Teacher - Room 14
Sengodi Madhavan
Kia ora, I'm Sengodi.
I am originally from India and have been living in New Zealand for over 17 years. I hold a Master’s degree in Microbiology and previously worked in the research field at Lincoln University, specialising in animal science and endocrinology. It was during my time in research that my passion for teaching began to blossom, taking root and growing stronger each day. I later pursued teacher education at the University of Waikato in 2020. From trading test tubes for textbooks, I started as a relief teacher at Berkley in 2021 and have been teaching full-time since 2022.
What guides my teaching in Room 14 (and what this means for your child):
- Every student in my class is valued equally.
- I strongly believe in the science of teaching and learning and take students’ developmental stages seriously. At this age, the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for reasoning and impulse control, is still developing, so students are often guided more by emotion than logic. I do not see students as “good” or “bad,” but as learners who are developing emotional/social regulation at different rates. For this reason, my primary focus at the start of the year is building strong, positive relationships so students feel safe, supported, and confident coming to school. If you have an emotionally upset child any day, please feel free to contact me — no concern is too small or too complex.
- My goal is to help students grow into individuals who are ready to face challenges at high school and beyond. I want them to develop a strong sense of identity grounded in values, alongside strategies that help them navigate challenges in learning and in life.
- Academically, I believe that knowledge alone is an accumulation of facts, while wisdom is gained from making connections between them. In Room 14, we integrate learning across areas such as literacy, mathematics, social sciences, and te reo Māori, creating what I often describe as a “web of knowledge.” We look for patterns, connections, and moments of curiosity and awe. At this stage, the learning process itself is more important than grades, and my aim is to make that process meaningful, enjoyable, and intrinsically motivating.
Who am I outside the classroom?
On a personal note, I live in Hillcrest with my husband and our two children, along with our dog, chickens, ducks, and fish. As a family, we enjoy hatching birds together - “Some of the happiest moments come from the smallest, newest beginnings,” a joy I love to share with my students. I have brought hatched birds to school before, and I may do the same this year so students can observe and spend time with them. I also enjoy listening to podcasts, playing board and card games with my family, and love solving jigsaw puzzles.