Sticky Notes

You can build whatever kind of physical classroom you want, but given the opportunity, kids will take what you made and turn it into something even better than you could have possibly imagined.

Kids can be really good at masking what they think are faults. Adults too. So as a teacher, it’s our job to show how these things aren’t faults or deficits at all, they’re just a starting point to grow from.

It’s hard to watch kids make a decision that takes them away from who they are, but it’s also uplifting when you see them succeed in the opposite. ... I think the assumptions we make about ourselves tend to drive us to make decisions that take away who we are when, instead, we should be like Hannah and know that who we are is enough.

Sometimes when we face challenges, we think it should take one big action to conquer them. But in most cases, it’s the persistence and the mini-challenges you win along the way that you should be proud of too because that’s where growth occurs.

“Mr. Eich, do you remember when you used to randomly put a crayon on my desk sometimes?” “Um . . . I think so?” I said, slightly baffled. “I loved the smell of crayons,” Elise continued. “And you knew that. So sometimes during class, you would just walk by and put a crayon on my desk and give me a smile. That was always the best part of my day.” I’ve tried my best over the years to have powerful and meaningful moments with kids. Sometimes it’s through a large gesture. Sometimes it’s a one-on-one conversation. And for the most part, I think those have worked. But more recently I’ve really begun to understand the impact of the tiny details. The ones I barely remember like the crayon. It’s those actions you think are so insignificant and small that end up being what defines you. It can be a little scary to think about but also pretty darn awesome at the same time.

Because one of the unique abilities of children is they can take an opportunity you think will be good, and they somehow always find a way to make it better