Penamoli

From my earliest volunteering experiences to becoming a fully qualified teacher, I have learnt that inclusion is not just a policy—it is a mindset, a practice and a commitment to seeing every child. Working with children like M. and A. has shown me that learning becomes meaningful when it is accessible, celebrated, and owned by the child. It is in the quiet, tender moments of connection that the true magic of education comes alive. In 2019, I started volunteering at a school, and in 2020, despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, I continued my journey in the school environment, assisting at different schools and gaining broader experience in supporting children with diverse needs. By 2021, I became a teaching assistant, gaining first-hand experience in classrooms and learning how to connect with children in meaningful ways. Two children, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. I worked briefly with M. in Year 3, and then moved to Reception to support A., a child who initiall...

I still remember that day, almost like it happened yesterday. It was 2001 , and I had just started my career as a broadcast journalist a year earlier. Weekends were rare luxury, precious little pockets of freedom. One of those once-in-a-blue-moon weekends, I volunteered with a friend at an orphanage in Klang, Malaysia. I didn’t know what to expect—I just wanted to spend a few hours with the children. The place was simple, quiet, full of little sparks of curiosity. And then I met him—a little boy whose presence, gentle and steady, immediately pulled me in. I was wearing my freshwater pearl bracelet that day. I don’t know why, but when he reached out, touched the bracelet, and held my hand tightly, it felt like he was sending me a message without words. He looked like he was five years old—but I later learned he was actually 15 . That moment taught me how differently the world can be experienced, how age, appearance, or expectations don’t always match what a child can do or how they f...

Illustrated by Teynmoli Subramaniam using Canva AI To,  2Y, 2024–2025 with love. For the class who made every day an adventure— and taught me as much as I taught you. Go and grow, my wonders.  (First draft written in July, 2025) Deep in the heart of Fernwood Forest, under the rustling leaves and tall oak trees, a busy badger was putting the finishing touches on her colorful display board. Tiny starry lights twinkled softly, like little sparks in her dark, shiny eyes. She let out a happy sigh that curled through the warm underground air. After an hour of mounting the pictures and trimming the edges, she leaned back against the warm wall, stroking her fur—a mix of deep inky grey and soft silver white, like the sky at dusk. It swished softly under her paw as she moved like the hush of leaves on a still autumn night -warm and worn with wisdom. A rectangular pair of glasses perched on her nose—occasionally slipping to the tip - as she surveyed her glowing classroom burrow, a cosy...

  How Learning Has Changed in an Inclusive World Every day in my classroom, I am reminded of one simple truth: No two minds think the same way. Some children learn by listening, some by seeing, some by doing—and some by simply feeling their way through the world in ways even adults sometimes struggle to understand. When I look around my classroom, I see children with different strengths, challenges, hopes, fears, and ways of making sense of things. And I often find myself wondering: What is happening in the mind of each child? For one child, a sound may feel too loud. For another, a single instruction may feel like a puzzle. For another, a storybook may open a doorway into imagination. For another, a simple routine may bring comfort and safety. Their minds are not “better” or “worse”—they are simply different, each with its own rhythm, needs, and brilliance. Learning Has Changed — And So Must We Classrooms today are not the same as the ones many of us grew up in. Learning is no lon...

The last time I wrote was on the 30th of August, as the holiday season drew to a close. Back to school, back to teaching, back to the whirlwind of planning lessons, preparing the smartboard, and navigating the wild, unpredictable energy of the classroom. Some days feel like taming a mini-storm — one minute calm, the next full of questions, chatter, and laughter. Yet, there’s always a certain magic in that chaos. Now, half-term has arrived, bringing a much-needed pause from the everyday rush. Deepavali came at the start of it, and I managed a little marathon of making murukku, coconut candy, and peanut cookies. Mornings were spent sharing treats with neighbors, and though the afternoons were quiet with no visitors, the evenings were brightened by the cheerful giggles of little ones from around the neighborhood. Still, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for the Deepavalis back home in Malaysia — the streets glowing with lights, the scent of spices and sweets drifting from every home...

Hello, you. Yes, you — the one with the pencil in your hand, the practice paper on your desk, and maybe a few butterflies in your tummy. September is almost here. That means your 11+ exam is nearly here too. And guess what? You’re more ready than you think. This is your message — your reminder — that you've been working hard, learning, growing, and giving it your best. That matters more than anything. You’ve Learned a Lot Already Think about how far you’ve come: You’ve tackled tricky maths problems. You’ve cracked codes in verbal reasoning. You’ve trained your brain to spot patterns and solve puzzles. You’ve stayed focused, even when it wasn’t easy. You didn’t give up. That’s something to be proud of. “What if I get nervous?” It’s totally normal to feel nervous. Everyone does — even adults before big days. Here’s a little secret: Nerves just mean you care. And when you care, you try. And when you try, you grow. That’s what this is really all about. If you feel worried, try this:...