Hope is not always rational, but it is always necessary.
—Bryan Stevenson
Let Hope Stick
There are days when we feel completely, totally, and undeniably disheartened—days that threaten joy and attempt to swipe hope. Have you had one of these days? Maybe it’s been a rough week or a messy month?
Becca Burk and I were talking about a day like this, because it was A Day when I recorded in Becca’s kindergarten classroom. (You know, the kind of big and capitalized—A Day—that makes you wonder if students are learning anything and whether you should just quit.)
In the afternoon, surrounded by cameras and mics on big stands, Becca turned to me and said, “Are you getting anything that’s useable?”
I was a little surprised by her question. “Of course!” Looking into Becca’s eyes, I knew she needed more reassurance. “I know it’s been a tricky day with Rex, but it’s amazing the footage we’re capturing. You are continuing to position him and everyone else to learn.”
As we reflected later, Becca said, “You know, I used to wish that someone would just swoop in with a superhero cape and restore peace and order to my classroom. Now I know there’s no one who can do this, except for me.”
The more Becca and I reflected on the rough day, the more we wanted to draw a wider circle around our conversation. We want every teacher to know that we don’t have to wait for someone to swoop in to our classrooms when things get tricky.
Often it is tricky to know how to respond to student behavior that surprises us. The truth is there’s no magic solution. (If there were, you would’ve already found it.) And let’s be honest, no one’s swooping in with superpowers or sprinkling behavior-fixing powder to make it all better.
Before all of our hearts feel stomped on, let’s remember that we don’t have to figure it out alone. I know we feel alone when we’re in our classrooms and things go sideways, but at the end of A Day, you don’t have to face it alone.
My junior year in college was rough. I had a fungi class that was threatening to tank my GPA; I was spending two or three days in a middle school as part of my nontraditional teacher prep program; I was a Resident Assistant and supporting the 52 freshmen on my floor to help them connect and start strong; and I was spending copious amounts of time in kickboxing, Spin cycling, and weightlifting classes to counteract how much I missed being far away from Andy.
You know what my mom did? She arranged for people to send me care packages. It was special, knowing that someone knew I was having a tricky time, so they gathered things that would help and sent them my way.
It soothed my soul.
That’s what Becca and I wanted to do for every teacher who is having a rough day. We wanted to send a little care package. It seemed impossible.
Impossible is a red flag for me. Whenever I hear it, I’m reminded of Walt Disney’s quote, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”
So Becca and I rolled up our sleeves and we packed a soul-soothing care package for teachers. It’s called the Sticky Hope Kit. You can get it here.
You’ll also receive our weekly podcast episodes. That’s right, Becca and I started a new podcast called Sticky Hope. Each Monday a new episode drops with tools, resources, and straightforward conversations to support healthy emotional regulation and bring calm back to your day.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
PS: Don’t forget to grab your Sticky Hope Kit! It includes a conversation about Rex and the rough day when I was recording in Becca’s classroom.
Spark Reading Response
To love at all is to be vulnerable.
—C.S. Lewis
Boost Talk = Boost Learning
Our passion is our strength.
—Billie Joe Armstrong
Meaning Matters
The only way to change someone’s mind is to connect with them from the heart.
—Rasheed Ogunlaru
Ways to Assess Student Learning
If our children are to approve of themselves, they must see that we approve of ourselves.
—Maya Angelou
More Engaged Students
Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen—that stillness becomes a radiance.
—Morgan Freeman
Graphic Novels and Novels in Verse
Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers.
—Kahlil Gibran
Get a shot of leadership energy!
February 27 | 10:00 – 3:00 (EST)
Recharge your leadership skills with a dynamic and energizing workshop designed to help you lead with confidence and clarity.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn to
✅ use three key questions to support healthy emotional regulation for both adults and students.
✅ break free from persistent negativity and cultivate a culture of confidence.
✅ boost student engagement by using quick and frequent practice opportunities.
Join Ruth Ayres, Becca Burk, and Tammy Mulligan for this refreshing leadership boost and walk away with practical strategies to inspire, motivate, and uplift your school community!
Use code BigFresh50 for a special discount just for Big Fresh subscribers!
Quote It:
It always seems impossible until it’s done.
—Nelson Mandela
That’s all for this week!
