Cherish

whenever you are angry, lost, disappointed, or down
whenever upon your speeches people yawn 
your boss, father, or friend frown
remember you still have eyes to read 
lungs to breath, legs to dance
and a heart to pray

no one is your slave 
no one will accompany you to the grave
have mercy upon the weak
you are nobody's master but you

look around and see
count the blesses you have
so many you still seek
whatever you lose 
you will never lose it all 
be thankful, 
be thankful
cherish your blesses before they perish. 

Unfortunately Gifted


Most students envy their gifted friends or classmates. For them the gifted students are lucky because they get good grades, have longer attention spans, are recognized by teachers,are always energetic and curious to know,do the work alone, know big words, and give extraordinary ideas.



However, did it come to your minds, as teachers and students, that gifted pupils might be extremely miserable?
Now think about it, because they do exceptional work and get good grades they will be under continuous pressure to keep up their perfection.Also, being able to do any task quickly and correctly might make them victims of boredom, while waiting for others.
In addition to that the majority of gifted students have few or no friends, why? they are left out because they are viewed different, they talk and act like grown ups, and are often labeled as "walking brains","nerds","books eaters"..
So don't judge a book by its cover. Gifted students are like other students; need proper attention, help and care.
For me, as a teacher the biggest challenge is to detect and be aware of who are the gifted, how to deal with them, how to help them fit in, and last but not least to remember them whenever I'm planning a lesson.


Enjoy browsing through this link http://www.ri.net/gifted_talented/character.html  to learn INTERESTING and MARVELOUS things about gifted students. Remember, you might be one and you're unaware of it.

Whiners, Naggers, and Whimpers 

I won't be surprised if ten years from now teachers started paying students for doing their assignments!
nowadays students nag and complain about any piece of work teachers assign.
For God's sake, assignments projects, presentations .. are not a way to punish or avenge students. They are found to apply, practice, and elaborate recently taught skills. Not to mention their necessity as a mean to assess students.
 It frustrates teachers to see students complain about duties. As if students are sending a message that they are not willing to work, are not hard workers, are dependent, and careless. Do teachers have to beg students to do what they're supposed to do?!
Students always strive to make the assignment or homework LESS, EASY, and SHORTER. 
As a teacher and student I say, " if you find out that you can't, don't have time, unwilling, or not qualified to register a course or take the educational path, then don't waste your time and the teachers' time". Instead of blaming professors, saying "don't teachers know we have other things to do?" put in mind that teachers are not fortune tellers and when they teach they do their best for you. At the same time they expect you to do your best too, and they won't be satisfied unless they see you give the work what it deserves to pass. 

Why would I hate technology?

It might sound weird to you if you hear me say “I hate technology”. You might say to yourself, is she still living in the Stone Age? Also, you might tell me if you hate technology why do you have a laptop, galaxy tab, blackberry, iPod, washing machine, drying machine…?

Well I would be retarded if I deny the great benefits of so many technological developments, especially those scientific ones that cured or solved big scientific dilemmas. Definitely technology has made doing many things easier and faster, like washing machines, microwaves..But please take two minutes to think about the following and tell me after that don’t you sometimes hate technology?

1-      I am driving the car, my sister is with me. She is as usual bbm text messaging the whole time, my kids are in the back seats watching a Tom and Jerry DVD(yes we have two DVD screens set on the back of the front seats) NOW, what would happen if I turned off the DVD? The kids would nag and want to leave the baby seats!!

What would happen if I ask Hanadi to stop texting and chat with me? She replies ok angrily and says what do you want to talk about? And absolutely there will not be anything to talk about because her mind will be busy of what she’s missing right now.

2-      It's Friday, time to visit parents, this scenario is the same if we went to see my mom or my mother in law, they always miss us and everything seems great, the whole family is gathered, until they MUST go inside and watch a series of their everyday rituals( Turkish films) one after the other. The problem is that I don’t watch such movies because I don’t have time and at the same time I think they are a waste of time. I prefer doing something more beneficial. So I can’t ruin their excitement; I try to tolerate. An hour is what I can usually bare, then the kids and I will be bored and we decide to leave. They refuse but even if they switch the TV off, we will feel guilty because in reality everybody around them, in the entire neighborhood, is doing the same and every day. Think of what can they do with this wasted time?

3-      As couples we gather on Saturdays in one of the cousins' houses. After an hour or so, the males separate from us and start their challenges on either the play station or the Wii. Then most of the females, including me, rebels. Imagine then the accompanied tense, voices, curses, and insults. Then, the strong men will seem to us like silly smurfs.

4-      A grade five student came to my friend, his science teacher, and asked her about gays!! That he wants to know what it means to be gay. My friend’s first reaction was "where did you hear about it?" TV was the reply. How would you explain it to a 9-10 years old kid?

I know that issues like rape, sex, lesbians, gays..have existed since the beginning of time but nowadays, because of the mass media,these issues are becoming people’s number one curiosity, obsession and have changed our values. What is forbidden in religion, or was shameful and immoral to talk about fifteen years ago is now considered freedom of choice that is to be respected, and naturally must exist. 

I believe knowing about these things changed our society and lead to the existence of so many acts that basically weren’t found in our society, or culture.

unfortunately, knowing what's happening in the world, specifically in the western societies, transformed our societies into a copy machine where the printed out copy is not at all as the original copy.

so it is not technology's fault it is our fault who misused technology. However, it is us who will suffer in the future and no other beings, because nature will pay back and revenge for the deformation  we caused.

I shared with you personal examples that don't apply to your life but try to generalize and you will find out that sometimes you really hate technology.

The University’s Regulations

I noticed that so many students in our LIU are complaining and nagging that the university is becoming like a school, and it is not taking into consideration that they are grown ups and that each student should be free to do what he/she believes is right.

Recently, some students’ IDs were taken away. The majority of the students whose IDs were taken away were caught smoking or maybe in an intimate, inappropriate condition with their lovers. The university understands that as university students you have rights and freedoms to be respected but, with LIMITS, because if you think of it what is normal for you might be immoral or a sin for others, whose beliefs, also, should be respected. In addition to that, ignoring bad, immoral, and careless behaviors for a time makes them usual and acceptable behaviors and after sometime we will unconsciously lose our manners, beliefs and limits.

  

 I object

Whenever students are asked to list the characteristics of their best teacher, they automatically put down the following as one of the important characteristics: “treats students equally”.

I used to think that this is very important; as a teacher you have to treat your students equally to be fair, but the other day I discovered that students shouldn’t be treated equally if I want to be really fair. Why? Since students are not similar and they don’t all have similar life circumstances, problems, responsibilities, or needs.

Take for example one of my students who came to class 10 minutes late, because I believed in equality I treated her like everybody else; so she wasn’t allowed to come in. The irony is that, her class and roommate told me that I would feel pity for her if I knew what she’s going through, but I didn’t take that seriously and my reply was that she is like everybody else she should set coming to class on time as her priority; especially this wasn’t her first time. In the end I discovered that she has a severe case of migraine, she spends nights of intolerable headaches and barely sleeps, sometimes very few hours a week.

This case changed my opinion. Yes students should be equally respected but shouldn't be equally treated, and we should understand their differences and treat them as they deserve and need, not as their friends are treated because they will never be equal entities.

HEART TOUCHING

ALONE

english jokes

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Two boys were arguing when the teacher entered the room.

The teacher says, "Why are you arguing?"

One boy answers, "We found a ten dollor bill and decided to give it to whoever tells the biggest lie."

"You should be ashamed of yourselves," said the teacher, "When I was your age I didn't even know what a lie was."

The boys gave the ten dollars to the teacher.

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A snail walks into a bar and the barman tells him there's a strict policy about having snails in the bar and so kicks him out. A year later the same snail re-enters the bar and asks the barman "What did you do that for?"
Submitted by Steve

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A: Just look at that young person with the short hair and blue jeans. Is it a boy or a girl?
B: It's a girl. She's my daughter.
A: Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know that you were her father.
B: I'm not. I'm her mother.

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Mother: "Did you enjoy your first day at school?"
Girl: "First day? Do you mean I have to go back tomorrow?
Submitted by Miguel de Paco Moltó

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A teenage girl had been talking on the phone for about half an hour, and then she hung up.

"Wow!," said her father, "That was short. You usually talk for two hours. What happened?"

"Wrong number," replied the girl.

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Little Johnny: Teacher, can I go to the bathroom?
Teacher: Little Johnny, MAY I go to the bathroom?
Little Johnny: But I asked first!
Submitted by: Elise Owen, Dalian China

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Two goldfish in a bowl talking:
Goldfish 1: Do you believe in God?
Goldfish 2: Of course, I do! Who do you think changes the water?

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Teacher: Why are you late?
Student: There was a man who lost a hundred dollar bill.
Teacher: That's nice. Were you helping him look for it?
Student: No. I was standing on it.
Submitted by Fred G. Stone

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Customer: Excuse me, but I saw your thumb in my soup when you were carrying it.
Waitress: Oh, that's okay. The soup isn't hot.
Submitted by Jim Sperling

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"Why do you take baths in milk?"
"I can't find a cow tall enough for a shower."

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"You look very funny wearing that belt."
"I would look even funnier if I didn't wear it."

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Teacher: Do you have trouble making decisions?
Student: Well...yes and no.

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Three mice are being chased by a cat. The mice were cornered when one of the mice turned around and barked, "Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!" The surprised cat ran away scared. Later when the mice told their mother what happened, she smiled and said, "You see, it pays to be bilingual!"
Submitted by Jeanne Ramirez

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Once there were three turtles. One day they decided to go on a picnic. When they got there, they realized they had forgotten the soda. The youngest turtle said he would go home and get it if they wouldn't eat the sandwiches until he got back. A week went by, then a month, finally a year, when the two turtles said,"oh, come on, let's eat the sandwiches." Suddenly the little turtle popped up from behind a rock and said, "If you do, I won't go!"
Submitted by Abu Abdulaziz (Kuwait)

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Father: What did you do today to help your mother?
Son: I dried the dishes
Daughter: And I helped pick up the pieces.
Submitted by Fred G. Stone

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Patient: Doctor, I think that I've been bitten by a vampire.
Doctor: Drink this glass of water.
Patient: Will it make me better?
Doctor: No, I but I'll be able to see if your neck leaks.
Submitted by: Rizwana Lahore Pakistan

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A: Do you want to hear a dirty joke?
B: Ok
A: A white horse fell in the mud.
Submitted by Robert Kenneth Peter Kroeker - age 21

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There is a California dude going through a desert. He's wearing shorts, sunglasses, a towel and listening to music on his walkman. He's having a good time. Suddenly he sees a caravan approaching. He stops the Arabs and ask them cheerfully: "Hey dudes how far is the sea?" They look at each other and say: "Two thousand miles!" And he says: "Wow what a cool beach!!!"
Submitted by Robert Stadnik

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In a restaurant:

Customer: Waiter, waiter! There is a frog in my soup!!!
Waiter: Sorry, sir. The fly is on vacation.
Submitted by Daniel Fernando Rodrigues

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Man said to God --- Why did you make women so beautiful?
God said to man --- So that you will love them.
Man said to God --- But why did you make them so dumb?
God said to man --- So that they will love you.
Submitted by Esmond Jones.

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Why do we park our car in the driveway and drive our car on the parkway?
Submitted by Rex Karz in Seattle

by r.d.

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If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?
Submitted by Shahirah
Comment Probably too difficult for most ESL students.

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A person who speaks two languages is bilingual...A person who speaks three languages is trilingual...A person who speaks four or more languages is multilingual.
What is a person who speaks one language?
An American.
Submitted by H. Terrell

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Teacher: Tell me a sentence that starts with an "I".
Student: I is the....
Teacher: Stop! Never put 'is' after an "I". Always put 'am' after an "I".
Student: OK. I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.

Submitted by: Monirul Hassan

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Two cows are standing in a field.
One says to the other "Are you worried about Mad Cow Disease?"
The other one says "No, It doesn't worry me, I'm a horse!" 

Brother And Sister

"SISTER, sister, go to bed!
Go and rest your weary head."
Thus the prudent brother said.

"Do you want a battered hide,
Or scratches to your face applied?"
Thus his sister calm replied.

"Sister, do not raise my wrath.
I'd make you into mutton broth
As easily as kill a moth"

The sister raised her beaming eye
And looked on him indignantly
And sternly answered, "Only try!"

Off to the cook he quickly ran.
"Dear Cook, please lend a frying-pan
To me as quickly as you can."

And wherefore should I lend it you?"
"The reason, Cook, is plain to view.
I wish to make an Irish stew."

"What meat is in that stew to go?"
"My sister'll be the contents!"
"Oh"
"You'll lend the pan to me, Cook?"
"No!"

Moral: Never stew your sister. 

Lewis Carroll

I wandered lonely as a cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed---but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. 

William Wordsworth

finding work you really love

 Things You Need to Know About Finding the Work You Love

One of the keys to happiness — as well as productivity and effectiveness at work — is finding work you love, that you’re passionate about. Work you want to do, instead of just have to do. If you really want to do it, it barely seems like work at all. You can find that work, but it’ll take some effort. Here’s what you need to know about finding the work you love:

It won’t find you — you have to seek it. Doing the same old thing everyday isn’t the way to find the work you love. Sometimes, you get extremely lucky and it just lands in your lap. Most people, however, aren’t that lucky — you’ve got to take action, and you’ve got to seek it. Never settle. If you find something that’s just a bit better than your current job, that’s better … but don’t stop there. Keep looking.

Don’t give up the search.You’ll have to look in lots of funny places. Really explore. Try new hobbies. Talk to new people. Read articles on different blogs, in different magazines and books. Inspiration might come from someplace you never imagined.

Break out of your routine, and dare to ask. You’ve got to stop what you’re doing and be bold enough to ask yourself if you love what you’re doing. And if you don’t, then what is it you really love? Spend time thinking about it. It’s good to take an hour or two to really think about the question. Really think about what you love, about your life, about what you want to be doing. What are your dreams? Is there something you’ve always wanted to accomplish in life? Almost everybody has some dream like that, sometime in their lives, but often they don’t think it’s realistic.

What are you good at? What are your strengths? Do you have any talents? Once you find something interesting, pursue it. Read about it. Learn, and try it, and do it, and get better at it. Don’t be afraid to pursue it — fear is what stops most people from finding their happiness. You might be able to pursue it within your current job, or do it as a side job or just as a hobby at first. Write to people who are doing it to find out how they got started. Check out a few books on the library and do some research online to find out about the first steps you need to take — and then take them! Pursue your dreams!

 If you find the work you love, you’ve been given a gift. Don’t spoil it — truly pour yourself into that work. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the other loves in your life, including family and friends, but when you’re working, you should devote yourself completely to that work.

“Getting up in the morning and having work you love is what makes life different for people. And if you get into a position where you really don’t love what you’re doing, get off it. It’s easy to be on someone else’s track or something that sounds like a safety play.” -Bob Woodward

your particular traits and characteristics, and your store of accurate, undistorted knowledge, are what define you and differentiate you from every other human being in the world.This distinction of you is true, however, if and only if you live a life in which everything that is uniquely YOU is allowed to come out.you must seize every genuine characteristic that is you and allow it to take center stage in your life.and it can be done.rediscovering the authentic self is not esoteric,mystical,work that can be done only by some philosopher on a mountaintop somewhere- its a job that can and must be done by you. YOU CAN'T BE YOU IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOU.you may have access but it is up to you to exercise it.

Dr.Phil McGraw

 your self-concept decides who you really are.

cooperation is the key element

a student's name is music to his ear.