Gaurika Gupta teaches Coding and was an IT professional for 10 years prior to becoming a teacher — and she’s one of the Teachers We Love in 2021. You can learn more about her in the interview below, and at The Teacher Marketplace.
Why did you become a teacher?
I always enjoyed teaching. I had volunteered for years to teach in schools and libraries, along with working in IT. Then parents started approaching me for classes and this finally brought me full time into teaching.
What is the funniest moment you’ve experienced a teacher?
Funniest and best moments are ones where I am expecting a particular solution and students come up with different ways of doing the same question. I teach coding and have learned that kids are very creative, and if we teach them coding they create stuff we cannot even think of.
How has the last year affected your students and your teaching approach?
We have switched to online teaching and we all still feel equally connected since we are still coding the way we did in-person. In fact, everyone is happy continuing with the online approach and equally as happy that they do not have to carry their laptops now.
What’s a creative solution you use to keep kids engaged or motivated during COVID?
I like to give students credit and acknowledgement of their achievements. I listen to their solutions and ideas. Giving them a program based on their level of understanding and progressing at their pace works well to maximize engagement. I also employ using small group or 1:1 classes for personalized teaching with effective results.
What resources do you like to use in the classroom or in teaching remotely?
Zoom, Videos, Powerpoint, Coding software, Notes, FlowCharts, and obviously live interaction.
What is your experience with bullying in the classroom?
Give a warning, put the student in the waiting room, and notify the parent.
How do you gauge if your students are succeeding?
The classes are interactive. We discuss a topic, do some example questions on that topic and then give the students questions to apply those concepts and show the solution. This gives the confidence to move ahead. After a few classes we work on a project to show all the concepts working together to get a meaningful output.
What’s a fun thing students don’t know about you?
I love to travel and am always looking for opportunities to explore.
What’s the one book you wish all students would read?
Believe in Yourself by Joseph Murphy.
What is your primary educational goal, and what are you most proud of as a teacher?
My goal is to develop awareness of coding. It feels great when a student opts for Computer Science after doing programs with me. It feels great seeing them participate in competitions and to share their stories. It is wonderful to see how they develop confidence to create and share thoughts on problems because they could relate to how the solution structure might look. Coding is not only about programming but enables logical thinking, which is required in every field.
Meet More Teachers We Love in 2021
“Teachers We Love” in 2021 is a co-production between Parentology and The Teacher Marketplace. To meet more amazing teachers, visit the Teachers We Love section.
Need a Tutor?
The Teacher Marketplace (TTM) is an amazing online resource to find a good tutor for your child, anywhere in the country, at a cost that fits any parent’s budget. Learn more about the company on Parentology.
