Sonika Parashar
Areas of Interest & Expertise
- Curriculum Design and Development
- Pedagogy and Assessment of Curricular Areas
- Language in Education
- Language Teaching and Learning
- Classroom Discourse
- Teacher Professional Development
- Inclusive Education and Children with Learning Difficulties
- Mindfulness in Education for Socio-emotional Development
- Role of Arts in Education
- Theatre in Education
- Multilingual Education
Biography
Sonika Parashar believes that education is a holistic experience and as a teacher educator, she is always looking for interconnections of schooling with life.
She has experience in pre-service teacher education, curriculum development, language in education, pedagogy of different curricular areas and their integration, building a classroom culture, teaching children with specific educational needs and guidance and counselling.
She has actively started dialogues on how to teach language, especially ESL, for communication using different engaging activities considering the interest, aptitude, attitude, background and readiness of learners.
As part of her research, she has developed teaching strategies for learners from disadvantaged groups for acquiring basic competence in English. She is further interested in teacher professional development and use of mindfulness in education.
She has been a Gold medalist both in her undergraduate degree BElEd from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and in postgraduate degree MEd from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. She has received academic awards every year for academically leading her batch in all four years of graduation.
In addition, she has been awarded the title of Best Student in Four Years (Bachelor of Elementary Education). She is also a member of Golden Key International Honour Society.
She has further completed an MA in English from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance and Counselling from the Institute of Counsellor Training Research and Consultancy, Delhi.
She has previously worked with The Heritage School, Rohini, Delhi for more than two years.
She has also worked as a resource person in a DIET in Delhi, interned in NCERT, volunteered in NGOs such as Vidya Bhawan Education Society, Udaipur, Rajasthan, Vidya Aranya School, Palolem, Goa and CSR Initiative ‘Teach India’ of The Times of India.
In her personal time, she enjoys travelling, dancing, sketching, painting, reading and swimming.
Courses
Introduction to Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
The central role of curriculum and pedagogy in becoming a teacher
Language in Education
Become critically aware of the role language plays in education
- Research: ‘Teachers Writing for Children and its Impact on their Classroom Practices’: July 2023-Present
- KathaVana – Annual Bilingual Children’s Literature Festival: July 2018- Present. https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/kathavana
- Student-led Ed-zine ‘Chalk Out’ (Faculty Coordinator): June 2020-March 2023. https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/chalk-out
- Community Connect – Teaching English to community children (Faculty Coordinator): August 2019 — March 2020
- Research: ‘A Study of Development and Efficacy of Teaching Strategies for Acquiring Basic Competence in English Language for Learners from Disadvantaged Group and Weaker Section of Society’: July 2017 – July 2018
- Project: ‘A Study of Perception of Primary School Teachers about Child-centred Approach to Education’: July 2012 – May 2013
Journal Articles
- Parashar, S. (2023). Making children’s literature accessible to all. DCPCR’S Children First Journal on Children’s Lives, 2, 113 – 121. https://dcpcr.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/DCPCR/generic_multiple_files/dcpcr_journal_3rd_issue.pdf
- Parashar, S. (2022). Language learning and cultural connections. Language and Language Teaching. 11(21), 9 – 19. https://llt.org.in/issue-21/
Book Review
- Parashar, S. (Accepted). Finding childhood under the neem tree. Bookbird.
Magazine Articles
- Parashar, S. (2023). KathaVana – Creating a space for stories and storytelling. Learning Curve. 16, 62 – 65. https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/publications/2023/magazine/learning-curve-issue-16-storytelling-as-a-pedagogical-approach
- Parashar, S. & Periodi, U. (2023). Ingredients for the recipe called ‘KathaVana’ – Facilitating a children’s literature festival (Invited article). Samuhik Pahal. 3(7), 18 – 22. https://issuu.com/wiprofoundation/docs/samuhik_pahal_vol_3_issue_7
- Parashar, S. (2023). Childhoods across Cultures – The Case of K‑entertainment. Chalk Out‑a student-led edzine: Changing Childhoods, 5, 28 – 29.
- Akhila P., Mohammed, A., Nimkar, J., Nissie, J. S., Sriram, J. A. & Parashar, S.* (Eds.). (2023) Chalk out‑a student-led edzine: Changing childhoods, 5. Azim Premji University.
- Giri, S. K., Jain, J., Maskey, V., Perlapu, D., Vaidya, R., Mathur, R. & Parashar, S.* (Eds.). (2022). Chalk out‑a student-led edzine: Teaching tales, learning lore — II, 4. Azim Premji University.
- Giri, S. K., Jain, J., Maskey, V., Perlapu, D., Vaidya, R., Mathur, R. & Parashar, S.* (Eds.). (2022). Chalk out‑a student-led edzine: Teaching tales, learning lore — I, 3. Azim Premji University.
- Parashar, S. (2022). Experience and exploration in learning to teach. Teacher Plus. 20(7), 44 – 47. https://www.teacherplus.org/experience-and-exploration-in-learning-to-teach/
- Barmecha, M., Kalluri, M., Kolkunda, J., Ramachandra, M., Mathur, R. & Parashar, S. (Eds.).* (2021) Chalk out‑a student-led edzine: Care in the times of corona, 2. Azim Premji University.
- Barmecha, M., Jagadish, L., Kalluri, M., Kolkunda, J., Ramachandra, M., Mathur, R., Oza, V. & Parashar, S.* (Eds.) (2020) Chalk out‑a student-led edzine: Online, but is it in-line?, 1. Azim Premji University.
- Parashar, S. (2018). The greener grass on the other side. Taleem, 28 – 30.
*Names in alphabetical order with student names before faculty names. All editors have contributed equally.
Presentations (Excluding Within-University Engagements):
- Parashar, S. (2023, September). Teachers Writing for Children: Implications for Classroom [Speaker]. In-service professional development session for government school teachers of Karnataka — KathaVana 2023. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2023, May). Teaching a Language [Guest Speaker]. Teacher Professional Development Workshop for School Teachers. Vidyodaya Adivasi School, Gudalur, Tamil Nadu.
- Parashar, S. (2023, April). Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Tracking of Student Progress [Guest Speaker]. Workshop for Kendriya Vidyalaya School Teachers, Heads and Principals. Zonal Institute of Education and Training, Mysore, Karnataka.
- Parashar, S. (2023, February). Emergent Literacy, Reading Skills and Children’s Literature [Guest Speaker]. Workshop on Foundational Literacy for Kendriya Vidyalaya School Teachers, Heads and Principals. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2023, January, 13). Bringing literature into language classrooms: Exploring the impact of short-term teacher professional development workshops [Paper Presentation]. Annual Research Conclave 2023. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2023, January, 12). Making Children’s Literature Accessible to All [Poster Presentation]. Annual Research Conclave 2023. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2022, December). Nurturing Children’s Response to Literature: Role of Teachers and Caregivers [Speaker]. In-service professional development session for government school teachers of Karnataka — KathaVana 2022. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2022, November). Engaging in the Classroom and Beyond [Guest Speaker]. Teacher Connect. In-service professional development session for alumni working as school teachers. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2022, June 28). The Praxis of Practice [Poster Presentation]. Summer School on Teacher Education. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
- Parashar, S. (2022, June 2). Beginning to Write at an Early Age. [Paper Presentation]. Reimagining and Reshaping Early Childhood Care and Education in the New Normal. AECED-MC Early Years Virtual World Conference 2022.
- Parashar, S. (2022, March). Literature and Children’s Lived Experiences [Speaker]. In-service professional development session for Karnataka District Institute Members of Azim Premji Foundation.
- Parashar, S. (2021, August). Developing Writing Skills [Guest Speaker]. Workshop on Foundational Literacy for Kendriya Vidyalaya School Teachers and Principals. Zonal Institute of Education and Training, Mumbai.
- Parashar, S. (2020, September). National Education Policy, 2020: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy [Panelist]. Webinar on National Education Policy, 2020. District Institute of Education and Training, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Parashar, S. (2018, January). Teaching of English [Guest Speaker]. District Institute of Education and Training, Rajender Nagar, Delhi.
- Parashar, S. (2017, November 30). Innovative Pedagogic Practices in Facilitating Teaching- Learning Process in ESL Classroom. [Paper Presentation]. National Seminar on Innovative Practices in Teaching and Learning of English Language in School Education. State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi.