Values...

Our district had a non-student day today, with the teachers going to grade level math meetings this morning. I sat by and talked with a teacher from another school. In addition to finding out that he and his wife graduated from BHS (he in '86, she in '88), he reminded me of something..... The state and district will always be pushing new standards and curricula onto our already full plates, which has the potential of causing much stress and burnout. In light of everything, the most important thing is my connection with kids, the energy that I bring to the lessons, the environment that is provided and maintained in the classroom, and me striving to make sure that each kid knows I believe in him/her. Whatever the standards are, I can teach them. It's that extra part, motivating and encouraging the kids in my class, that is most important. That's where the joy comes from.

I already knew and believed this, but it's nice to be reminded of it once in a while.