Small Sprocket
Leaders are the small sprocket in effecting change. We must spin dozens of times before the big gear makes one revolution.
Tim gives examples of small sprockets having to spin many times to bring change or to bring progress. Examples include a 10-speed bicycle and a car engine. He then tells the story of Louie. After much work and a lot of spinning, the Braille System finally took hold and became the accepted way for blind people to read. Tim also describes how the movie Pay It Forward is a great example of a small sprocket based on how Trevor helps people realize the importance of acts of kindness to one another.
I have a couple of questions I would like you to think about and then share your thoughts:
1. How do we teach our students to have the perseverance to be a small sprocket? How do we instill in them to not give up when work is hard, in relationships, when their dreams seem impossible to achieve, etc?
2. What are the benefits in your life when you feel like the small sprocket? What blessings flow from that?
Thanks for thinking.
posted by Craig @ 8:31 PM
18 Comments:
At 5:16 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Every year, as they begin to complain about work, or ask how a particular subject is going to help their lives, I tell my students the story of "Pebbles and Diamonds".
It was the end of a long, long day. The workers in the field were weary, and ready to go to their homes and rest. Suddenly the master appeared and gave them an almost unbearable task. He said, "Go pick up as many pebbles as you can, and fill your saddlebags as full as possible. Then I want you to go on a long journey, to a place where I will lead you." The workers, as you may imagine, were grumbling, wondering why the master could be so cruel. However, they complied, and soon they were on their way. After traveling all night, and finally reaching their destination, they wearily sat down to rest. Again, the master appeared and said, "Now open your saddlebags." As they did, out poured hundreds of beautiful, sparkly diamonds. The workers immediately had two responses: "We're so glad we picked up the pebbles", and "We wish we had picked up more!" Then every time someone expresses weariness with work, some student will say, "Remember Pebbles and Diamonds!" (P.S.--You never know how a small thing in life, a word, a look, a touch, is going to affect the future. God sees the big picture; all we see is this moment. All we see is the small sprocket or "the pebble".)---Debbie
At 6:49 AM ,
BSMom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 6:53 AM ,
Anonymous said...
First, I don't think it's fair to have to follow Debbie. She's so incredibly wise! (I love what you write)
I think this chapter shows the incredible amount of patients and perserverence that all leaders must have. As teachers, that area (paitence), especially at the end of school, starts to wear out. Our kids are tired, we are tired, and the last 6 weeks just seems to drag along. This is really where we, as the small sprocket, must kick it up a notch so our big sprockets don't lock down. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that the administration at this school is the oil that keeps our sprockets perfectly in line and well lubricated.
At 6:57 AM ,
Anonymous said...
We have to encourage them, encourage them to pray, and share stories and examples of perseverance and results!
Benefits we get from being a small sprocket are the skill of practiced perseverance, development of a good work ethic, hopefully an improved prayer life, and growth in our faith.
Jean
At 8:12 PM ,
Anonymous said...
I try to help the students see that they can be successful in the small steps they achieve so that they will have the courage to attempt the tougher challenges.
For my own perseverance...I remind myself continually that my Father is watching me and I want to make Him proud. I know He'll love me anyway, but I want Him to beam with pride!
Kathy
At 8:42 PM ,
Anonymous said...
In my day, I do a lot of tiny things that might or could seem insignificant if looked at individually---handing out forks in the cafeteria, giving a make-up spelling test, laminating a poster, listening to a story read by a first grader, finding a band-aid, etc.. But as I approach my day, it seems that each small sprocket helps turn the wheel of setting our kids up for success. During every interaction I have I will choose to build someone up or tear someone down. I have to repeat myself a lot during certain activities. But each time I open my mouth, my tone of voice shows which way I have chosen to go in that moment. I firmly believe that making the effort to pay attention to the seemingly insignificant moments can ultimately lead us to a campus filled with students who feel confident that they are loved and cherished as individuals.
Jana Beck
At 9:00 AM ,
Anonymous said...
We HAVE to prepare our students for LIFE. LIFE IS HARD!! I often use this analogy with my golfers. I tell them, "Golf is like life!" There are days when it is sunny, warm and there is no wind and all your putts go in. There are also days when we tee off and it's 31 degrees and the wind is blowing so hard you can't catch your breath or feel your hands and your ball goes in the water!!(2009 regional tournmanet) and you just want to quit!!! KEEP GOING FOR THE REWARD OF COMPLETION OF ANY HARD TASK IS AMAZING! I prepare them early that again, life is hard and you must push on to gain the reward. The reward is not always a win, but the feeling you have of accomplishment and working together as a team. The girls on last years golf team felt so good after that miserable golf tournament last year. I couldn't get them to stop talking~ they had perservered and it felt good!!!! I just teach them this is training for life~ learn the lesson now and life won't be so hard!!
#2 I love hard work. I get a feeling of accomplishment and it keeps me going. I love being a sprocket, I love the feeling of a task complete. I feel it a blessing God has put so much "work" in my life, I love every minute of it. If I told myself opposite I would never get anything done! haha
Lex Ann
At 10:49 AM ,
Anonymous said...
When I re-read this section about the small sprocket I was immediately reminded of Debbie and how she was honored by a former student 25 years later. At present time, it is sometimes hard to know if we are getting through to kids and it is impossible to see how we will impact their lives. I believe that we make an impression, whether positive or negative, on everyone with whom we come in contact. I'm also reminded of the song "Let the Beauty of Jesus be Seen in Me". If we keep these words on our hearts we should be impacting students (and adults) for the better.
Alice
At 2:21 PM ,
Unknown said...
Because we live in a world where we expect instant gratification it is important that we help our students recognize and plan the small steps needed for them to reach specific goals. One way we might do this is to have them plan out and set a schedule to complete a project rather than to give them a schedule. When they do make progress in some area we need to "brag on them" so that they recognize that they have accomplished something. They are a sprocket and are not just spinning their wheels needlessly.
At 10:00 AM ,
Anonymous said...
I enjoyed reading all of the posts - very encouraging to me! I think our students learn perseverance by seeing the example of how we handle difficulties.
This story reminded me of what Max Lucado said. He said that there are two levels of activity in our lives. There's the earthly level that we are aware of and the heavenly or spiritual level in which God is doing something bigger in our lives. As we continue to spin our small sprocket, God is molding us into the image of Christ. Susan
At 10:28 AM ,
Bobette said...
This was a good reminder for us in the final stretch of the school year! I agree with Jean - it's important that we continue to be encouragers until the end. Debbie's story made me think about how our students are like those pebbles that we all have the responsibility to move/teach/carry toward academic and spiritual growth. On the secondary side we get to see some graduating seniors who are diamonds as well as some just beginning to sparkle - students who started out as pebbles and have been lovingly polished through elementary and middle school! We truly are one team for the Kingdom!
Small sprockets work together as their lives are intertwined - I love working with the other small sprockets here at ACS. We are truly blessed!
At 4:16 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Besides trying to model and encourage perseverance, I like to point out student successes through perseverance. I tell them about juniors and seniors who struggled in beginning band but now play beautifully. I am blessed to have students for six years so I can see them grow and mature musically, academically, and spiritually.
Remembering that I'm a small sprocket helps reduce some of the pressure and stress that come with a performance-based area like music. I just need to keep spinning and hope that God will allow me to encourage and touch students' hearts along the way.
Helen
At 2:31 PM ,
Anonymous said...
All these comments are so encouraging and insightful! The analogy of teachers as small spockets constantly trying to persevere in the mission to help students (big sprockets) move in a productive direction really connects with me as I review plans for the last 4-5 weeks of school. I believe that helping students persevere through the "tough stuff" equips them with skills and with some self-confidence they carry when they leave our "machine" and move into a larger arena. God's unfailing love lubricates all sprokets (large and small) and uses all of us for His purposes. I pray that He wil help me "spin like crazy and fire up . . ." my students toward all the best uses of the time we have left in this school year. Phyllis
At 8:59 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Many times, the best teaching tool I have toward perseverance is simply to provide a new or different perspective. Helping students to step back, look at the problem/task from a different angle, often leads to renewed attention and energy to solve/achieve.
God prepares all of us for our places in life. If you are chosen, then you are already equipped to do the job. I take comfort and joy in knowing that God trusts little ole me to keep spinning to the best of my abilities, no matter how insignificant it may seem to help a pre-schooler find a book he can't even read yet. I know I'm just one small sprocket, working with others, in God's much bigger plan.
Blessings to you all, my fellow sprockets!
Marla
At 8:45 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Athletically it is fairly easy to relate to the small sprocket with the kids. Everyone has a job to do that contributes to the big goal, which is scoring on a particular play or defending someone else's play. One thing it is important to do is to point out when the drills you have been doing are put into play in a game. For example, Trey makes a circus catch and when we look at the film we point out that he caught it in part becasue of our drill called "distraction drill." The next time we do "distraction drill" he and hopefully everyone else will remember and work harder at the drill.
As an administrator there are times when I relate to the small sprocket but don't always feel as if I am connected to a bigger one. I am just spinning and getting nowhere.
Coley
At 1:30 PM ,
Anonymous said...
At my grade level, repitition is very important. We go over things again and again - in a variety of ways. If I get frustrated because they are just not getting it - I step back and pray about it and then let it rest for a while. And then go at it again. Usually God puts something or someone on my path during the "rest time" that sheds a new light on the situation!!!!
I feel like with God at the center of our hearts, we can help each other to carry out the big picture.
Jackie
At 12:10 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Marla’s and Jackie’s comments on us being on the same team of small sprockets that Can and Do help out each other is so very important for us to remember to keep our momentum.
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:13
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Col. 3:23
Whenever I am discouraged, these verses (and a few others) come to mind all because someone else took the time to “spin” them over and over into my mind and heart when I was young. I am so encouraged to reflect on those small sprockets that God placed in my life to encourage me to be where I am today. My reflection of them is that even though they were “small” sprockets, they made a BIG impact in my life.
My enthusiasm is then doubled when I see other small sprockets working presently towards the same goal. The hugs, smiles, and encouraging words given by my “fellow sprockets” are great boosts of energy!
I hope to then give the students I work with an example of this passion I have to see and help them succeed. I want them to know that they are not alone in their “turning.” Sometimes this means sitting along side them to complete a task, sharing a silly smile as we go over the task Again, or just letting the students know that I love them with a big hug.
By sharing with the children what has been shared with me (over and over again for me, too, sometimes) I hope to teach perseverance to be a “small sprocket.”
At 12:12 PM ,
Anonymous said...
The previous comment was by Heather Dodd :-)
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