A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old Laiq asked him, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”
Within a few seconds Laiq replied confidently, “Four!”
The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer, three. She was disappointed. “Maybe the child did not listen properly.” – she thought.
She repeated, “Laiq, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”
Laiq had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy.
This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four.”
The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face. She remembered that Laiq liked strawberries.
She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him loose focus.
This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?”
Seeing the teacher happy, young Laiq calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed.
With a hesitating smile young Laiq replied, “Three?”
The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself.
But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?”
Promptly Laiq answered, “Four!”
The teacher was aghast. “How Laiq, how?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.
In a voice that was low and hesitating young Laiq replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”
Author Unknown
Story submitted by Kshama
When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect, don’t think they are wrong. There shall be an angle that you may not have thought about yet.
Very inspirational.
Very nice story I like it very much
Hilarious.. But the kid is telling the truth.
Best site
Wonderful story I never read 🙂
Good one for teachers. When learners give out various opinions of what we do not expect, let us give them chance to explain their reasons. I also like the comment (story) by Stephen.
Really love the story, I also gave it to my students at Extreme High school Namayumba Wakiso District Uganda East Africa
Nice one kid!
Confidentiel story.
Cool and true story 🙂
Awesome kid..
Super story with real meaning makes me to think as a teacher.
A real good story.
Cute.. love it:-)
I liked it. Thanks 😉
The story was very good.
Awesome. This site has superb moral stories I am loving it.
Very nice story. Had so many lessons from it.
Story make me smile and feeling good from inside! Loving it!!!
Inspiring short story realy !
It’s interesting and very useful.
Really funny thanx a looooot
I love the kid:)
Teacher: How old were you on your last birthday?
Student: Seven.
Teacher: How old will you be on your next birthday?
Student: Nine.
Teacher: That’s impossible.
Student: No, it isn’t, teacher. I’m eight today.
Super…
Power of word is very clear.
Cool!
Very good one i liked it very much…
They both have reasons to be so… teach me to think twice and see other angles for better understanding.
Laiq was correct while the teacher was wrong. She did not ask Laiq how many Apple she gave him rather she asked how many Apple he had. Good, correct and firm Laiq.
True!… Perceptions are different from person to person…. Math doesn’t consider mind….. Pleasure reading your stories. Receive a kind of a joy in the morals of the stories.
This is just fun, it’s a point behind that teachers should always ask learners to explain the reasons behind their reasons even if their answers are wrong. This a fact that there is always a reason for every answer.
Brave, smart, and honest!
You guys spice up my day!
Hilarious how this kid will be … one sort of genius.
Cute Story………..makes me smile 🙂
I love this story. “The power of words.” The kid told the truth! She asked him “how many will you have?” She gave him three and he had one in his bag. Awesome!