Approaching Solutions

Teachers who go beyond the syllabus to impart life lessons influenced by the subjects they teach, deserve to be remembered and admired not just as Teachers of syllabus, but as Teachers for life.

A mathematics teacher noticed her new batch of students were restless and irritated unable to solve the given sums. The following day, she asked students to keep their books aside. Instead, she handed each of them a printed sheet.

She explained that what they were about to attempt was known as Sudoko puzzle- ("Su" meaning number and "doku" meaning single) popularised in Japan by Maki Kaji of Nikoli.

Sudoku is not about arithmetic, but about logic. It requires placing digits from 1-9 into a grid, ensuring each number appears only once in every row, column, and 3x3 block.

Soon there was pin drop silence. The same students, who were yesterday seemed anxious and disengaged, were now deeply involved. In the middle of the class, a message arrived from the principal’s office. The teacher read it and smiled.

When the bell rang, students requested more time. She responded gently. “I will be taking the next class as well. The P.T teacher is absent today, and I have been asked to cover. What you are doing is a form of exercise- only this is for the mind.” She added, “Sudoku is considered a powerful brain exercise. Its simplicity, portability, and ability to sharpen memory, concentration and logical thinking make it a daily practice for millions.”

After some time, as few students completed the puzzle, she wrote on board: “APPROACHING SOLUTIONS”. She asked them to pause and listen. “Yesterday most of you felt anxious trying to solve mathematical problems. Today, you solved a problem again-but with completely different approach. What changed?”.

She continued, “it is the puzzle mindset- the ability to approach a challenge with curiosity rather than fear. When you see a problem as something to explore, rather than something to escape, the mind becomes calm and creative.

She paused, allowing the thought to settle. “The way you approached this puzzle is not limited to a classroom exercise. It is a life lesson. The patience, the trial the error, the willingness to begin again- these are not just skills, they are therapies for the mind.” Each small success within the puzzle created momentum. Each correct placement encouraged the next attempt.

“Life” she said can also be lived this way- not as senses of overwhelming obstacles, but as a collection of solvable pieces”. There is no single right way to live. Each journey is different.  What matters is to begin- somewhere and move forward, one step at a time. Challenges will arise See them as pieces of a larger puzzle. A set back is not an end: it is a necessary step in developing resilience.

Complete one piece, and the next begins to reveal itself. Celebrate small progress- it carries you forward. Be self-deciphered- a combination of self (oneself) and deciphered (to find the meaning of something difficult to understand). Learn to interpret what feels complex through your own effort and awareness.

A life lesson is not merely information gained. It is a realization- often shaped through experience that transforms how we respond to life. It deepens understanding, strengthening resilience and nurtures growth. Let puzzle solving become a daily discipline, not just in paper but in thought.

The Approach makes the solution hence shift your inner stance: From being a Problem Maker to becoming a Pattern Finder.