Learning from Nature and India’s History: A Reflection on Today’s Session - Talat Bano

In today’s session, we began with the Good School Alliance anthem, followed by the first session conducted by Siya Khanna Ma’am, who introduced us to the book My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. She explained the chapter beautifully and engagingly.  Ma’am also shared her love for reading and told us that she started reading at the age of one!

In the chapter, Dodo chose nature over the party. This choice helped me understand that our love for nature is so deep that it cannot always be expressed in words. 

The Second Session was conducted by Jugjiv Singh Sir, who introduced us to Highway to Swades, written by Bhairavi Jani, an author who loves exploring India’s history. During the session, Sir told us about India’s first power.

This session taught me that learning is not just about reading books; it is also about understanding our past and learning from it. 

Thank you!

Talat Bano
Sunbeam School, Ballia

Finding Joy and Learning from Everyday Experiences – My Family and Other Animals - Gaurav Singh

Reading Reflection – My Family and Other Animals

Today’s reading session with Brinda Ghosh Ma’am was really interesting. While reading My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, I learned about the preparations for a family party and some unexpected incidents that occurred during the day.

This reading made me realise that even ordinary daily experiences can become interesting when we observe them carefully. I also learned to stay patient when unexpected situations arise and handle them with a positive attitude. The author’s humorous way of describing small incidents made the reading enjoyable and helped me understand the importance of observation and creativity.

Overall, it was an enriching reading experience that encouraged me to observe the world around me and learn from everyday life.

Gaurav Singh

Class IXA

Sunbeam School, Ballia

Curiosity, Habits, and Learning: Reflections from the Good School Session - Sunbeam School Ballia

In today’s reading session with Brinda Ma’am, we read the chapter “A Treasure of Spiders” from My Family and Other Animals. The chapter beautifully shows how curiosity and close observation of nature can turn even small discoveries into exciting learning experiences. Listening to the discussion made me appreciate how passion and patience can help us understand the world around us more deeply.

Along with the reading, Maira shared her review of the book Atomic Habits. Her explanation about how small habits can lead to big changes really caught my attention and motivated me to read the book myself. It made me realise that improving ourselves does not always require big actions; even small and consistent efforts can make a difference. Further, Jugjiv Sir spoke about the importance of physical movement and the development of good daily habits. His words reminded me that discipline, healthy routines, and staying active are essential for both our mind and body.

Overall, today’s session was not just about reading a chapter, but about learning how curiosity, habits, and physical well-being together shape a better lifestyle and a stronger personality.
Akanksha Rai

Today I attended the Good School session. First, Brinda Ma’am had a brief discussion about superstitions, during which many students shared various superstitions they had heard about. After that, the session with Manisha Ma’am began. It started with Maira’s book review of Atomic Habits. I have already read this book, and I think it is amazing.

Then Manisha Ma’am conducted a short quiz based on reading reflections. After that, she told a very interesting story about a school surrounded by a deep forest. The story was very engaging and enjoyable.

Overall, the session was amazing and very interesting.
Ishika Singh

My Good School 25th January 2026

My Good School began with administrative discussions about attendance and exam preparation, followed by a literary analysis of a passage that describes characters and settings in a story. Book reading: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell and दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ with Manisha Khanna. The group explored themes of haunting and memorable experiences through various characters, including discussions about pantomime and cultural performances. Part one of the session concluded with a reading and reflection, during which students shared personal experiences and discussed the importance of reading and education, particularly in rural areas.