I know it's hard to believe that today is August 1st! It seems just like yesterday that everyone was celebrating the beginning of summer and the sand beneath their toes. While you are wrapping up your vacation and preparing for the year I wanted to share a couple of thoughts and ideas that may help you start on a great note! First, I would encourage all of you to take a deep breath and realize that while it may be stressful today, the school year will arrive just as it does every year and you will be there to greet it with a smile. The work that you pour into your classroom is always appreciated by your students whether they tell you or not. Second, remember that we are all in this together! As educators we need to draw on the strengths of our colleagues and share our strengths with each other in order to help all students grow. If you find yourself feeling isolated, jump on Twitter and start talking to the world to ask for ideas. There are many passionate educators who are m