Walking the extra mile to make learning inclusive
Now 46, Mamman had wanted to work from home in her mid-thirties and began to tutor high school and junior college students in social sciences and English literature. Slowly, she specialised in teaching those with learning disabilities.
IT WAS 12 years ago that Sherin Mammen
chanced upon tutoring. Since then, she has been striving to make learning more
inclusive for slow learners and children with special needs.
Now 46, Mamman had wanted to work from home
in her mid-thirties and began to tutor high school and junior college students
in social sciences and English literature. Slowly, she specialised in teaching
those with learning disabilities.
“In 12 years, I have taught 12-15 students
who had been medically diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia,” says Mamman who
also detected four such students herself and suggested their parents that the
children be clinically tested.
“There is this whole stigma about learning
disability in our society. Parents get unduly alarmed when there is no need to
worry. It is not a mental illness. It is just a different way of assimilating
things and learning stuff,” explains Mamman. “Parents need to accept it rather
than deny it. Getting your children medically tested will gain them writers for
their exams and with few strategic adjustments in the learning process, the
students can successfully work their way around,” she adds.
After finishing her MA in Literature and a
diploma in Journalism, Mamman worked as a freelance writer, writing mostly
about topics related to education.
“It is during this time that I gathered most
of my knowledge about slow learners, learning disabilities and kids with
special needs. I was writing many articles pertaining to the topic and I
researched extensively about it,” recalls Mamman.
She believes that segregating slow learners
and children with special needs is not necessary.
She keeps her tutoring batches small,
intimate and inclusive. “These kids need some encouragement every once in a
while and that word of motivation can take them a long way. Their test-papers
need to examined more carefully and they should be given a personal,
constructive feedback. They should not be picked upon and yelled at. Every
attempt at boosting their confidence can prove to be extremely rewarding,” says
Mamman.
The kind of emotional security that Mamman
fosters with the students has made some of them seek her advice on career and
other personal matters too.
“This one student I detected as a slow
learner, stuck with me for six years and the transformation has been
unbelievably beautiful. From a really closed and a hesitant person, she has
become a people’s person and has now taken up my advice to pursue a career in
human resources,” beams Mamman.
Source | Indian Express | 14 July
2017
Regards
Pralhad
Jadhav
Senior Manager @
Knowledge Repository
Khaitan
& Co
Upcoming Lecture | ACTREC - BOSLA Annual lecture series (125th birth anniversary of father of library
science, Padmashree Dr. S. R. Ranganathan) on Saturday, 12th August 2017 at Advanced Centre for Treatment,
Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. (Theme | 'MakerSpace')
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