3 posts tagged “teachers”

INCLUSION and the VALUE OF DIFFERENCE, Intrepreneur Coaching FREE short story for telling in primary classes about the Land of Bananas that is infested with a Lemon tree and how in their search to rid their land of this plight they discover the many positive uses of lemons.  It's a story about inclusion and the value of difference.   Fun...write for your FREE copy, mjorr@intrepreneurcoaching.com.

Summary: Banana Land, where the people learn the ‘value of difference’

The King discovers a lemon tree in Banana Land and seeks to rid the land of this terrible plight. 

The King of Bananas travels to the Land of Oranges to confer with the King of Oranges about what to do with the infestation of Lemons in his land.  The King of Oranges, having never seen a lemon before, is bewildered.  He recommends the King of Bananas confer with his trusted advisor, the Queen of Salads.  The Queen of Salads is adamant that while oranges and bananas mix well, lemons sour every salad. 

The King of Bananas is discouraged as he has no word of hope to share with his people nor any ideas about how to rid his land of the terrible lemon. So he can further ponder this dilemma, he takes a different route home along the sea.

There he happens upon an orphan child around age 12 who lives alone in a tiny farm house.  While the child is healthy, bright, full of vitality and warmth, the King is alarmed when he notices she lives alongside a lemon tree. The girl explains how after her parents died, the lemon has saved her health and her beauty as well as helped her in keeping her house clean. She has more than 20 uses for the wonderful lemon.

The King is delighted to learn about the good uses for lemons and returns to share the news with his people who receive the news gratefully and thereafter include the lemon in all their activities.

ACCEPTING:

Matt and I met daily to practice Orton Gillingham approaches

 to learning how to read. We also worked on other concepts to

help him gain a greater sense of efficacy in the classroom. One

concept that particularly challenged him was the movement of

days and time across a calendar. Although we navigated

 around the calendar day-by-day, it seemed everyday we were

 starting anew.

Then, one day into October, after more than a month working

 with the calendar, we started our lesson. To my amazement,

 Matt responded like this calendar bit was the simplest idea in

 the world. He answered with ease, automatically giving the correct response to each of my questions. I was so excited, I was beside myself. I had taught him something.

At our lesson the next day, I pulled out the calendar simply to

confirm his knowledge and satisfy his automaticity. But that

day, just as unexpectedly, he seemed completely unfamiliar

 with the concepts and was unable to determine dates or days.

 My heart sank. I took a deep inner sigh and started again.

Short term memory loss is common with children diagnosed

 with learning disabilities. Detachment to the outcome, gives

 peace in the present with presence.

Matt, a great student with above average intelligence, sat

before me twirling his soft brown curls around and brushing his

hair back from his bright green eyes. His sensory sensitivity is

 so highly pitched that his mother has to cut his hair in his

 sleep. He asked when he could go out for recess. “In a minute,” I replied. “In one minute, let’s watch that time pass on the clock.”

REFLECTIONS:

I receive myself favorably. I am the gift of God I am and no

one else is exactly like me. The world awaits my gifts of self.

QUESTIONS:

How can I demonstrate a deeper acceptance of myself as a

gift of God?

-Where am I accepting responsibility for someone else’s life?

__________

Children described throughout this BLOG are made-up composites of real life students and circumstances, detailed to educate and enlighten our understanding for each other, ourselves and our students.

Teachers' Survival Guide, Marsha Jane Orr, Intrepreneur Coaching (2009)

Excerpt:
ALLOWING:

Resistance creates the opposite of my intended result.*



Allow whatever is.


Come instead into blessing and thanksgiving for this exquisite opportunity to demonstrate my mastery.


I find my way by breathing deeply and turning toward what I am seeking to create.


Where I place my attention expands. I focus upon that aspect where love resides and move there.


* Contemplations throughout are derived from The I Ching, Book of Changes, The Richard Wilhelm Translation, (1950) Bollingen Series
XIX, Princeton University Press.