I never thought I'd be a teacher when I was in school. I never had that magical moment when a teacher inspired me to follow this career - I've never been able to answer that standard question. What I discovered, though, is that I can be that teacher for some of my kids. 24 years later, I'm still developing, day by day, to be a better educator. And I love it!

"Get it Done. Make it Perfect. Make it Pretty." - MrAB

What do those words mean to me? They represent the steps we all take whether the task is a school paper, a backyard shed, a garden, or a life. My motto minimizes procrastination and recognizes that, sometimes, you've just got to get it done. It doesn't matter if you want to or not - you've just got to do it.

Make it Perfect - This is the time you invest in making a completed project even better. Check your grammar, correct logical errors, improve flow, make each day a little better than the last, learn from mistakes, kaizen (you might have to look that up). Everything can get better, and you can make it better. I am, quite simply, a better teacher than I was in 1997.
Imagine that. ; )

Make it Pretty - Finally you have the chance to make it pretty. This is available when you push your limits to publish, to present, or to pursue. Honestly, this state doesn't happen all that often, but when you have the time and desire to make something pretty, this is the moment of Flow (check it out, 18:55 is all you need) - when time and energy are maximized and you are developing at peak performance levels. We all have it - Steph Curry and Richard Feynman are examples of the excellence that comes from this stage.

And how does that apply to school? I told my eighth graders one truth at the end of the year: You will never fail a high school class if you do the work the class requires - even at a poor level! You will only fail when you give up and choose not to do the work. 14-year-olds want independence and respect. They have to learn that responsibility comes hand-in-hand with those desires. For the most part, that takes time for the kids and patience from the adults.