Nurture students to be globally conscious

Our classrooms have a huge responsibility as India enters the international arena: they must prepare students to be globally conscious, emotionally intelligent, academically strong, morally rich, and culturally grounded. We have the responsibility to mentor students who not only succeed but also contribute values to the world - values that originate in India. Character development nourishes in homes that are morally and emotionally sound, as well as in classrooms that are safe, inclusive, culturally diverse, and emotionally supportive. To guarantee that a generation is guided in the proper direction, a teacher is, in fact, the torchbearer.

Gurvinder Kaur, AIS Navi Mumbai

Storytelling is a powerful medium

Storytelling in early childhood is not just about entertainment, but education in its most powerful form. It is through stories that children learn values before they practice them. Characters feel real to them as they witness courage and fairness. According to the psychologist Albert Bandura and his social learning theory, children learn mainly through observing and imitating others. We do not teach values as much as we model them. The Gita puts that same truth in far simpler terms: “Whatever the best person does, others follow.” Children are always watching how adults speak, how they react to failure, and how they treat others when no one is applauding.

Nidhi Dwivedi, AIS Noida

Children require direction

Building character is about giving a child a moral compass that works even when there is no teacher or parent watching. To make sense of this, we look at three different types of ‘strength’ a child needs. First, there is work strength, often called ‘grit’. This is the ability to keep going when faced with failure. Second is heart strength, or empathy. Since so much of their life happens behind a screen, kids need to be reminded that there is a real person with feelings on the other side of that comment or text. Finally, there is community strength. This is the shift from thinking ‘What’s in it for me?’ to asking ‘How can I make my school or my neighborhood a better place?’

Deepa Chopra Sharma, AIS Pushp Vihar

Technology is an ally

The USP of ancient teachers – ‘fear’- has long crossed its expiry date. Participation in projects, debates, and camaraderie are the new game changers that instill tolerance, listening, and collaboration. Technology, can become an ally in character formation. Exposure to global and social causes teaches children empathy. Students learn that leadership is about staying true to your principles, and success is achieved through integrity and responsibility. The 21st century classroom might look like a scene from science fiction, but the core element is still human bonding.

Sudipta Chakraborty, AIS Raipur

Guidance over punishment

The classroom environment plays a vital role in character development. Group activities help children learn cooperation, turn-taking, and respect for others. Simple classroom responsibilities, such as arranging toys or helping a friend, encourage a sense of responsibility and confidence. Through guided interactions, children learn how to express themselves and resolve conflicts peacefully. Gentle correction and positive reinforcement help children understand right and wrong. Encouraging good behaviour through appreciation builds self-esteem and promotes positive choices.

Komal Tageja, AIS Saket

Instilling values never ends

We need serious effort for the students to become children of high moral standing, who live an honest, fair, and noble life with integrity. Seeds of collaboration and respect, discipline and punctuality will lay the foundation for the child’s strong moral roots and can, therefore, be the embodiment of good character. Most importantly, this needs to be done at both teachers’ and parents’ end continuously. There can be different ways to build character among students - be a role model for them, show ways to practice moral values in real life, acknowledge their good behaviour, and have effective and clear communication.

Palak Goyal, AIS Vasundhara 1

Inclusive education is key

My experience taught me that students with autism often communicate through behaviour. So, I began observing what their expressions conveyed - fear or frustration. Creating routines and safe environments helped students develop self-control, responsibility, and trust. This can be seen in small successes like patience and verbalising emotions. Character building is most effective when supported by technology and structured methodologies rather than conventional discipline. When education embraces neurodiversity, autistic students gain resilience, maturity, and ethical awareness, showing inclusive education’s true value.

Sharmishtha Basu, AIS VYC Lucknow

Encourage diversity

As Martin Luther Jr wisely said, “Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” Schools promoting cultural awareness and inclusivity help students grow into tolerant and open-minded citizens. Practical solutions to build character in the 21st century classroom include integrating social, emotional learning into curriculum. This promotes service-learning projects and creates safe spaces for reflection and dialogue. Simple and mindful practices like peer mentoring, restorative discipline, and regular classroom check-ins can make a meaningful difference.

Veera Pandey, Amitasha Noida

All the experiences shared on page 3-4 are extracts from the winning essays penned by teachers as part of the eighth essay writing competition conducted under the guidance of Chairperson, Amity Group of Schools & RBEF, Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan, on the special occasion of Teachers’ Day 2026.