85-year-old Math teacher sells activity sheets to raise funds for COVID relief

She created a website called Maths Funds India where she sells math activity worksheets to collect funds for citizens infected by Covid 19. “Maths has been my passion and I would like to use that as a platform to achieve my goals. A few months ago, CBSE had recommended integrating art with every subject in its curriculum. Art need not have the usual connotation that it is visual arts or performing arts. We can include art in Mathematics — to be able to handle problem-solving skills efficiently, to be able to see patterns in numbers and shapes and to be able to use memory skillfully. I am someone who always thinks out of the box. I decided to give it a try and made different fun activity worksheets. While discussing this with one of my friends, she suggested the idea of a website. That is how Math Funds India was born. Whatever money I get from selling activity worksheets, I donated it to PM CARES Fund. In a time like this, we have to stand together and help one another in our way,” Saroja says proudly.

Saroja loves to make Mathematics accessible to students in easy ways based on activities. From a teacher to an academic director to a consultant, Saroja’s career has been dedicated to improving how Mathematics is taught to children. “Activities in Mathematics can involve drawing, colouring, cutting, and pasting. The idea is to help students develop art and mathematical skills concurrently. Activity sheets presented here do not focus on drill or drab calculations, nor is there a need to use formulae from textbooks. They are mostly real-life experiences and help children to develop problem-solving skills. At the end of the worksheet there is a reflection section which would leave the student with food for further thought,” describes the award-winning maths teacher. Saroja was also part of Discovery Channel’s show Bharat Ke Mahaveer, an initiative in association with UN in India and NITI Aayog, that recognises India’s unsung selfless heroes who have gone out of their way to help those in need during the pandemic.

She has authored numerous math books for different age groups, that have been used in several schools all over India. The 85-year-old tells us that the response to her website has been overwhelming. “Now, I hosting skill-based online mathematics workshops for students and teachers. It is a new experience for me.”