 2–3 unique benefits for the recipient.
Preemptive Solutions: Address potential problems before they are raised.
Big Idea: Frame the proposal as part of a larger, meaningful movement.
Practical Tips:
Tone: Communicate on equal terms; avoid subservient language.
Language: Use cautious phrasing (“great likelihood”) instead of promises, as emails are legal documents.
Format: Use simple salutations (“Dear Sir/Ma’am”) and sign-offs (“Regards”).
Scenario: Propose a 10-day coaching camp to the Mahesh Bhupati Tennis Academy.
Brainstormed Ideas:
Context: New school courts, rising student interest, and local players succeeding on the international stage.
Recipient Advantages: Access new markets (e.g., smaller towns) and recruit future talent.
Preemptive Solutions:
Concern: Low student turnout → Solution: Invite other local schools.
Concern: Poor infrastructure → Solution: Highlight recently built, world-class courts.
Concern: High resource investment → Solution: Offer school faculty to assist coaches.
Plot: Ryo, an accounts clerk, dreams of opening an antique shop but lacks the courage.
Key Learnings from Yasuhara (bookshop owner):
Parallel Careers: A second job provides mental fulfilment, making the primary job less burdensome.
Courage of Conviction: Act on your beliefs, even when difficult.
“Turn the Don’t into a Goal”: Reframe negative self-talk into a concrete objective.
Start Now: Don’t wait for the “right time”; connections and opportunities arise from action.
All Participants:
Write a reflection on the session’s takeaways.
Send reflections to Manisha Khanna for publication on the website.
Research: How much of a plant’s mass is in its roots?
Manisha Khanna:
Publish submitted reflections on the website.
Kartik:
Lead an in-person session at the April 10-14 My Good School Retreat.
| ||
|
To read and discuss two books, focusing on themes of ambition and school life.
Low Attendance Due to Exams: Final exams for classes 9 & 11 (home) and 10 & 12 (board) significantly reduced student attendance.
Dual-Book Format: The session featured two books: a Japanese novel, What You’re Looking For in the Library, and a Hindi story, “The Whistling Schoolboy” from Kabhi Kabhi School Masti Ka Adda Lagta Tha.
Core Themes: The English novel explored ambition vs. responsibility through protagonist Ryo’s dream of opening an antique shop. The Hindi story used humour to highlight the fun, non-academic parts of school life, like plays and food.
“Parallel Career” Concept: A key idea from the English novel, a “parallel career” (coined by Peter Drucker), was introduced as a way to pursue two complementary careers without one being secondary.
Low student attendance was attributed to ongoing final exams across many schools.
Shailaja from Holi Sai International School (Chennai, IGCSE) joined for the first time to observe the session.
Jugjiv Singh provided an overview of the program’s goal: using books to spark dialogues on life skills and socio-emotional learning.
Recap: The session began by reading student blog reflections to recap the story.
Plot: Ryo, stuck in a finance job, dreams of opening an antique shop.
Librarian’s Role: Ms Komachi gives Ryo a book on worms and a felted cat, prompting him to discover a cat-themed bookshop, “Cats Now Books.”
Reading & Discussion:
Ryo’s Work Stress: Ryo is burdened by his boss’s lack of software skills and an unmotivated assistant.
Hina’s Family Pressure: Hina’s parents see Ryo as a “steady chap” and hint at marriage, creating pressure that conflicts with his dream of running an antique shop.
“Parallel Career” Concept: Ryo learns this term from Peter Drucker, defined as two complementary careers in which neither is secondary.
Pre-Reading Quiz: A quiz on “fun school moments” served as a warm-up, with students identifying activities like sharing jokes and playing during free periods as key to enjoyment.
Reading: The story, read by Manisha Khanna, used humour to describe the author’s experiences at boarding school.
Plays: Rehearsals were a fun escape from mandatory study.
Food: The author would intentionally finish last in races to stop at a tikki/samosa stall, highlighting the importance of food in school life.
Library: The library was a favourite place, made lively by the senior master, Mr Knight.
Discussion: The story sparked a discussion on the importance of food in boarding schools, with participants sharing anecdotes about hunger and the quality of school meals.
Manisha Khanna shared the March calendar to provide context for new participants.
Weekly Schedule:
Sundays: Dual book readings (English & Hindi).
Saturdays: Professional learning for teachers and a masterclass for students.
Fridays: “Brewing Knowledge” meet-and-greets with published authors.
Upcoming Event: A retreat is scheduled for April 10–14 at Mayoor School Jaipur.
March 1, 2026
Book Reading - What You
Are Looking For Is in the Library
Book Reading - दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ
March 8, 2026
March 15, 2026
March 22, 2026
Book Reading - My Family and Other Animals
Book Reading - दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ
March 29, 2026
The YES workshop on Communication with Kartik Bajoria. We aim to inspire young minds, helping them navigate their dreams and aspirations as they embrace their goals
Book Reading- What You Are Looking For Is in the
Library
The Teachers Academy
Learning Forward Saturday
The Professional Learning Program (PLP) with Sandeep Dutt and Brinda Ghosh, ‘Wanted
Back Bencher Last Ranker Teacher’ by Kavita Ghosh. Read Chapter 2 and write reflections for The Teachers Academy Blog. Last Saturday, a workshop to show new innovations that the GSA Partners bring to the Alliance.
Sandeep Dutt’s Masterclass
Every Saturday at 5:30 PM: We are reading The Courage To Be
Happy by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, a dialogue between a young teacher and a philosopher.
GSA Meetings and Events
GSA Squad
We review programs and plan for the coming week at 5:30 PM every Monday on Zoom - GSA Coordinators, Volunteers, and Mentors. #JoyOfGiving
My Good School Retreat
April 10th -14th, 2026, at Mayoor School Jaipur.
Find out more at www.inYouth.in
Brewing Knowledge Fridays @ The English Book Depot
Join us in celebrating Literature, Art, and Culture at The English Book Depot! Immerse yourself in the magic of reading through our cosy Book Cafe, where unforgettable experiences await. Whether visiting in person or joining via Zoom, connect with a vibrant community of book lovers, authors, and educators—all passionate about the joy of Reading. Come, brew your knowledge with us! #BrewingKnowledge
“Reading can teach you the best of what others already know. Reflection can teach you the best of what only you can know.” — James Clear
Reading opens the mind to the wisdom, experiences, and ideas of others, while reflection turns that learning inward, transforming it into personal insight. Together, they help a learner grow not only in knowledge but also in self-awareness and thoughtful understanding.
I am really grateful for the opportunity to attend this session. It was not just a learning session but an experience that made me think deeply. The story discussed during the session was beautifully explained, and every part of it was simply connected to real life. The way the story moved from nature to human emotions made it very interesting and meaningful for me.
One part that I especially liked was how the speaker explained things using examples like jalapeños and grapes. Though they look similar, they are very different, and this comparison helped me understand how appearances can be misleading. This idea was closely connected to the story, in which observation, understanding, and the proper use of words play essential roles. It helped me realise how important it is to look beyond the surface.
All the essential words from the story were clearly discussed, which helped me understand their meanings in context rather than just memorising them. The story also taught me to be more sensitive towards nature, people and situations. It showed how small details can carry deep meaning and how learning can happen through curiosity and observation.
Overall, this session was very enriching and enjoyable. It helped me understand the story better and taught me life lessons in a gentle, practical way. I truly appreciated the effort put into making learning so interactive and thoughtful, and I would love to attend more such sessions in the future.
Aarinee Tripathi, Sunbeam School Mau
“Thank you for this feedback, Aarinee!”, Brinda Ghosh, coach and mentor at My Good School.
“It was quite refreshing being present at My Good School session this Sunday morning. Both the chapters from “My Family and Other Animals” & “What You’re Looking for in the Library” intrigued the listeners, and there were some fascinating responses from the audience. It was good to see both their excitement and the ability to reciprocate. More such Sundays awaited." Harshita Dalawat, host at My Good School.
The highlight of the session, however, was the reading of the chapter Glacier Par Chadhte Chaar Ladke. This chapter felt incredibly powerful and close to my heart, as it is deeply connected to my region, surroundings, and way of life. Moreover, the approach Manisha ma’am chose to introduce the chapter was both thoughtful and beautiful, making the experience even more memorable. The story also inspired me to dream of climbing mountains in the future, awakening a sense of adventure.
Today also helped me rediscover the magic of reading. I finally understood why books matter so much to me—because they inspire me to imagine the future, reshape stories, and create new ones by drawing on the ideas I gather from everything I read.
Garima
PYDS Learning Academy
