The K-16 CFG met on Friday night for a simple Spring Celebration. We gathered at Marcela's beautiful home to relax and connect over food and drink.

I had asked everyone to bring an artifact of "something that has changed your thinking." After filling our plates, we shared our artifacts and let the conversation wander between the connections of our personal and professional lives.

The artifact I brought was my own children. Being a parent for three years now has changed the way I think about schooling in many ways. I shared with the group that when I return to being a classroom teacher, I think I'll be easier on parents and harder on students. I'll be easier on parents because I realize that no matter what a parent does, sometimes a child will be unruly or obstinate or lazy or worse. Of course, parents have a responsibility to set up and maintain the healthiest home environment possible, but most of the responsilbility for learning should rest squarely on the shoulders of the students.

I will be "harder" on students because I pray that my own children will be blessed with teachers who have high expectations for their character as well as their academic achievements. If my girls ever cheat, I hope they get caught. If they are unkind, I hope they get called on it. If they are unprepared, I hope they have appropriate consequences so that they learn that their choices matter.