Busy Times, End of Q3

It's so hard to believe that the year is almost 3/4 of the way done. I have tried to build a workshop environment in our class where we all read and write every day. I have also tried to remind students that reading and writing matters when it changes our lives in small and sometimes, big ways. When Carlie gives me a copy of Out of My Mind. When someone realizes they are bullying someone else and should stop because they read the poem, Telling. When someone else decides that they need to tell someone about how they have been hurting inside because they don't feel safe.

Stories free us from our fears because we realize that tons of people all over the world face the same challenges we face every day. Reading and writing ends our loneliness. We are stronger people when we read, write and share stories. We realize that we don't have to be afraid. We are strong. We are superheroes. We use our strengths and talents to help ourselves and help others. We change the world for the good. We do our best. We not only survive, we thrive.