Backpacks Full of Burden: The Secret Lives of Struggling Students

I have learned a lot from the children in my classrooms over the years. It has not been an even trade. I hone my craft and find new and engaging ways to reach as many as possible, but every year I walk away with more than I gave. Children come from varied worlds, homes, and conditions that greatly affect their ability, motivation, and emotional state. Sometimes the hurdles a teacher must find a way around are immense. And every day dedicated teachers look for any and all ways to defy the odds that weigh some students down. Here are some of my moments over the years. I thank them all for gracing my classrooms. Happy Reading.