A Teacher's Story
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher.
Her name was Mrs. Thompson.
And as she stood in front of her 5th grade
class on the very first day of school, she told
the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her
students and said that she loved them all the same. But that
was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in
his seat, was a little boy named Teddy.
Her name was Mrs. Thompson.
And as she stood in front of her 5th grade
class on the very first day of school, she told
the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her
students and said that she loved them all the same. But that
was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in
his seat, was a little boy named Teddy.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed
that he didn't play well with the other children, that his
clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.
And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where
Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his
papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting
a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught,
she was required to review each child's past records
and she put Teddy's off until last.
However, when she reviewed his file,
she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh.
He does his work neatly and has good
manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is an excellent student,
well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled
because his mother has a terminal illness and life
at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote,
"His mother's death has been hard on him.
He tries to do his best but his father doesn't
show much interest and his home life will soon affect
him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.
He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students
brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons
and bright paper, except for Teddy's.
His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy,
brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle
of the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the
stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.
She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed
how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some
of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy stayed after school that day just long
enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching
reading, and writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children.
that he didn't play well with the other children, that his
clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.
And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where
Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his
papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting
a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught,
she was required to review each child's past records
and she put Teddy's off until last.
However, when she reviewed his file,
she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh.
He does his work neatly and has good
manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is an excellent student,
well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled
because his mother has a terminal illness and life
at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote,
"His mother's death has been hard on him.
He tries to do his best but his father doesn't
show much interest and his home life will soon affect
him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.
He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students
brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons
and bright paper, except for Teddy's.
His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy,
brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle
of the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the
stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.
She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed
how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some
of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy stayed after school that day just long
enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching
reading, and writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.
The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the the class and, despite her lie that she would love
all the children same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy,
telling her that she was still the best teacher he
ever had in his whole life.
As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.
The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the the class and, despite her lie that she would love
all the children same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy,
telling her that she was still the best teacher he
ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy.
He then wrote that he had finished high school,
second in his class, and she was still the best teacher
he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while
things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school,
had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college
with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was
still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.
This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree,
he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she
was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now
his name was a little longer. The letter was signed,
Theodore F. Stollard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there.
You see, there was yet another letter that spring.
Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married.
He explained that his father had died a couple
of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might
agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually
reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson, did. And guess what?
She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing.
And she made sure she was wearing the perfume
that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last
Christmas together.
They hugged each other,
and Teddy whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear,
"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me.
Thank you so much for making me feel important
and showing me that I could make
a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong.
You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference.
I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
I enjoy each lesson you teach.
As my role model you inspire me
To dream and to work and to reach.
Every day you are planting a seed
Of curiosity and motivation
To know and to grow and succeed.
I'm thankful for all that you've done.
I admire you each day, and I just want to say,
As a teacher, you're number one!
for being my life's role model.
When I consider all you've taught me
and reflect on the kind of person you are,
I want to be like you—
smart, interesting and engaging,
positive, confident, yet unpretentious.
I want to be like you—
well-informed and easy to understand,
thinking with your heart as well as your head,
gently nudging us to do our best,
with sensitivity and insight.
I want to be like you—
giving your time, energy and talent
to ensure the brightest possible future
for each of us.
Thank you, teacher
For giving me a goal to shoot for:
I want to be like you!
Who nurtures new green sprouts,
Encourages and leads them,
Whenever they have doubts.
Whose sunny temperament
Makes studying a pleasure,
Preventing discontent.
With methods crisp and clear,
Lessons of bright colors
And a happy atmosphere.
While it’s snowing hard outside,
Keeping students comfortable,
As a warm and helpful guide.
With a pleasant attitude;
You’re a teacher for all seasons,
And you have my gratitude!
This is a collection of inspirational quotes for teachers and for those who are students of life.
Words of wisdom...Points to Ponder...Inspirational Quotes...we all need it every now and then. Including teachers, especially teachers who serve the needs of students. Well, these inspirational quotes sometimes leap out of the page from a newspaper, or a book or calendar, or emails or even text messages in our cell phones. At certain times, they are just exactly what we need to hear; or they may just be the push that can change our lives by making us see a different perspective to things.
This collection of inspirational quotes thereby addresses different aspects to teaching - may it be how a teacher perceives education, the learning style or students, fostering their natural curiosity or how a teacher should take care and nourish oneself. Enjoy these collection of inspirational quotes for teachers.
I honor you teachers all over the world. Keep on sharing your light.
Words of wisdom...Points to Ponder...Inspirational Quotes...we all need it every now and then. Including teachers, especially teachers who serve the needs of students. Well, these inspirational quotes sometimes leap out of the page from a newspaper, or a book or calendar, or emails or even text messages in our cell phones. At certain times, they are just exactly what we need to hear; or they may just be the push that can change our lives by making us see a different perspective to things.
This collection of inspirational quotes thereby addresses different aspects to teaching - may it be how a teacher perceives education, the learning style or students, fostering their natural curiosity or how a teacher should take care and nourish oneself. Enjoy these collection of inspirational quotes for teachers.
I honor you teachers all over the world. Keep on sharing your light.
Nikos Kazantzakis
"Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own." -- Nikos Kazantzakis
"A teacher who can arouse a feeling for one single good action, for one single good poem, accomplishes more than he who fills our memory with rows and rows of natural objects, classified with name and form." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Thought flows in terms of stories -- stories about events, stories about people, and stories about intentions and achievements. The best teachers are the best storytellers. We learn in the form of stories." -- Frank Smith
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." -- Goethe
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller
Helen Keller
"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." -- Marva Collins
"In education it isn't how much you have committed to memory or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't. It's knowing where to go to find out what you need to know and it's knowing how to use the information you get." --William Feather
"A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron." -- Horace Mann
"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carol Buchner
"I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." -- Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
"Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny." -- Frank Outlaw
"If a seed of a lettuce will not grow, we do not blame the lettuce. Instead, the fault lies with us for not having nourished the seed properly." - Buddhist proverb
"The great end of education is to discipline rather than to furnish the mind; to train it to the use of its own powers rather than to fill it with the accumulation of others." -- Tyron Edwards
"Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers." --Josef Albers
John F. Kennedy
"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength of the nation." -- John F. Kennedy"Your role as a leader is even more important than you might imagine. You have the power to help people become winners." --Ken Blanchard
"If you want to live more, you must master the art of appreciating the little everyday blessings of life. This is not altogether a golden world but there are countless gleams of gold to be discovered in it." --Henry Alfred Porter
"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve." -- Mary Kay Ash
"One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done." -- Marie Curie
Confucius
"Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three." --Confucius"Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." -- George Bernard Shaw
"No matter how he may think himself accomplished, when he sets out to learn a new language, science or the bicycle, he has entered a new realm as truly as if he were a child newly born into the world." -- Frances Willard
"We should not teach children the sciences but give them a taste for them." -- Jean Jacques Rousseau
"Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants." -- John Gardner
Kahlil Gibran
"The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind." -- Kahlil Gibran"A very wise old teacher once said: "I consider a day's teaching wasted if we do not all have one hearty laugh." He meant that when people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, master and pupils, jailer and prisoners. They become a single group of human beings enjoying its existence." -- Gilbert Highet
"To ensure that your work is also a play, I recommend that you develop a personal mission statement. This will help you find what it is to enjoy so much that you lose track of time when you're doing it." -- Ken Blanchard
"Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something discovered. It is something molded." -- Antoine De Saint-Exupery
"It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted." -Linda Conway
Maria Montessori
"We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction." -- Malcom Gladwell
"You must train the children to their studies in a playful manner and without any air of constraint with the further object of discerning more readily the natural bent of their respective characters." -- Plato
"Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything." -- Mary Hemingway
John C. Maxwell
"As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behavior. Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works." -- John C. Maxwell"Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire." --William Butler Yeats
"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, the excitement, and the mystery of the world we live in." --Rachel Carlson
"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre." -- Gail Goldwin
"No one but us ourselves-no one can and no one way. We ourselves must walk the path, teachers merely show the way." -- Nancy Wilson Ross
Indira Gandhi
"There are two kinds of people; those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there." -- Indira Gandhi"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." -- Carl Jung
"Every time you wake up and ask yourself, "What good things am I going to do today?," remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it takes a part of your life with it." --Indian proverb
"Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they do not know and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it." -- William Haley
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." -- Albert Einstein
Mother Theresa
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired." -- Mother Theresa
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -- Benjamin Franklin
"I challenge you to make your life like a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk." -- Anthony Robbins
"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." -- Forest Witcraft
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