We fell in love with this article from veteran teacher Peter Barnes, first published in Edutopia, about his 20 years in the classroom. Our favorite paragraph:
I try to focus on the tiny interactions that make differences for students: a two-minute conversation about a student’s new dog, a positive email to a parent about her child’s progress, a high five for a former student in the hallway. These moments sometimes remain in students’ minds long after they leave us. Students remember us not because of our lesson plans, but because of the personal connections we make with them. This is daunting—our words and actions build students up or bring them down. It is a privilege and a responsibility we must take seriously every day.
It's well worth the 3-minute read. Check it out at https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-i-stay-teaching. Then share in the comments why you stay in teaching. :)