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I keep hearing teachers talk about "comment banks" when grading, but I'm not sure what that really looks like in practice.
Ms. Carter, a 5th grade teacher, spends 8+ hours every weekend grading stacks of math tests and writing assignments. By Sunday night, she's exhausted, but still behind. She admits the grading takes longer than her actual lesson planning during the week.
Hello fellow educators,
I wanted to share something that has genuinely changed how I think about early childhood education, and I would love to hear from others who may have explored similar approaches in their own classrooms or schools.
Many of us have heard about Finland's education system being ranked the best in the world — ...See MoreHello fellow educators,
I wanted to share something that has genuinely changed how I think about early childhood education, and I would love to hear from others who may have explored similar approaches in their own classrooms or schools.
Many of us have heard about Finland's education system being ranked the best in the world — but what does it actually look like in practice, especially for very young children at the preschool and nursery level?
At HEI Schools Gurugram (Sector 49, India), we follow the Finnish Early Education Model, developed in partnership with the University of Helsinki. What makes this approach stand out from traditional preschool systems is its core belief that children are naturally curious, capable learners — and that our job as educators is to nurture that curiosity rather than replace it with structured testing and rote memorization.
Here are some of the key principles we work with every day:
Curiosity and Creativity — Our curriculum activities are intentionally designed to spark natural curiosity. The focus is never just on completing a task as planned. Children are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas, and test their thinking. Teachers and children enjoy the flexibility to carry activities forward across days, giving children the time and space to explore their inquiries more deeply.
Active Participation — Children take real ownership of their learning. From deciding group rules in children's meetings to learning self-care skills like tying shoelaces, every moment builds their sense of competence and accountability. Their voices matter, and we make sure they know it.
Culture of Trust — Consistent and transparent communication between teachers and parents is at the heart of everything we do. We recognize and value each child's individual strengths, understanding that children always strive to do their best, even when facing challenges.
Learning Everywhere, All the Time — This is perhaps the most powerful shift in mindset. A mealtime becomes a lesson in counting and colors. Getting dressed builds fine motor skills and patience. Baking at home turns into a science experiment. We encourage families to see learning as a continuous, natural process — not something that only happens within school walls.
Sustainable Way of Living — Children are introduced from an early age to concepts like recycling, caring for the environment, and community responsibility. Our pedagogy promotes inclusivity and seeing the individual strengths in every child.
We are also aligned with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which has been a meaningful shift in how early childhood education is approached nationally.
For those teaching in the preschool, childcare, or early literacy space — I would genuinely love to know:
Have you incorporated any play-based or inquiry-driven approaches in your classroom?
How do you balance academic readiness with emotional development for young children?
Has the shift away from test-based learning been welcomed by parents in your community?
It has been a deeply rewarding journey here at HEI Schools Gurugram, which is recognized as one of the Top preschool in Gurgaon and a leading international preschool in Gurgaon. Seeing young children thrive in an environment built on trust, creativity, and genuine curiosity — rather than pressure and performance — is something every early childhood educator deserves to experience.
If any of you are curious to learn more about the HEI approach or the Finnish model in an Indian context, feel free to visit: https://heischoolssec49gurgaon.com
Looking forward to a great discussion with this wonderful community of educators.
Warm regards,
HEI Schools Gurugram Team
Sector 49, Gurgaon, India
Contact: +91-9910669519
Fortunately I had a career as an RN for well over a decade before deciding to give up nursing to try teaching. I have a 5 and 1 year old that took me a decade to get, so I just wanted to be on the same schedule. None of the schools around here had RN openings (LVNs yes, but not RNs, and even though I was willing to take the pay cut, they wouldn't h...See MoreFortunately I had a career as an RN for well over a decade before deciding to give up nursing to try teaching. I have a 5 and 1 year old that took me a decade to get, so I just wanted to be on the same schedule. None of the schools around here had RN openings (LVNs yes, but not RNs, and even though I was willing to take the pay cut, they wouldn't hire me for an LVN spot with my RN.) So when presented with the opportunity to work as a preschool teacher for 4 year olds, I jumped at it.
I love kids, and it has been a real joy. Way better than getting cursed at and having pee and poop thrown at you. The 70% pay cut is whack, but I am willing to live in near poverty to see my kids on a regular basis.
A week ago one of my student's parents accused me of sexually assaulting her son with my finger. I was suspended with pay. It has been a week and I have yet to have been interviewed by CPS or the police. I have a criminal lawyer that I cannot afford, but will call if the police come. My husband and I are terrified that some how they will end up taking our kids. And the lawyer said even in the best case scenario I will have to pay to have this unfounded CPS report expunged from my record and have an additional investigation through the Texas Board of Nursing to ensure my license stays clear.
I have been a bedside nurse for a long time. I worked the ER. I am pretty good at reading people. There was no indication that this parent had an issue with me…and the kid is a good kid. I am left now trying to defend my reputation, which I can, because I have an inch thick folder with every patient letter and manager evaluation I've ever had. I've won awards for my nursing ability and integrity. I have 3 licenses in 3 states, all of which have been unencumbered since 2008.
I am so fortunate that I had an aide with me this year. So I am only alone with my class 15 minutes before lunch and 30 minutes for the second half of nap so my aid can eat her lunch. And I've never had to help this kid change his clothes or help him with the bathroom. And sadly, I did help at least 4 of my students with accidents this year….I didn't ask for supervision….I don't have supervision to wipe butts in the hospital. And CNAs are stretched so thin, I usually had to do my own baths….for 17 years and $46/ hr as of last year.
But when this is all over, I don't think I will continue this career change. $17/ hr is not enough to hire a lawyer. And what if I decided to move up to Kindergarten where they have no aides? Can other 5 year olds speak up for me and say I didn't touch their classmate? Not to mention what my children would have to go through if such an accusation happened when they were older….how many friends they would lose?…..where they would no longer be welcome. My 5 year old still may have to suffer some of that, but there is absolutely nothing I can do.
I hope nothing is happening to my student. But I have no clue how I got wrapped up in it.
Help Us Understand Teacher Support and Expulsion in Early Childhood Programs - Share Your Voice!
Hello! We are researchers from Kean University (Advanced Studies in Psychology), currently examining how support systems can influence decisions around EXPULSION in early childhood education settings.
As a current early childhood edu...See MoreHelp Us Understand Teacher Support and Expulsion in Early Childhood Programs - Share Your Voice!
Hello! We are researchers from Kean University (Advanced Studies in Psychology), currently examining how support systems can influence decisions around EXPULSION in early childhood education settings.
As a current early childhood educator, we highly value your insights to better understand the realities teachers face and how we can help support both teachers and young children. If you are interested in participating or learning more about the study, please click on the following link to complete the survey. https://ku.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eh3HoqyFLGGO0yW
The survey should take about approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Please remember that we are trying to gain accurate realities of practices, so we encourage honesty in the information you share. All survey information will be kept confidential and no identifying information about you or your program will be collected.
Feel free to forward this invitation to other teachers/educators who may be interested in participating in this research. If you have any questions, or are unable to access the survey, please contact the investigator, Yelin Oh (ohy@kean.edu) or her faculty advisor, Dr. Keri Giordano Psy.D., keri.giordano@kean.edu .
Dear Teachers,
I'm a parent of two children who are now teenagers. When they were younger, from about ages 1 to 14, I spent a lot of time telling them bedtime stories — especially stories with moral dilemmas or thought-provoking situations.
Those moments often became interactive conversations. My kids would ask questions about f...See MoreDear Teachers,
I'm a parent of two children who are now teenagers. When they were younger, from about ages 1 to 14, I spent a lot of time telling them bedtime stories — especially stories with moral dilemmas or thought-provoking situations.
Those moments often became interactive conversations. My kids would ask questions about fairness, courage, honesty, or difficult choices. Sometimes their questions surprised me and I didn't always have perfect answers, but I was happy they were thinking deeply.
Because of my consulting job I travelled frequently, but even then I tried to call them at night and tell a short story. Looking back now, I strongly believe those storytelling moments — often in our native language — helped shape their confidence, empathy, and decision-making.
Last year I started wondering how this kind of storytelling experience could be made easier for other parents.
So I built a small app called DeeeVee.
The idea is simple:
Short bedtime stories built around values like courage, honesty, kindness, and responsibility
Stories can be narrated in a parent's or grandparent's voice
Available in many languages, which also helps families maintain their native language
Each story ends with a few reflection questions to encourage conversation between parents and children
My hope is that it can help parents continue the kinds of conversations at home that teachers often start in the classroom.
DeeeVee is still very early, and I'm looking for parents willing to test it and give honest feedback so I can improve it.
If you think some parents in your community might find it useful, or if you'd like to take a look yourself, you can see it here:
https://www.deeevee.com
This is a small personal project I've been building in my spare time, but I truly hope it can help parents create meaningful conversations with their children.
Thank you for the work you do every day with students.
Best regards
Has anyone taken the GK Essay lately?
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