What we do today matters most

My students work hard, REALLY hard. School is no stroll through the park for these kids. They face challenges that are well beyond their years. They are forced to cope with things that no child should face. 


Many students begin to slip. They slip because they live in a world that sometimes shows nothing but greed, pain, and chaos. It is a harsh reality, and many don't understand how to survive it.


As spring break approaches, I see many of my students crumbling. They are tired physically, mentally, and emotionally. They need and deserve a break. A lot of them are showing signs of giving up. In recognizing this, I have made an effort to make our intervention sessions brighter than normal (literally and figuratively).


Singing. Candy. Prizes. Flowers. Bright Colored Copies. Bold Fonts. Crazy Math Manipulatives (including a new beanie baby named Gumbo). Games. Cheering. Encouraging. Hugging. Trips Outside. Movement. Laughter.


While all of these things are fun, they are really just fluff. In doing these things, I attempt to show my students that each day is new and bright. "It is what we do today that matters most."