Govt school teacher’s ‘My Slate’ helps young minds learn better

Hyderabad: When some of his students struggled to recognise letters and form simple words, govt school teacher Khetavath Thavrya Nayak refused to dismiss it as just another classroom challenge. Drawing from his own journey as a first-generation learner, he set out to create a simple yet effective learning tool. The result was ‘My Slate', an innovative aid designed to make foundational literacy and numeracy easier for young learners.For Nayak, education was always deeply personal. "I am the first person in my family to receive an education. I studied entirely in govt institutions," he recalls. "Till class 3, I studied in a de-notified tribal school in Narasapur of Narayanakhed, where there was only a single teacher."Those early experiences gave him a first-hand understanding of the difficulties faced by children in govt schools in rural areas, particularly those who are the first in their families to step into a classroom. The idea for ‘My Slate' first took shape in 2014, when Nayak worked as a primary school teacher at MPPS Kusangi village in Tekmal mandal. While teaching young students, he noticed that several struggled with basic reading and writing skills."I observed that some students were unable to grasp lessons easily," he says. "That made me think about creating something that could help them understand letters and numbers more clearly." Determined to find a solution, Nayak approached a local carpenter and explained his idea. The first version of the tool was made of wood, with a laminated sheet displaying the alphabet, vowels and numbers mounted on top. The slate was fitted with a stand so that it could be placed in front of the class while the teacher explained lessons."It made it easier for me to demonstrate concepts, and students could immediately relate to what they saw," he says. Over time, Nayak refined the idea. After his transfer to ZPHS Eerulanagulapally in Ramachandrapuram in 2021, he redesigned the tool into a smaller, portable version, roughly the size of a laptop or a traditional slate. This allowed each student to use it individually.The redesigned board, now known as ‘My Slate', combines alphabet learning, phonetic understanding, number recognition and basic mathematics in a single visual format. At the centre is a grid writing space where students can practise writing letters, words and numbers. Around this area are colourful reference panels displaying alphabets, phonetic sounds, pictures and numbers, helping children quickly connect sounds with words and meanings.The layout allows students to observe, understand and practise at the same time, turning the slate into a compact learning platform. ‘My Slate' encourages children to learn letters, words, numbers and patterns through an activity-based approach, making early learning more engaging. According to Nayak, the tool helps students recognise alphabets quickly, form simple words, practise writing repeatedly and understand basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It also supports learning in Telugu and English and can even be used for adult literacy programmes.The innovation aligns with the goals of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission, which aims to ensure that every child develops essential reading and numeracy skills during the early years of schooling. ‘My Slate' was showcased at Teaching Learning Material (TLM) Melas, district science exhibitions and other academic platforms organised by the school education department. The innovation received several recognitions, and Nayak was also honoured with the district-level best teacher award.In recognition of his work, E Naveen Nicolas, director of school education and state project director of Samagra Shiksha, felicitated Nayak and praised his dedication to improving learning outcomes in govt schools. Nicolas noted that teacher-led innovations such as ‘My Slate' play an important role in strengthening the education system and encouraged educators to explore creative methods that make learning meaningful for every child.For Nayak, the innovation is driven by a simple belief — that no child should feel left behind in the classroom. "My Slate is designed to make learning easier and more enjoyable," he says. "If it helps even a few children overcome their fear of reading and writing, it is worth the effort." In classrooms where resources are often limited, Nayak's initiative shows how a teacher's observation and determination can evolve into a practical solution that benefits many young learners.