GSA Calendar March 2026

 My Good School

March 1, 2026

Book Reading - What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
Book Reading - दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ                                  

March 8, 2026

Book Reading - My Family and Other Animals
Book Reading - दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ

March 15, 2026

The YES workshop on Communication with Kartik Bajoria. We aim to inspire young minds, helping them navigate their dreams and aspirations as they embrace their goals. 

Book Reading - What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

March 22, 2026

Book Reading - My Family and Other Animals 
Book Reading - दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ

March 29, 2026

Book Reading- What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
Book Reading - दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ

The Teachers Academy

Learning Forward Saturday
The Professional Learning Program (PLP) with Sandeep Dutt and Brinda Ghosh, ‘Wanted Back Bencher Last Ranker Teacher’ by Kavita Ghosh. We read Chapter 2 and write reflections for The Teachers Academy Blog.

Sandeep Dutt’s Masterclass 
Every Saturday at 5:30 PM: We are reading The Courage To Be Happy by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, a dialogue between a young teacher and a philosopher.

GSA Meetings and Events

GSA Squad 

We review programs and plan for the coming week at 5:30 PM every Monday on Zoom - GSA Coordinators, Volunteers, and Mentors. #JoyOfGiving 

My Good School Retreat 

April 10th -14th, 2026, at Mayoor School Jaipur.

Find out more at www.inYouth.in

Brewing Knowledge Fridays @ The English Book Depot

Join us in celebrating Literature, Art, and Culture at The English Book Depot! Immerse yourself in the magic of reading through our cosy Book Cafe, where unforgettable experiences await. Whether visiting in person or joining via Zoom, connect with a vibrant community of book lovers, authors, and educators—all passionate about the joy of reading. Come, brew your knowledge with us! #BrewingKnowledge

March 6, 2026 - Chandra Jain
March 13, 2026 - Priyannsha
March 20, 2026 - Pooja Marwah
March 27, 2026 - Mahesh Wanole

Read the Good Schools of India Joy of Learning Weekly every Monday at 7:00 AM only at www.GSI.in

A structured approach for writing effective book reviews

 

Kartik Bajoria at the Sunday School

We discussed the impact of the AI Summit in Delhi, which affected traffic and hotel prices. Kartik, a communication expert, led a session on book review writing, emphasising the balance between facts and opinions. He shared a detailed structure for writing reviews, including context, premise, characters, conflict, plot, language, resolution, themes, and conclusion. Participants discussed an excerpt from a book about Rio, highlighting the author’s dream of opening an antique shop and his relationship with Hina. The session also covered the importance of dreams, practical steps for starting a business, and the role of libraries in supporting such endeavours. Ms Brinda Ghosh and Ms Manisha Khanna led a session about learning through stories. Maira Jalan 8th shared her reflections, highlighting the engaging storytelling by Ms Brinda Ghosh and the informative session by Ms Manisha Khanna, which included a story by Ruskin Bond. The discussion emphasised the importance of personal takeaways from reading and reflection, as outlined by James Clear in \” Atomic Habits.\” Maira was encouraged to review the book and share insights. The session concluded with well-wishes for upcoming exams and a reminder to apply the lessons learned.

Key Takeaways

• Balance Fact & Opinion: A good review combines objective facts (plot, characters) with subjective opinions (pacing, style), clearly signalling the latter with phrases like “in my opinion.”

• Uncover Deeper Themes: Look beyond the surface story for the author’s underlying commentary on society, politics, or human nature.

• Use a Standard Structure: Follow a logical flow: Context → Premise → Characters/Conflict → Plot → Execution → Resolution → Themes → Conclusion.

• Title Last: Write the review first, then craft a short (1–3 word), catchy title that teases the content without spoiling it.

Topics

The Why & What of Book Reviews

• Purpose: Deepen personal understanding and help others decide if a book is worth their time.

• Core Principle: Balance fact and opinion.

  • Facts: Objective details (plot, characters, setting).

  • Opinions: Subjective judgments (pacing, style, themes).

• Signal Opinions: Use phrases like “in my opinion” to avoid ambiguity and prevent readers from feeling judged by your views.

A Standard Structure for Reviews

• 1. Context & Premise

  • Context: Brief author background or series history.

  • Premise: A one-sentence summary of the story.

• 2. Characters & Conflict

  • Protagonist: The main character.

  • Antagonist: The opposing force.

  • Conflict: The central challenge (internal or external).

• 3. Plot & Execution

  • Plot: The sequence of events.

  • Execution: Analysis of writing style, language, and pacing.

• 4. Resolution & Themes

  • Resolution: The story’s ending and character outcomes.

  • Themes: The author’s deeper messages (e.g., social commentary, mental health).

• 5. Conclusion

  • A final summary of the book’s value and target audience.

Live Application & Feedback

• Case Study 1: “The Bushel Days” Reflection

  • Feedback: Good factual summary, but lacked personal opinion and analysis.

• Case Study 2: “Talat’s” Reflection

  • Feedback: Overly general praise (“super amazing”) without specific examples or details about the story.

• Case Study 3: “My Good School” Reading

  • Plot: Ryo, an accountant, dreams of opening an antique shop.

  • Conflict: Ryo’s inaction vs. Hina’s proactive ambition (taking classes, planning sales).

  • Catalyst: Librarian Sayuri Komachi challenges Ryo’s “one day” mentality, providing resources to turn his dream into a plan.

Next Steps

• Students: Write a book review using the structure you learned.

• Students: Email reviews (text or photo) to Karthik for feedback.

• Maira Jalan: Prepare a review of James Clear’s Atomic Habits for a future session.

• Kartik: Explore a children’s review section or contest with The Book Review journal.
  
  AI-generated notes by FATHOM, please excuse names and spelling errors.