Cleo Lampos - Teaching Diamonds in the Tough: A Teachers Devotional

Teaching Diamonds in the Tough is a great read for anybody who wants to work in education in the city. Lampos writes contextually with an excitement to shape not just the minds of children, but their character. Her look it up, chalk it up segments are relevant and will be useful for years to come. Im excited to see how and where her book influences future Christian educators.

Pastor Joe Huizenga,
Roseland Christian Ministries, Chicago

Cleo shares personal and professional conviction with both wit and passion born of dedicated experience. The beauty of her optimism enlightens the shadows of our reality, and we are enriched by her gifts to us.

Dr. Erv Barnes,
PhD. Author, Educator, Advocate

Teaching Diamonds in the Tough is an inspiring and uplifting, yet sometimes disheartening examination of teaching in a poverty-ridden school and all the problems associated with it. As an urban teacher, these beautifully written vignettes took me back to the classroom, experiencing once again the exuberance and joys of teaching as well as the sadness and frustration that left me drained at the end of the day. Both veteran and novice teachers will benefit from Cleo Lampos unique perspective.

Frank Victoria, retired
Chicago Public School teacher and author

Cleo Lampos heart for children and ability to see the potential in the most problematic child makes this book an inspiring and practical read for discouraged teachers.

Addie Mix, Co-founder of
RAY, Reclaim A Youth

A warm reminder that God works unexpectedly and that He uses us to touch others through even the smallest gestures of kindness.

Mary Byers, author,The Mother Load:
How to Meet Your OwnNeeds While Caring For Your Family.

Teaching Diamonds in the Tough captures the essence of the difficulties and mood of children in the inner city who face poverty, drugs and gangs every day. This book is a must read for teachers everywhere.

Maggie McInerney,
Middle School Teacher, Chicago

The stories and lesson plans show how imperative it is for teachers to be sensitive to the hurt, pain and fears of these children. Your stories are heart rending. Sensitivity, hope and love are critical components of reaching the student. Your lesson plans beautifully address the issues!

Marilyn Mulder, B.M.Ed; M.M.
Organ, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL

We live in an urbanized world. The effects show up in Americas classrooms whether they are urban or rural. Teachers need nurture, encouragement, inspiration and, yes, food for their faith. Cleo Lampos has provided these in great supply in Teaching Diamonds in the Tough.

Pastor Charles Lyons,
Armitage Church, Chicago

Cleo has great insight into what it is to teach special needs children and a wonderful message into what is learned from teaching these special education students. Short, encouraging chapters that are both challenging and inspiring.

Betsy Retsema, Second Grade Teacher,
Southwest Christian School, Oak Lawn, Illinois

Cleo Lampos compassionate heart finds the hidden potential in children, while giving us a practical over-the-shoulder tutorial on effective teaching strategies.

Rich Rubietta, song writer, musician, educator,
Abounding Ministries,Grayslake, Il.

TEACHING DIAMONDS IN THE TOUGH:
MINING THE POTENTIAL IN EVERY STUDENT
BY CLEO LAMPOS
Published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
2333 Barton Oaks Dr., Raleigh, NC, 27614

ISBN 978-1-938499-06-7

Copyright 2012 by Cleo Lampos
Cover design by Bluetail Books & Design: www.bluetailbooks.com

Available in print from your local bookstore, online, or from the publisher at: www.lighthousepublishingofthecarolinas.com

For more information on this book and the author visit:
http://www.facebook.com/cleo.lampos

All rights reserved. Non-commercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, provided the text does not exceed 500 words. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: Teaching Diamonds in the Tough: Mining the Potential in Every Student by Cleo Lampos published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lampos, Cleo.
Teaching Diamonds in the Tough: Mining the Potential in Every Student / Cleo Lampos 1st ed.

Printed in the United States of America

Mining the Potential
in Every Student

By Cleo Lampos

This book is dedicated to:
Jane Rubietta, Lynn Austin and Joy Bocenagra, my writer friends who never gave up,
and
teachers at Roseland Christian School in Chicago, who live every day with the challenges of teaching.

M illions of teachers today are confronted by a profession complicated by pressure for standardized test scores, paperwork, public outcry and dysfunctional families. In the midst of the classroom, the heartaches and potential of an individual child can easily be overlooked by a teacher in desperate need of hope and help for herself.

Teaching Diamonds in the Tough: Mining the Potential in Every Student offers anecdotal inspiration to educators. Using daily experiences gleaned from years of teaching, these vignettes provide keen insight into the reasons why teachers stay in the classroom and how to read the souls of the students. All names have been changed to protect confidentiality, except for Mellissa Schultz and Mae Erie. At the conclusion of each passage, three sections reinforce the message. Quotes from famous educators appear in the Chalk It Up section. Look It Up provides relevant Scripture verses, and Lesson Plan invites further reflection or personal application from the reader. This devotional book addresses real life issues in an original manner. This is solid food for the starving souls of teachers.

As an educator for the past thirty years, Lampos taught in preschool, public elementary school, diagnostic learning center, special education and in the church. Her last assignment was fourth grade in a school described as an urban school in a suburban setting. A Masters in Learning Disabilities and Behavior/Emotional Disorders in conjunction with certifications in gang awareness, violence, drug prevention and current educational practices have prepared her to teach and write about high risk students who are really Diamonds in the Tough.

Articles about education that Lampos has written have appeared in journals such an Evangelizing Todays Child, Teachers in Focus, Teacher Interaction, Baptist Leader, Virtue, and Religious Teachers Journal. She has been a member of a writers critique group for 19 years and attended Write to Publish. She earned the 2011 Semifinalist Genesis Award in Young Adult. Grandpas Remembering Book, a family friendly book about Alzheimers Disease, was published with illustrators Maralyn Dettmann and Rene Clark. Lampos also contributed to Writing So Heaven Will Be Different.

In her free time, Lampos works with her husband for Share the Harvest, which supplies fresh garden produce to local food pantries. They volunteer once a week at the Bible League thrift store which supplies literature to the Philippines. Serving with the worship planning team at Calvin Christian Reformed Church challenges her writing skills as well as membership in the Oak Lawn Library Writers Group. Ten grandchildren round out a weeks activities.