Teaching is full of surprises, but sometimes the biggest lessons come from the smallest teachers.
One ordinary morning, I casually asked my students, “Who would like to be the teacher today?” To my delight, Shreya, one of my brightest and most enthusiastic learners, shot her hand up eagerly. I handed her my marker, expecting a quick giggle and some scribbles on the board.
What happened next left me amazed. Shreya confidently wrote the date and day on the board, then began teaching alphabets, even drawing little pictures to make them interesting. For a moment, I forgot she was a student—she was completely in character, a tiny teacher in action.
And then came the real twist. When the class grew noisy, Shreya’s voice suddenly rose:
“Who is talking? I don’t want talking children in my class! Should I send you to some other class?”
The whole room erupted in laughter—me included. But behind the laughter came a realization that hit me hard: I was listening to my own words. Shreya had unknowingly held up a mirror, showing me exactly how I sound when I discipline.
That day, I laughed at myself, but I also learned. Children are like sponges—they don’t just learn the lessons we teach, they absorb our tone, our mannerisms, and even our quirks. As the saying goes, “Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate.”
Shreya reminded me that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge, but about modeling patience, kindness, and respect. After all, one day, our little students will grow up to teach the world in their own way.
So now, whenever I pick up the marker, I remember—there may be a “mini-me” watching, ready to copy every word.
Anitha Sedhumadhavan
