Posted outside my classroom door hangs a quote that states, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

To me, this quote represents the crux of why we as educators do what we do every day.

As metaphorical gardeners, teachers watch for the child who needs a little extra fertilizer, wipe away tears when one of our students begins to wilt, notice when a child lacks nutrients, and make sure that they’re well watered for a full day in the sun.

Even as weeds come, we never stop believing that the garden will bear fruit.

We watch. We wait. We hope. We believe.

We celebrate the sprouting, even when we must look closely to see it. We learn from mistakes, understanding true growth only comes from pruning and refining our practice.

We eagerly share tips and tricks with other gardeners, moti

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