What's All the Celebrating About?

Celebrate has to be one of my favorite words of all times. From my point of view it ranks right up there with joy. Every culture celebrates something. In the context of interacting with kids- be it as a parent or as a teacher- celebrating is more than just throwing a birthday party or participating in holiday traditions. It is an essential part of the training process to develop happy and productive adults of the future.

One of the most impactful books to influence my parenting and teaching is "The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness" by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell. More beneficial than any teaching pedagogy class or comprehensive curriculum was grasping the concept of 'successful learning and lifelong joy' explained by Hallowell. He goes into detail to discuss how the five step cycle of connect, play, practice, mastery, and recognition, repeated over and over again, is absolutely essential to a child's capacity to experience a meaningful life rooted in confidence, awareness, and values.
No one can deny that if you love your children (and students) you desire for them to live rewarding and happy lives. These steps are simple, but profound in their importance to that end.  I could go on and on about how much thought and daily effort I put into embedding the first four steps in my students' school experiences, but the purpose of this post is to make a case for the remarkable value of recognizing the early learning milestones that are achieved in preschool by celebrating with a graduation ceremony.

Over the years I have met naysayers that don't understand why five year olds are wearing graduation gowns and tassels and carrying diplomas. My response to this (after expertly hiding my internal teacher reaction of "are you kidding me right now?!") is that preschool graduation is the perfect way to show pride, approval, and support of the learning process. It absolutely creates a positive connection between family and school and demonstrates the value placed on each student's achievement as a learner and their growth as a person. Huge milestones are reached in the three to five years of age window and what a powerful validation to a child's sense of worth and well-being to publicly recognize those!


I wish you could feel the excitement and pride that exudes from these little prekinders and their families on the night of our ceremony. But luckily, the advantage of a blog is getting to see photos of such an event, which is the next best thing! I appreciate the families that gave me permission to share some special moments from our celebration "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" from last year that prove a preschool graduation is truly a worthy endeavor.

A few songs, handshakes from the principal, a diploma, a reception with cookies and photo ops, with some preschool artwork on display doesn't sound that complicated, does it? And yet, an identity as a successful learner is established. It's like making a huge desposit in their mental and emotional bank account. Equally important is the chance a ceremony like this gives the school and parents to prime these kiddos for another walk across a platform thirteen years in the future when they will graduate from high school. And let's not be naive here. Some kids will face very real disillusionment, extreme frustration, and hardcore temptation to give up before that. My hope is that by early instilling in them the belief that they are a success in the realm of education, that they are a valuable member of their school community, and that they are on this earth for a purpose that only they can fulfill, that they can find the will and determination to reach that goal, even when the going gets tough. Because we chose to recognize their mastery in preschool and help them keep the achievement cycle going, they will continue to take risks- to connect, play, practice, master, and recognize their value as a person that makes this world a better place.  And that, my friends, is what the celebrating is all about!

Leave the Judging to Judy

I never cease to be entertained when I watch Judge Judy. This firecracker of a lady just tells it like it is- dropping the truth bombs left and right. She presides over each case LIKE A BOSS... chopping down cases and letting the chips fall where they may because she has no obligation to a relationship with either the plaintiff or defendant. The encounter in the courtroom is a one-and-done event. Her counsel is given while roasting the litigants (which slays me, btw). Justice is served with a side of sarcastic humor. (Please indulge me a few classic Judge Judy quotes in this blog, I beg you!)

Many times I have been tempted to go all "Judge Judy" on someone. Not in a you-broke-the-law-now-you-must-pay sense, but in the I'm-a-teacher-and-have-four-kids-so-I-know-the-best-decisions-you-should-be-making-in-raising-your-child sense. It's just so easy to allow thoughts to fill my mind that the student could be doing so much better if their parents would just... [fill in the blank].  This attitude of mentally judging parents became such a bad habit for me in the past that it began affecting my fulfillment in teaching. I inadvertently started basing my students' ability to succeed in the classroom with what I perceived was the quality of their home environments and family relationships. I took on the role of a victim when my students weren't achieving the standards because I blamed parents when they were not helping their kids according to my expectations. This mindset that I was helpless to influence the achievement of my students because I don't control the circumstances of their home life was leading to serious burn-out. I couldn't let go because I was holding on too tightly to my poor-me-I-will-never-reach-this-kid-because-his-parents-don't care feelings. I remember being devastated after a particularly tough round of parent teacher conferences a few years ago. The needs seemed overwhelming.  The odds seemed stacked against the kids. Failure appeared inevitable.

So what's the answer to the devastating hopelessness of this mindset? It's more than just accepting that I do not have control over the decisions families make in child-rearing and the home life of my students. I found incredible peace when I mentally freed people from having to conform to my reality. Obviously not everyone has the same life situations- ergo, our values are vastly different. When I grasped the futility of expecting parents to follow the same thought processes as I would in engaging in their children's educational experiences, I was able to appreciate the principle of "separate realities" (Angela Watson- Unshakeable).  What informs a family's decisions is based on their reality. Their reality is not my reality. And I have an obligation to interact in a way that builds a trusting relationship all year. It is NOT my place to judge the priorities of families. It IS my responsibility to support their child in the learning environment. It is NOT my place to say how differently I would behave as a parent "if that was my child".  It IS my responsibility to show that student unconditional love and acceptance while holding them accountable for living up to their abilities and potential in the classroom.  It is NOT my place to assume that I know exactly what life virtues a child is not getting the proper instruction in at home. It IS my responsibility to teach students the standards expected at their grade and act as their guide in their discovery of the joy of lifelong learning.  It is NOT my place to worry about the absence of what I consider "normal" routines or the presence of seemingly chaotic functions in their home. (What is normal anyway?  Who decides what chaos looks like?) It IS my responsibility to communicate the ways that I can work with families and offer opportunities that educate and inspire parents to be their child's biggest fan in celebrating success. I offer, but the choice is theirs. I have a circle of influence, but not the power to persuade everyone to adopt my way of thinking.

I wish I could say that I have perfected always remembering these principles, and I am always happy-go-lucky, and I never worry about my students and never second-guess a parenting decision.  What I can say is that those worrisome thoughts no longer overwhelm me. There are still times I have to remind myself of these truths: this child is a gift TO THEIR FAMILY, parents are the experts on THEIR OWN CHILDREN, and their reality is SEPARATE from my reality.  I'm working on disciplining myself to reject thoughts that I know what's best in the entirety of students' lives based on only the portion of what I see in the classroom. I actively seek to recognize what I do control and maximize my opportunities in that area for all they are worth. I constantly look to leverage every resource at my disposal in my goal to reach students and make connecting with their family easier. And let me put in a big plug for GRATITUDE here. There is something miraculous that happens when I focus on being thankful for the chances I have every day to nurture and instruct during school hours. I mean, that's what I hope for my own kids!  Namely, a teacher that cares deeply for my child, that relentlessly pursues the best way she can teach them, and cooperates with me as a mom to help them be the best they can be. Not taking over my authority as a parent, but rather acting as another member of the team to help them succeed.  Connecting with my vision as a fully committed teacher and not a Judge Judy of parenting styles has helped me so much in adapting, executing, and enjoying my instructional and relational experiences with the kids in my class every day because...

Fanning the Flame

I had one of those days.  The kind where you just wonder if you are making any progress at all.  When kids have crazy behavior and lack focus during instruction, it really drains me as a teacher. 

I have learned to draw upon the wisdom of professional colleagues near and far on these kind of days.  I independently practice reframing my thoughts to stay positive most days, but sometimes it's difficult to power through on my own. That's when I know it's time to fan the flame of inspiration and find the strength to keep on keeping on by tapping into the incredible resources of educators I deeply respect. One of those educators is Dave Burgess.

When I first read Dave's book "Teach Like a PIRATE", I received an instant rush of inspiration to try new things, affirmation that creativity is a lot of work and SO worth it, and encouragement that my vision of developing lifelong learners continues to be more important than ANY standard and to keep that in the forefront of my mind every day. It encouraged me to embrace my desire to be remarkable and leverage all the resources at my disposal because my students deserve THE BEST.

So tonight, when I feel like "I just can't even", I know it's time to roll through some of my favorite quotes from this great book and fill my teaching tank up so I have the gas to energize myself to BRING IT to my students tomorrow. Because it's not okay with me to muddle through until I get to the weekend. What kind of life is that?!  I consider myself to have one of the most important jobs in the world.  I'm geared to THRIVE, not just survive. Reading these powerful quotes are like a breath of fresh air when my teaching spirit gets a little stale.

 No wishing for the weekend before it's time. My kids need me to show up tomorrow and keep making a difference. No mailing it in. I'm there to provide a uncommon learning experience because I expect uncommon effort and attitude from my students. I already feel like I'm getting my second wind by putting my focus on creating a unique twist to grab their attention for the science lesson tomorrow.  I have faith in myself and my passion for teaching to believe that my little flickering flame will be a roaring blaze in the morning- ready to start a fire of inspiration because my students deserve it.

Parents Say the Darndest Things!

I know the expression is really 'kids say the darndest things', but when I stop and listen to myself reason with my own offspring sometimes I think, "Did I really just say that?"


In the interest of keeping it real and not taking it all tooooo seriously, I'm sharing some of my darndest things. Oh, and let's not forget the overused sounds-like-a-broken-record reminders I issue multiple times a day, every day, because of a little condition called selective hearing, from which my boys all seem to suffer. I'm hoping I'm not the only one on the verge of going crazy all up in here. In my defense, THE KIDS MAKE ME DO IT.

1) "Can I just have my coffee first?" Yes, I really just heard myself ask for permission to partake of my wake-up-cup-of-joe before getting immersed in the never ending feud of whose turn it actually is to play the PS3 right now. Or who is supposed to put away the cereal. Or who had the phone charger last. The real life or death issues of our time to be sure.

2) "I will have the last word, so you can stop talking now." Call it a character flaw if you want, but I cannot have a 'discussion' with my kids and not have the last word. This gets especially tricky when engaging with my son who has the same character flaw that I do. Said discussion can go on for way too long and inevitably ends with a ridiculous threat from me, i.e.- "say one more word and you are grounded for the rest of your life" or weird little noises that come from my mouth to interrupt him each time he tries to get in another syllable when it is OVER.

3) "Put a shirt on/brush your teeth/put on deodorant." Because it's not enough that these things are part of the daily routine for the civilized world or that we've only been over how important they are a million times. For some reason boys seem to think shirts are optional, teeth don't matter, and deodorant is overrated. No one told me one of my jobs as a mom is to have to convince them THESE THINGS MATTER. I pray that by the time they get to college, muscle memory takes over and it just happens. Otherwise, I may have to learn how to hypnotize them so they end up clothed, with clean teeth, and not reeking to high heaven at the end of the day.

4) "Summarize." Now, I'm actually proud of this one and request the highest of fives from my parenting peeps. A true honest-to-goodness lightbulb moment of genius struck when I realized I could take a reading strategy my boys learned at school and use it at home so my ears don't fall off listening to four kids recap ALL OF THE THINGS in a play-by-play fashion that would make sports commentators jealous. Seriously, it's just too many words for me to take. Believe it or not, a twenty minute story can be boiled down to a three sentence 'highlights only' version. In the interest of full disclosure, this only works if your kids have mastered summarization. But in my family, three out of four boys have this achievement under their belt, so essentially, I've gained years of my life back with this strategy. YEARS. You're welcome.

5) "If you guys are going to break each other's arms off, then take it outside."  I'm not going to lie, when I first said this I almost washed my own mouth out with soap. It just sort of erupted in a moment of weakness during a long summer day when I was D.O.N.E. with sibling rivalry and just needed somebody to win, for the love of all that's holy without me kicking them all out of the house 'til kingdom come. But then again, if you think about it, I'm really kind of preparing them for the real world...survival of the fittest...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...and all that. Someday they'll probably look back on those days that I just about HAD IT with fondness and say, "Remember when Mom was about to flip her gourd and made us go outside to fight it out? She really did us a solid. Good times."

6) "You're my favorite." This is a classic little ditty heard frequently around our house because I am now a crafty veteran of sixteen years and I am not afraid of using a little manipulation positive reinforcement combined with friendly competition to recognize when a kid gets it right. They all LOVE to rub it in their brothers' faces when this golden phrase is bestowed by me upon whoever  happens to be trying to get on my good side at the moment. For instance, whoever gets in the car first in the morning without being told twenty thousand times that it is time to go... is my favorite. Whoever tells me they like my stir fry better than the Chinese restaurant... is my favorite. Whoever lets me have the last piece of their Hershey's chocolate bar when we are making s'mores...is my favorite. Word of caution: your kids have to be old enough to appreciate the good humor and tongue-in-cheek sass of this phrase. You don't want to scar a little toddler for life because you just called their big brother your 'favorite' (shudder- that's some serious adult baggage just waiting to happen). Want to know a cool thing about big kids that know you love them all equally and appreciate what makes each of them special?  You can tease them about trying to earn your favor and it really is a big joke that everyone can laugh about. I LOVE having older kids!

7) "I'm always on your side and I'm your biggest fan." They've heard it since the beginning. Because in the midst of the chaos and love that is our family, I never want them to doubt that every decision their dad and I make, we intend to be for their good. Even when it seems like I'm against them, it's because I'm actually for them. No one will outcheer their mom from the grandstand in the game of life. NO ONE. I'm there to support them in the defeats and there to celebrate their victories. That is one thing they can always count on. And if I get it wrong, I'm not above apologizing. It's no big secret to them that I'm not perfect. They're not perfect. Might as well lead by example and get on the "I'm sorry" bus when it's time. It teaches them how to be gracious at making it right when they mess up.

So, moms and dads- be encouraged. You're gonna say some crazy stuff along the way. You're gonna wish you had surround sound on a loop playing the phrases you say every day because you're getting tired of yelling at the top of your lungs strongly speaking the truth in love (because these kids are going to turn out to be happy, well-adjusted adults, dang it- even if it kills us). Laugh about it when you can. Say you're sorry when you screw it up. And make sure your kids know they're loved more than silver or gold. You'll find a way because there's no one that's more of an expert when it comes to their kids than you are.

*Got some "creative" parenting phrases that have made your list? Let's hear them!

Living the Dream

Are you "living the dream"? I'm talking about your dream. It is special. It is awesome. But sometimes it's HARD to make the dream into reality. But what if there was a way to increase the chances of your dreams becoming reality with a simple visual aid?

I recently read a quote that seemed pretty powerful to me... "Where your attention goes, your energy flows" (Christine Kane). I took it upon myself to test the validity of that statement and created a little thing called a vision board. Take a look...

Thanks to my son Landon for helping
display my board!

It's so simple, it's crazy that I haven't done this before now! It's not a new thing, but it's new to me. A vision board is just a visual of quotes and pictures that represent what you want to be, have, or attain. It inspires you to keep your focus on what you value and are striving to become = your dreams. Essentially, you are visualizing these priorities every time you look at the images on your board.  Visualization has long been recognized as a effective way to help people reach their goals by imagining what the end result will look like and having faith and determination to work out the process involved in getting there.

You don't have to have a special reason to make a vision board. And there's no wrong way to do it!  It can be about acquiring, traveling, developing, or achieving. It can be about deepening your calling. It can be about anything that you feel is a worthy endeavor to living an enriched life. Evoking emotion with images is also an effective tool to connecting with what brings you joy, so don't be afraid to experience all the feels during this project!

Since you are unique, any vision board you create will be unique as well. My vision board is about continuing to develop a few key aspects of my person and how I want to feel about my life.  My relationships, my faith, my home, and my professional mission are all represented because these are things that make me happy.  I've included things that motivate and inspire me. Even the "material" things I found pictures of are connected to how I want to develop a peaceful home atmosphere and trips I want to take with my family. My focus is really on intangibles that are hugely meaningful to me. My time frame for achieving the goals on this vision board is a year, but there's no set time period. It's completely flexible- you decide!

Have I piqued your interest? Here's a bonus- the whole process was a blast! It's like dreaming and decorating all at once. It's getting in touch with what makes you tick and taking ownership of your journey on the way.  Here's a breakdown of the steps so you can go for it, too...

1) Get a bulletin board. Mine measures 24" x 36" and came from a garage sale, but you can get them from Wal-Mart for less than $10. I covered it with scrapbook paper for a background, but you don't have to.

I grabbed my glue gun and  went all out with some burlap and bling on the frame because that's how I roll. If it's something I'm looking at all the time it might as well be pretty, right?!

2) Print off your favorite quotes, inspiring messages, scriptures, photos, or ideas- just whatever represents your hopes and dreams. Cut out photos from magazines, even.  I also put a peacock feather (go figure) because that is a special symbol to me. Remember, there's no right or wrong to what inspires you, and so whatever you get good vibes from is fair game! Then mount those puppies with pins or staples to your board.

3) Display your vision board in a prominent place where you will see it and pause to reflect (even for a brief time) on a daily basis. Mine is on the wall right beside my closet so I see it every morning when I get ready for the day and every night when I prepare for bed. It's the opposite of "out of sight, out of mind". The thoughts that this board has you envisioning need to be at the forefront of your mind, so sticking it in the corner of a room you rarely visit doesn't do you much good.

This digital version is on my
phone thanks to Hay House.

Speaking of keeping it close, there are apps available for making digital vision boards. That way your dream visuals are conveniently stored on your phone which could be a great option if glue guns, bulletin boards, and crafting aren't your thing. I created the very simple one pictured here using the Hay House app.  Isn't technology awesome?!

And here's a little twist I added to the vision board hanging in my room (probably because I'm a teacher and I  like to chart progress in detail!) that has already served as a fantastic encouragement to me. I left some space on my board so there would be room to post things that show how I'm attaining my vision as the year progresses. Even baby steps help keep me motivated to take action and stay committed to my dreams.

For example, someone recently sent me a card with a personal message inside thanking me for inspiring them to discover a new way to reach their students. This is worth more than gold to me because one of my aspirations is to inspire other teachers to impact their students in creative and meaningful ways. So that card is now posted right next to my inspiration quote to remind me that this vision board is more than lofty ambitions. It illustrates the foundation of my purpose in life to glorify God and where I find my joy. These are successes to be celebrated. Not only CAN I do it, but I AM doing it! I bet if you take a careful look, you'll recognize the ways your dreams are becoming reality as well!

Deciding on and creating a vision board has to go down as one of the most empowering things I've done. There are some really good resources out there to jump start your own creative process. Check out the links below for more information or do a Pinterest search for vision boards.

<<How To Create a Powerful Vision Board>> from Acorns and Lemonade Blog

<<Top Vision Board Apps: Making a Digital Vision Board>> from Make a Vision Board

Take action to adapt, execute, and enjoy because you deserve to be "living the dream"!

Keeping It "Classy"

I don't think I'll ever get tired of exploring other teachers' classrooms. It's so inspiring to see how different personalities with their unique points of view and personal visions create environments that set their students up for success!  In this part two of an article I first shared in October, we get additional glimpses inside some more elementary classrooms and see how each teacher's philosophy and desire to reach their students influences their "brand"- specifically, their class identity and the emotions they hope to evoke in making connections with their learners. It's pretty evident that these educators are in touch with what is relevant and meaningful to the students at their grade level. Just keep scrolling and you'll see that the classroom photos speak for themselves.



Mrs. Schad- Second Grade

Mrs. Jacobs- Kindergarten

Ms. Loehr- First Grade

Mrs. Underwood- Kindergarten

Ms. Hayes- Third Grade

Mrs. Robinett- First Grade

Mrs. Imler- Second Grade

There's just something energizing about getting a closer look at the evidence for the excitement other educators have for reaching their kids. Have you felt a little isolated as a teacher? Teaching is one of the few professions where you do the majority of your important tasks without actually observing your colleagues doing their important tasks! Our most important tasks involve guiding, instructing, and empowering our kids to learn. Sure, we collaborate and plan with our colleagues, but we don't actually see each other in action executing those plans. We are all busy teaching our own students in our respective classrooms at the exact same time! But when the teaching day is done and the kids have gone home, ocassionally I get to visit with my fellow teachers in other grades and enter the place where their "magic" happens. That's when I appreciate having a deeper connection with them. I can envision how those plans to guide and impact their students come alive in their surroundings. I get ideas that spur me into thinking of and formulating new avenues to reach my own students. We can feed off of one another's energy and creativity to stay inspired. Our students always benefit when we go the extra mile to engineer these "classy" spaces where they spend the majority of their waking hours five days a week. And benefitting students is what it's all about. So, way to go, teachers! Keep on creating the joy!

Mission Possible- Making Teaching Your Happy Place

If I had to narrow down to one thing that has made the biggest impact on me being positive about the teaching profession and has inspired me to continue to strive to reach my students, it would be this...
I am secure in my teaching vision and how to measure its fulfillment.

It wasn't always like this. I hit rock bottom about four years ago when I felt like a failure because not all my students were scoring satisfactorily on the required standards. Of course, there were other factors contributing to my being disenfranchised with the profession, but in large part my defeated feelings were due to my negative interpretation. My students weren't achieving their predetermined goals for every concept, and I took that personally. I was ready to give up on teaching and began exploring other career options. In the midst of my deep soul searching, I made an important discovery that turned everything around.

The main reason I was jaded and in a constant state of angst about education was because I had unwittingly let my personal vision and calling be overshadowed by numbers. The number of a test score. The percentage of students not grasping a developmentally inappropriate concept. Quite by accident, I had lost sight of why I chose to be a teacher and succumbed to the pressure and stress of winning a numbers and data game.

Now, no one told me to exchange my mission for data. I LET myself become a victim, blaming my dissatisfaction on curriculum, Common Core, the poor home environment of my students, etc., etc. Honestly, there is virtually no end to the "problems" a teacher can point out in education. But the reality was I was operating from a negative mindset and a framework of deficiency rather than a positive mindset with a belief of abundance and opportunities.

The first step for me in re-igniting my passion for teaching was reclaiming and enlarging my personal vision as an educator. After nineteen years of instructing at various grade levels in different states at both private and public schools, my teaching story is unique in its own right and has evolved. As I learn more about myself, my strengths, the needs of my students in the world in which we live, it just makes sense that my vision will reflect that evolution. But what remains the same is my core belief that I am investing in kids and their families by the relationships I build with them.

The following steps were vital in transforming my mindset and breathing new life and excitement into my teaching. I share them with you now in hopes that if you feel on the edge of burnout or disenfranchised with education, you will be moved to receive a fresh perspective and renewed purpose in your calling.

1. Write down your teaching vision as a personal mission statement. Really give it thought and dig deep. Freely and fully explore what you hope people would understand about your heart for kids and why you think teaching is the way to reach them.

2. Establish your own standards for how you will measure your success. If your teaching vision is not primarily concerned with your students achieving a certain test score, then it doesn't make sense that you measure your fulfillment based on that score either!
My own teaching mission statement is shared in the example photo below:

The way I measure the fulfillment of my vision is all about being so immersed in the sharing of my passion and in the caring of my kids, that I can't help but observe the evidence of fulfillment in the daily interactions I have with students and their families.


Here are just a few ways I measure the fulfillment of my vision:
*When a student asks me 'why' questions during a science experiment and later repeats the experiment at home with his mom, I know I've cultivated discovery.
*Escorting my kids downtown to meet the mayor during a community caroling trip and hearing them exclaim, "This is my first time to see City Hall!" lets me know I have created an impactful experience.
*Giving my students freedom to build a new 'invention' in the Makerspace frequently results with me being amazed at the creativity and problem-solving taking place on their level. That gets celebrated!
*When we reflect on their achievements in the framework of tracking PROGRESS in their individual learning folders, I see beaming faces full of pride and radiating confidence based on their accomplishments. So rewarding.
*Communicating with parents on my class Facebook page has been vital in strengthening connections with parents. My efforts are constantly validated by their comments and expressions of appreciation because they are always 'in the know' via pictures and posts about what their children are doing at school and given opportunities to participate in class activities.
*I strive to set the example of embracing a positive mindset, so I'm ecstatic when I hear a student who used to say, "I can't do it" with frustration each time a new skill was introduced, say, "I guess I just need more practice- right, Mrs. E?" with an attitude of perseverance instead!


Each day holds some sort of success when you figure out how to measure in terms of your vision. Teaching IS my happy place. That is where I'm making a difference. That is where my mission is made possible.

Do I still have rough days? Sometimes. Do I wish some things in education were radically different? Of course! This isn't a perfect world. BUT, a bad day does not mean I've failed. I am no longer a victim giving over control of my mindset to a national testing culture. I evaluate my performance as a teacher against my core values of what my kids deserve.
What's your vision? How do you measure success? If you can't immediately answer these questions and are feeling discouraged about teaching, then exploring these answers would be a GREAT place to start. To this end, I am sharing a simple mission statement outline that might be helpful to you. Nothing fancy, but the thoughts you contemplate and the positive focus of your efforts could very well change your life!  It's free and available for downloading here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjt-e9Paj7p6xyIqbPsbRMeY5YpYuJ1g_WtXDVKsmpc/edit?usp=sharing
Basically, it comes down to this- you create the joy in your classroom. I'm always uplifted by hearing the ways that other teachers stay inspired...how they remind themselves that while they instruct in standards, they TEACH STUDENTS. How will you stay positive and inspired? Your students will feed off of your abundance that recognizes the goodness and opportunities afforded to you as a teacher. Choose now to carry out your mission daily and make teaching your happy place.