I’m crawling into bed, not because the work is done, but because my eyes just can’t focus anymore. I’ll be up a little earlier than usual to write down test scores tomorrow. Rather than the cathartic journaling that is sometimes required to sleep, however, I’m blogging, since the whole point of this thing is to…

I remember one of our first pro-Sats, in which our Icebreaker was to finish the phrase, “I teach for…” You’ve heard the expected responses. “I teach for that student whose life I changed forever yesterday.” “I teach for my classmates who went to prison because nobody believed in them.” “I teach for the single mom…

I’ve been saying recently that nice people have never meant so much to me. I’ve always been easily amused, but in the last few months, I think I’ve begun to see smiles, encouraging words, and simple acts of kindness the way Mother Teresa did–not that I’ve become the little pencil of God writing his love…

My sister said it best this summer. “You love the things most that you’ve paid the most for.” Every minute of last year cost me blood, sweat, tears, and years of my life—probably more literally than anyone, including myself, really gets just yet. True, this year is better than last, better in a way that…

It’s one of the “Uncommon Schools” positive reinforcement practices. From my limited observations, it mostly seems like an Uncommon practice. I’d like to think that my main audience is other teachers, though I’m fully aware that it’s mostly curious and supportive friends and family (thanks guys), but this post I actually intend for “almost” or…

One of the first years finally asked that quiet question, that last glimmer of hope that we didn’t have last year—“Tell me, does it ever get better? Is it ever less overwhelming?” A bold question for a girl only a week into her second year who spent the last year crippled and gasping for some…