"I'm sorry and congratulations!"

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I was recently hired to teach 8th grade English at the school I attended from 5th-12th grade. Yesterday was the first day of school. It was a short first day but packed with emotion as I not only made my way back into the classroom, but also the place I called my second home for so many years. It feels good to be back amongst students, but it feels extra special to be in a place that is so familiar and full of so many fond memories. I am excited to see what this school year brings.


Every year on the first day of school I have students write about the following JK Rowling quote:

Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something. Unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all -- in which case, you fail by default. 

My favorite response of the day was, " When my friends fail, I'm [going to] say 'I'm sorry and congratulations.'" What an insightful response! That might be my pep talk for students who encounter stumbling blocks in their learning this year. What a great tag line to remind kids that failure, while frustrating, is just a building block to success.