11/25/2018 0 Comments The Elephant Rope (Belief)As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life. Potatoes, Eggs, and Coffee BeansOnce upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the boiled eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied. “Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. “Father, what does this mean?” she asked. He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new. “Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “ Moral:In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us. Which one are you?
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11/11/2018 0 Comments A limit of your KindnessRecently Steve had a car accident. So he put his car in the garage to carry out the repair work. Since he had to go to the job daily, he decided that until the car is ready, he will travel by the metro train. One day, he noticed a homeless guy at the train station at night. He felt pity for him, so he gave him some change from his pocket.
The homeless guy thanked him for it. Next day again, he noticed the homeless guy at the same place. This time Steve though to get him something to eat, so he went outside the station and brought him a meal. The homeless guy thanked him for his kindness. But Steve got curious and asked him, “How did you get to this point?” The homeless guy looked up at him and with a smile, he said, “By Showing Love.” Steve didn’t understand it, so he asked him, “What do you mean by that?” The homeless guy replied that “Throughout my whole life, I made sure that everyone was happy. No matter what was going right or wrong in my life, I always helped everyone.” Steve asked him, “Do you regret it?” To which the homeless man replied, “No, It just hurts my soul that the very people I gave the shirt off my back to wouldn’t give me a sleeve of that same shirt when I was in need. Son, It is better to build your own house and invite someone in for shelter than to hand them your bricks while you are building yours. Because one day you will turn around and look at the spot where you had planned to build your house. It will be an empty lot. Then you are the one looking for bricks.” Steve understood what the homeless guy meant and thanked him for the good advice. Moral: Helping others is not a bad thing at all. But Sometimes, while we are helping others, we forget our own problems and needs. One must remember that sometimes sharing is better than giving away. You can do a lot more by being in a strong position instead of bringing yourself into a weaker situation. Courtesy: www.moralstories.org By:Michael Peyton
The world is on fire. In some ways literally. In some ways figuratively. In some ways understandable. And in some ways unfathomable. During natural disasters, political discord, or times of great uncertainty, we desperately look for heroes. Someone to make things better, rescue us, or tell us that everything will be OK. Especially the youngest and most impressionable among us. #TeacherStrongSome of us look to the government. To guide us, to use our precious resources in thoughtful, intelligent ways. To improve the lives of the most unfortunate among us and to be a beacon of hope. Some look inward, to ourselves. We work to be own source of strength, to pull ourselves up and forge our own path. Still others look to entrepreneurs and business leaders to develop new and creative solutions to the world’s problems. To inspire innovation and help us reach our potential through giant leaps in technology and the human spirit. But I’ll tell you who I often look to. I look to teachers. Teachers are heroes. #Teachers Unite Teachers are unsung heroes, the hidden leaders fighting to make the world better through small, measurable actions every single day. They may not wear superhero capes or hold high public office. But they are truly the ones who have the capacity, determination, and intelligence to move provide respite during storms of uncertainty. When disaster strikes, teachers are often the “first responders” for kids who are searching for an explanation. The fact of the matter is that, during times of strife both natural and man-made, the casualties oftentimes extend far beyond the area of impact. Young minds are grasping for answers, for explanations. The classroom becomes both a safe haven and a new type of learning environment in which dedicated educators quickly have to pivot from teaching standards and test prep to explaining how the world works. They assuage fears, boost confidence, and give their students the tools they need to be strong moving forward. Through sheer force of will, teachers know how to get things done when even the most powerful among us seem incapable. They are capable of molding young lives and inspiring to greatness the minds of our future leaders. They cut through the sound and the fury of the outside world and lead by example. #Teachers HelpingTeachers I have seen countless examples of teachers helping their students, families, and other teachers in times of need. Like the teacher who made a mountain of baked goods for refugee kids in the wake of Charlottesville. Not because it would help eradicate hatred, but because it was a small kindness that let fearful kids know that they were seen and that they were loved. While it’s easy to think that these simple actions, that these small gestures of love might not go very far in solving the world’s most pressing problems, I’d argue that progress is built on a foundation of tiny, everyday moments of grace. That the child whose teacher helps him build confidence in the face of discrimination might grow up to become a great civic leader. That a student who doesn’t like reading may be inspired to a lifetime of learning by a dedicated educator who saw potential and refused to give up. That a young girl who thinks the world might not be as open to her as it is to others could, given the proper encouragement by her teachers, kick down doors for herself and others. #Teachers Care Teachers change the world because they change lives. Sometimes one life at a time, one day at a time. And then those lives go on to change other lives. And then those lives go on to push the world slowly forward. It’s easy to forget that progress, that relief to suffering, doesn’t come all at once. Oftentimes it comes slowly, if at all. It’s even easier to think that when horrible things happen, we should give up hope. That we may as well fall back on despair, not knowing what we can do or how we can make a difference. But in those moments of darkness when we are looking for someone to save us, we need look no farther than to the teachers we encounter every day. If we follow their example of how they help one another and then replicate their kindness, the world might get better just a little less slowly. And when we fail, which we will time and time again, we can rest assured that teachers will always be there to pick up our slack. No challenge can defeat them. No roadblock can intimidate them. No hurricane can stand in their way. Courtesy:www.weareteachers.com 10/21/2018 0 Comments Be an Inspiring TeacherBy: Coaching Life Lessons
A teacher with the ability to inspire students is the type of teacher who will be long remembered. Inspiring students is integral to ensuring their success and encouraging them to fulfill their potential. Students who are inspired by their teachers can accomplish amazing things, and that motivation almost always stays with them. That’s because inspiration is one of the most important gifts a teacher can provide students. A teacher that inspires is a role model, an influence that goes far beyond academic achievement. If you want to be a great educator, you must connect with your pupils and reach them on multiple levels, because the best teachers are committed to their students both inside and outside the classroom. So how does a teacher take the leap from educator to inspiring role model? Becoming a role modelThe inspiring educator strives to spark motivation in all students in a way that spurs academic achievement and galvanizes success via motivational influence. As a teacher, have you been inspired to work harder or pursue a particular goal? Were you inspired to become an educator by one of your own great teachers? Inspiration can take many forms, from helping a pupil through the academic year and their short-term goals, to guiding them towards their future career. Years after graduation, many working professionals will still cite a particular teacher as the one who fostered their love of what they currently do and attribute their accomplishments to that educator. Inspiring teachers can be the thing of movies, like “Stand and Deliver” — the story of Jaime Escalante, a high school teacher who successfully inspired his dropout prone students to learn calculus. But great teachers are not born. One can learn to be an inspiring teacher. To realize that goal, teachers need to aspire to inspire. Becoming an influence in a student’s life begins by forging strong relationships. In doing so, educators are able to affect virtually every aspect of their students’ lives, teaching them the important life lessons that will help them succeed beyond term papers and standardized tests. Learning to inspire Great teachers are remembered not for the knowledge they impart but for the way they encourage and lift their students’ achievement, not just in a subject, but also in the important skills of living a fulfilling life. How one teaches can be taken to a new level with the proper instruction. Teaching can bring the highest degree of satisfaction to oneself and their students. These skills include happiness; inspiration, compassion, curiosity and resilience are essential for both the learner and the teacher. Inspirational objectives A great teacher makes learning fun, as stimulating, engaging lessons are pivotal to a student’s academic success. Some students who are more prone to misbehavior, truancy or disengagement are more dependent on an engaging teacher. Making your classroom an exciting environment for learning will hold the students’ fascination, and students learn best when they are both challenged and interested. It’s part of motivating students, which may not be easy, but which will benefit students immeasurably in the long run. A professional development course can bring research to inform along with techniques and activities to imbue your delivery of required curriculum with the essence of greatness. Part of the process of becoming a motivational teacher can begin with the following:
Courtesy: https://dominicancaonline.com By: by Editorial Team Reading success stories of greatest professionals stimulates motivational enzyme within us and we all wish to emulate them on path of success. Exactly with this aim we are presenting you series of success stories of Professionals who have carved niche in their own way and have become icons of Management Fraternity. Following above you will read today motivational story of our beloved President and Missile Man of India, Late Dr. Abdul Kalam: The Man Who Taught Us to Be Human First!! Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam usually referred as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India for the term 2002 to 2007. Popularly known as the People's President he was the chief brain behind India's attainment of the nuclear status in the global arena and was known as the ‘Missile Man of India’ for his work on development of ballistic missiles and space rocket technology. Last year it was noticed the presence of condolence messages about the demise of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam on banners held at tea shops and auto rickshaws. At first, it was surprising and wonderful that why shop owners are displaying his picture and messages. In a country where hardly common men and women are aware about who the current President is, what is it that made these people showcase love and affection on his death? It was definitely not a political cause as Kalam was not a political leader. It was because this man touched every heart in a big and meaningful way. It was on his third visit to Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong on July 27th, 2015 when the former President and world renowned scientist collapsed while giving lecture to the students. An ineffaceable mark is created in the minds of millions of Indians by our “People’s President” the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Very few eminent public figures that history has witnessed had created such a deep influence even after their demise. This magical name sends an electrical signal to every soul in our country who wants to be truly successful. He always preferred to converse with people directly instead of using the web or the electronic media. He was very less aware of protocols and security measures. He loved spending quality time amongst students in various schools, colleges and universities to interact with them and to inspire them to be better individuals when they grow up. There are numerous experiences of people who worked by the side of this man who has been deeply motivated by his honest care, affection and thoughtfulness. It was once, under a very tight project launch a scientist working under him requested an early leave as he was supposed to take his son to an exhibition. Engrossed in his work, it was three hours late when the scientist realised that he forgot keeping his parental duties. Going back home with a guilty heart he was amazed to know that his son was not at home. Instead he was at his exhibition. It was Dr Kalam, who on noticing that the scientist was not leaving his work, thought to keep his father’s promise to the child by taking him to the exhibition personally. It clearly shows how much he valued his men. Because it is men who makes or breaks an organisation. Small instances like refusing to sit on a chair offered to him on a seminar at IIT Varanasi just because its size was bigger than the rest shows how much he believed in being equal. Personally sending a handwritten thank you card to a kid who sketched his portrait inspired by his book “Wings of Fire” shows how polite he was to respond and acknowledge every good and positive deed. He was one of those respected souls in this country whose contribution to our society as a scientist, leader and President has been most prominent. Once his terms as a President were over, Kalam visited various reverend institutes and universities present in India as their visiting professor. He loved sharing knowledge and motivating people towards the big picture of life. Early childhood and education - It was unknown to parents Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma that one day their son will become the first citizen of India. Dr A.P.J Kalam served the country as its 11th President since year 2002 till 2007. The pure heart of the child got its nurture and care in the humble surroundings of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Born in a poor family Kalam soon understood that he has to sponsor his own education by all means. From a very early age Kalam started earning his and his families living by distributing newspapers. However, money never lured him away from gaining knowledge. His ever growing thirst to gain knowledge compelled him to complete his studies successfully. In the Institute of Technology in Madras after studying aerospace engineering he graduated in the year 1960 after which he joined in the DRDO or the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defense Research and Development Organization as their scientist. Career- This multi dimensional persona was a well known scientist exhibiting enormous and endless for science and technological research and development. It was he who made our country nuclear in its truest sense. It was in the year 1974, under the supervision of Dr Kalam, India underwent its first nuclear test. Next came the Pokhran –II in the year 1988. It was through these nuclear tests Dr Kalam showed the world India’s position and power in nuclear technology. Awards and achievements - His works awarded him three renowned awards from the Govt. of India namely- Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Bharat Ratna. In the year 1997, Kalam was also awarded with the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. He was awarded the Veer Savarkar Award in the year 1980 and the Ramanujan Award in the year 2000.From 40 universities all across the world, Kalam received honorary doctorates. Works – He was the proud author of numerous inspirational books like “India 2010”, “Ignited Minds”, “Mission India”, “The Luminous Sparks”, “Wings of Fire” and “Inspiring Thoughts”. His life, work and beliefs are filled with examples and inspirations. He will continue to inspire us forever. And this is the real reason why people from all the sections of the society spontaneously shown love for this great human being on his sad demise at IIM Shillong on 27th July 2015. May This Noble & Pious Soul rest in Peace!! Mother India is proud of you ‘Sir’ forever and wishes to have sons like you!! Courtesy: www.mbarendezvous.com Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s 13 Inspiring Quotes on TeachersBeing a teacher himself, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam realized the important responsibility all teachers had not only to their students and to the subjects they specialized in, but also to the more higher purpose of unbiased knowledge and the development of an honest and strong personality.
A teacher should be able to bring out the best in a person, not only academically but also on a personality basis. Since education is not just limited to books, Kalam believed that a teacher should be able to make a human being who is powered by knowledge and learning. Some quotes in this regard are: “Teaching is a noble profession that shapes the character, caliber and future of an individual. If people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour to me”.
These are people who rose from humble beginnings and personal struggles to achieve world-renowned success, and all thanks to having great teachers. If you think that even your smallest actions as a teacher can’t make a difference, these 4 stories should convince you otherwise. Les Brown: A Moment of ClarityLes Brown is one of the world’s foremost motivational speakers and thought leaders on self-improvement and goal-setting. However, it wasn’t always that way for him. Born in Liberty City, Miami on the floor of an abandoned building, he has known struggle and hardship his entire life. Academically, Les was a struggling student from the get-go. The story goes that during his school days he was labelled “educable mentally handicapped” by the academic intelligentsia of his day and placed back from 6th grade to 5th grade. To make matters worse, he had a twin brother who was exceptionally bright and gifted, and as such Les became commonly referred to by his peers as the “DT”—the “dumb twin.” One day a teacher asked him to come up and solve a problem on the chalkboard, but Les refused and said that he couldn’t. “Of course you can,” the teacher responded encouragingly. “Young man, come up here and solve this problem for me.” “But I can’t,” insisted Les. “I’m educable mentally handicapped.” The rest of the class erupted in laughter. At that point, the teacher stepped out from behind his desk and looked Les straight in the eye. “Don’t ever say that again,” he told him firmly. “Someone else’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” Les never forgot those words, and spent the rest of his life overcoming incredible odds and pursuing his goals with passion and fervour. Time and time again, thanks to that one teacher’s powerful revelation, Les has lived the phrase he’s famous for all over the world: You have greatness within you. Emily Blunt: From Stutter to Stagecraft Most people know Emily Blunt as a Golden Globe-nominated film and stage actress. However, between the ages of 7 and 14 she developed a crippling stutter that had her struggling to even hold a simple conversation. “I was a smart kid and had a lot to say, but I just couldn’t say it,” she claimed in an interview for W Magazine. “I never thought I’d be able to sit and talk to someone like I’m talking to you right now.” For Blunt, it was one junior high teacher in particular that she claims helped her overcome her fear of speaking by encouraging her to try out for the school play. At first, Blunt resisted the idea, but the teacher wouldn’t give up on her and coaxed her to take acting lessons and experiment with different accents and character voices to help express herself. In the end, those efforts paid off for her immensely. In addition to her incredibly successful career as an actress, she also became a member of the board of directors for the American Institute for Stuttering. Maya Angelou: Passion in Poetry Before Maya Angelou became the powerful poet and civil rights activist the world remembers her as, she suffered a life of torment and darkness that nearly stole her voice forever. At a very young age she was forced to endure intense physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a family member. As a result, she became mute for nearly five years. It all changed one day with the help of a family friend, a teacher named Bertha Flowers. Angelou credited Mrs. Flowers for helping her find her own voice again. Through Flowers, she was introduced to African-American female artists like Frances Harper, Anne Spencer, and Jessie Fauset. In addition, Mrs. Flowers introduced Angelou to Dickens, Shakespeare, Poe, and several other prolific writers who would come to greatly influence her personal and professional philosophies. Bill Gates: Questions That Matter When Bill Gates attended Seattle’s View Ridge Elementary, he was a typical nerdy 4th-grade introvert who always did his best to keep to himself. Thanks to a kindly librarian named Blanche Caffiere, he was able to come into his own in a way that would one day change the world forever. Gates sets the stage for this tale on his blog: “When I first met Mrs. Caffiere, she was the elegant and engaging school librarian at Seattle’s View Ridge Elementary, and I was a timid fourth grader. I was desperately trying to go unnoticed, because I had some big deficits, like atrocious handwriting … and I was trying to hide the fact that I liked to read—something that was cool for girls but not for boys … Mrs. Caffiere took me under her wing and helped make it okay for me to be a messy, nerdy boy who was reading lots of books.” He credits Mrs. Caffiere for helping him escape his shell in the true spirit of exceptional teaching. First, she encouraged Gates’ passion for reading by helping him explore it through the use of introspective questions, such as what he liked to read and why. Next, she’d go out of her way to source books that were progressively more interesting and challenging for him. Finally, once he’d read them, she would sit down with him and ask him if he liked what he had read, and more importantly, what he’d learned and why. “She genuinely listened to what I had to say,” Gates recalled.
In 2006, shortly after reaching her 100th birthday, Blanche Caffiere sadly passed away—but not before Gates was able to thank her personally for the lasting impact her love and curiosity had on his life. Courtesy: globaldigital citizen |
AuthorInspirational stories for teachers from IISP Library. Archives
November 2018
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