Charles Schultz Philosophy
These are not my own ideas, I “borrowed” them from one of those “chain” emails but really feel it’s worth posting. Just read through these, you’ll get the point.
Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
Name the last five winners of Miss America.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the last six Academy Award winners for best actor or actress.
Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do? The point is, we remember very few of headliners of yesterday. Now, mind you, none of these are second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. Applause dies, awards tarnish, achievements are forgotten, accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Now see how well you do on this quiz!
List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier? The Lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. Now here’s my suggestion. Have your students do this exercise. Let someone know they have made a difference in your life. Find a way for your students to let someone know they made a difference. Better yet, make a difference yourself! Continue the “Tradition of Excellence!”
March 12, 2010. at 13:55
I love this post (and it’s one of those emails that I never mind getting over and over as it’s a great reminder). I’ve never thought to actually do this with students…it would serve to show them that even though most won’t be famous, they’ll have a huge impact on others’ lives.
March 19, 2010. at 21:15
I agree with Jill. Some of these quizzes would be fun and inspiring possibly to do with students.
March 22, 2010. at 09:40
I love this one too. It’s funny how we really don’t have any idea the impact we have on students. When I was in the classroom, I taught ELL high school, and all I had were the regular ed textbooks for Social Studies. These were way too difficult for the students, so I was constantly scrambling to find other resources - many on the internet - for my students to read. I spent so much time trying to prepare effective lesson plans, yet I was feeling like I just wasn’t reaching so many of the kids. Then this year my daughter met a former student of mine at UWM and when he found out who she was, he told her I’d had such a big effect on his life and his decision to go to college. I was shocked at this since I felt like I was constantly running on a treadmill and never getting anywhere! It was so great to hear that my efforts were worthwhile at least for that student. I’m sure all of us are impacting our students’ lives in positive ways in the LMC also. LMS’s today sure seem different than the school librarian I had. I think her name was Mrs. Shush?!