The assignment: write a speech acknowledging the challenges Odysseus overcame and give an example about your own personal challenge that you overcame. This assignment was for one of my eighth grade students. He’s been with me since fifth grade so the trust factor within my office walls is pretty high and the candor and vulnerability flows freely. At one tutoring session, my student wanted me to check his outline for that speech assignment. He chose to speak about a few yea

Like a great recipe, there was a perfect combination of ingredients that were mixed together to create HI Achievers. Those ingredients are my four core values that guide everything I do. My core values are encouraging environment, truth, growth, and cuteness. Cuteness was so important to me because learning is fun. My tiny hobbit hole office is such a safe space that tears flow freely when frustrations arise, kids totally nail their reading and writing strategies inside he