" In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"

     This past week I was in the hospital, so when I initially read this question I wasn't sure how to answer it since I had not been back yet.  My first day back (yesterday, 9/7/16) completely caught me off-guard and left me feeling like "proud" was an understatement.  I was bombarded with students asking about me and telling me how much they missed me, and even received a standing ovation (minus the standing) from both classes in 4th Block after returning from a meeting with my Principal.      It let me know the importance and value we hold in our students lives.  Even though some days are rough and WE get really stressed out, we don't always see the impact we have on our students.  It was a very motivating and perception-changing return to work, but I couldn't have asked for a better day than the one I had yesterday.

     When I first walked in I was expecting the kitchen and classroom to look as if Hermine had just came through them... and they didn't.  To my surprise, my classroom managers held down the fort while the Captain was out.  I suppose having the students fill out applications for the roles they wanted empowered them to a level that surpassed my expectations.  I felt that the changes from last year to this year (as far as Dropbox/Assignment Submissions, Classroom Roles, Classroom/Lab Expectations, etc.) weren't being received as well as I wanted them to be, but I am glad to say I was wrong.

     Change is not always easy and hardly ever happens overnight, but it does happen.  Implementing the techniques and strategies gained from this Summer, especially small group and hands-on activities, is starting to gain a much more positive reaction.  So to my fellow educators I encourage you to keep fighting the good fight, we make more of a change than we think we do.  I hope none of you have to be hospitalized, but I hope you soon experience what I did yesterday.  It makes it all worth it.