INCLUSION AND THE VALUE OF DIFFERENCE. INTREPRENEUR COACHING,  FREE oral short story for primary school 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: mjorr@intrepreneurcaoching.com for your FREE COPY.

SUMMARY:

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.

ALLOW

-What can I see here that is or could be an expression of love?


-Where am I placing my attention?


-What am I holding that is better released?


Contemplating:


Contemplation is an action of our our higher wisdom that
cleanses, purifies and corrects discordant conditions. Like our heavenly nature, we are all innocent in our Higher Selves and act instinctively in alignment with our higher good, without ulterior motive, unless we are out of sync with divine will. If the unexpected occurs, it is a call to go within and cleanse oneself of any conditions that may have attracted our misfortune. It is also an opportunity to accept our innocence and forgive so as not to be overtaken by anger, guilt, resentment or sorrow.

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.

EXTRAORDINARY STUDENT RESULTS; TEACHERS USING INTUITIVE EXPERTISE:

Teachers make decisions in everyday school classrooms that profoundly affect students’ lives. The thirteen (13) real life vignettes that will follow are from actual classroom situations that demonstrate how teachers get extraordinary student results taking practical corrective steps, using intuitive expertise.



This self-help, spiritual guide introduces what master teachers practice everyday that is not widely
acknowledged in university teacher preparation programs nor in much of the mainstream press on teaching expertise. Teachers affect future generations, our leaders’ abilities to become productive, global citizens. Yet, under resourced and under valued, many of our best teachers leave the field or never enter it, instead opting for more lucrative opportunities in other disciplines.


What these entries will illustrate is the complex nature of teaching expertise—what the ‘right brain mind’ adds to the left brain knowledge beyond ‘ten steps’ to student achievement. Every day master teachers access this realm of intuitive thinking, feeling and action.


Deeper appreciation and understanding of the true nature of teaching expertise is a first step in recognizing its true value in society.