About

Hari Om!

I am Priya, the teacher for first graders at the Jersey City Balavihar. My association with this cultural association started about 4 years ago when a small mixed age group of kids used to attend Sunday afternoon sessions at the house of one of the members, Siva Uncle, as we call him,  who graciously welcomed us into his house week after week for a whole year. Harshala aunty was my son's teacher at the time - yes, I started off as a parent accompanying her son to help him have a better understanding of where I, as an Indian, come from. Our numbers have gradually grown, we have moved on to a school building to accommodate the growing members and now I am a sevika, very much an active member of the organization enjoying my time teaching the little ones what I can, and in return, learning a lot more from them. I firmly believe in what Angela Schwindt once said -

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about".

It feels wonderful to be back as a teacher for the first graders. I will be assisted in the classroom this year by Ms.Preetha.

Our curriculum for the first graders is Bala Ramayana and we are also learning some bhajans, shlokas and Sanskrit writing this year. I'll try and regularly update this online journal so you can follow whatever we are doing in class every week...