There is nothing more important than the people in the room, so we start with the people in the room. Every day.

Thirty-four years ago I learned an important lesson about teaching. Of course, I was only a student at the time, and I did not really know or truly appreciate the lesson, but all these years later, I know and appreciate–really and truly–what I learned from Mrs. Hisaw about the importance of relationships in the classroom. I was reminded of that Friday when I found this card in my school mailbox.

She was my junior high P. E. teacher. She wrote us cards then, which always contained words of love, wisdom, and encouragement, and she is still doing it today–thirty-four years later. She is still making an impact, still making a difference. And it is this same teacher I have striven to be and will continue to strive to be years into my students’ futures.

Everything I do to build relationships, from Smiles and Frowns to MyRoomMessages to Sappy Sy Rhymes to writing cards, can be traced back to the lady who taught me everything there is to know about working with young people. Thank you, Hise. I am who I am as a teacher because of you.

Of course, as I have discovered and continue to share from my own journey as a teacher, relationships are neither automatic nor accidents. They are intentional constructs of connection. And of all that I do, I believe there is nothing more important or suited for developing relationships than Smiles and Frowns (http://www.letschangeeducation.com/reflections-reality-relationships-are-not-accidents/).

Each day, each period–no matter what–my kids and I begin our time with Smiles and Frowns. We even found a way to do it during state testing. It is our must, our non-negotiable. I told my kids on day one, when I introduced it to them for the first time, there is nothing more important than the people in the room, so we start with the people in the room. And now, 156 days later, there would be an uprising if it were taken away. I have even said, publicly, I would get fired if I were ever made to take out of my classroom. Fired? Why would anyone ever want to stop Smiles and Frowns. Time. It takes time. And there are differing opinions on what constitutes good use of time. Some of my colleagues near and far think such things are a waste of time.

By year’s end, I will have invested well over a 1,000 minutes in Smiles and Frowns. Some people find that unreasonable, unacceptable, and even–I suppose–to be malpractice. Malpractice? It is bad practice to invest in kids? I don’t buy that–emotionally or rationally. We claim to know a lot in education. One of those claims, which requires no degree and was most popularly suggested by Maya Angelou, is that kids will forget much of what we taught them, but they will never forget how we made them feel. Never. We know this. Time has told this tale, time and time again. Mrs. Hisaw knew this thirty-four years ago, and I know it today. Many of us know it today, and that’s why we do what we do, even at the risk of being misunderstood and maligned by our peers. Education is not merely an investment in an institution. It is an investment in humanity. And so, I invest each day in the young humans in my charge. Will it matter in the long run? Only time knows that answer. But I have a hunch, it will. So, I invest. Every day.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…reconnecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…growing as writers.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.