We love. Even if I'm the only one doing the loving. We celebrate every victory. Even if I'm the only one celebrating. We try. Even if I'm the only one trying. I may be a 'glorified' babysitter, to be honest. Every hall conference and desk conference start and end with the same phrase - you are loved, you are cared for, and you can do this. I think some of my students are starting to believe it. I see them try. Of course, I want them to learn something but I want them to know that every day (whether I think it or not), they are loved. I believe when you know you are cared for, you are willing to work. To set this atmosphere, I often write notes to students - that sounds weird, let me explain. If I see a student struggle or sit in anger after a consequence, I write a small note on a sticky note and sneakily stick it to their desk. Friday, I delivered one that said "I'm still your biggest fan." - simple ideas and concepts. They tend to smile or act tough, but they pick up their pencil and move on. The coolest moment was when I saw the "tough" kid, fold it up and put it in his wallet. I'll admit, tears were near but if Ryan Eshelman taught me anything, it was - don't let 'em see you cry. It took someone in school telling me I was loved for me to care. I've cared ever since. Not only do I hope they know they're loved, we embrace humor. We laugh in the good and bad (well, not the behavioral bad). We smile, a lot. If they don't smile, I smile harder for them.