So we just celebrated Dr. Seuss' Week all across the world and in my class we read several of his books and the one that stood out to me the most was Horton Hatches the Egg. The book tells the story of Horton the Elephant, who is tricked into sitting on a bird's egg while its mother, Mayzie, takes a permanent vacation to Palm Beach. Horton endures a number of hardships but persists, often stating, "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred per cent!" Ultimately, the egg hatches, revealing an elephant-bird, a creature with a blend of Mayzie's and Horton's features.
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred per cent! This statement spoke volumes to me, as I read it over and over again to the children in my class during our read aloud. We talked about what it means to give one hundred percent like Horton did and some responses from my students were, "do all your work, come to school everyday, help your teacher, and pay attention all the time". I loved those responses because that's just what it takes to give one hundred percent in the classroom.
So, just think how successful and wonderful classrooms and students will be if we all as administrators, teachers, students and parents would make that commitment to give "one hundred per cent" no matter what. Too many times we run in to situations in life that seem unbearable and challenging and we just give up, we take the easy way out or we just do the bare minimal to make it through. The reality of it is that, it's not going to be easy, and it's not always going to be rewarding but in the end it will all be worth it. I teach my son who wants to be the next Lebron James(lol), that he will never be successful in basketball or anything else if he doesn't give one hundred per cent. He thought that if he practiced twice a week with his team that he was giving his all, but I had him read Lebron James' book and he then realized all that Lebron went through and had to do, to be who he was today. He now realizes that giving one hundred percent means more than just practicing with his team. It means him practicing even when he gets tired, practicing even when he is struggling mastering that behind the back dribbling skill, and it means him not ever giving up because his dream depends on it.
Just imagine if we all keep that mind frame within our schools walls, we could move mountains like no other. So, let's change that today and all say "WE MEANT WHAT WE SAID, AND WE SAID WHAT WE MEANT. AN EDUCATOR IS FAITHFUL, ONCE HUNDRED PER CENT!
