It is the exam season in schools. Ms. Reva, the Hindi teacher noticed some students from her class were feeling overwhelmed with their assignments and study materials. They seemed confused about where to focus their efforts, so to help them she decided to tell them a little story.
Ms. Reva gathered the class and shared a story about a village, that was hit by a big storm. The villagers were worried about many things—some about their homes, others about their farms. They were all panicking and running here and there. Avika’s house had a room on the terrace, but it was not made of brick, so it could get destroyed in this storm. Avika’s mother asked her to get the most important things and come down. Now, Avika had a lot of stuff in the room, but she had to decide, so she picked up her school bag, her favourite toys and her diary. When she looked out of her home, she realised that others should also decide what is most important to them at this moment and then take care of that thing rather than running here and there. So, Avika encouraged everyone to prioritize what mattered most: safety, shelter, and food. She helped the villages to get organized into teams, addressed their biggest concerns, and successfully weathered the storm.
Inspired by Avika’s wisdom, Ms. Reva asked her students to think about which subjects, assignments and projects they must prioritize. She handed out sticky notes and asked each student to write down their subjects and topics. Once everyone was done, they posted their notes on a board.
Next, Ms. Reva guided them through a prioritization exercise:
- Identify Goals: She asked, “What do you want to achieve in each subject?” Students shared their goals, like passing an exam or completing a project.
- Assess Importance: They grouped the subjects by how crucial they were for their upcoming exams, placing the most important ones at the top.
- Consider Urgency: The students discussed which assignments were due soonest. The most urgent tasks were moved to the front of the board.
- Collaborate: Ms. Reva encouraged students to work in pairs to create a study plan based on their priorities.
- Stay Flexible: She reminded them that priorities might change, so they should review their plans regularly.
By the end of this discussion, the students had a clear roadmap of what to focus on first. Just like the villagers prepared for the storm, the students felt more confident and ready to tackle their studies. Prioritizing helped them see the bigger picture and manage their time effectively.
