Thank you, Mr. D’Amato, for your words of encouragement and support. Thank you for providing an environment where I can be both a teacher and a learner. I am experiencing some of the most rewarding days I’ve ever experienced in my 10 year teaching career. My students are inspiring me to be the best person and role model I can be. I hope enough clothes are donated so we need to take you up on the offer of a bus.

I am amazed at the generosity and commitment my students have displayed toward making a difference in the lives of others who aren’t as lucky as they are.  Flyers promoting our clothing drive are going now, while I’m writing this post.  In addition to the clothing drive, my students are doing a research-based service project where they can make even more of a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. This is truly a wonderful time to be working with young people, when they are learning and living the true meaning of Christmas.

Grade seven at DMS is giving back in every sense of the word. Several of my students have been inspired to make a difference. They’ve planned a clothing drive that will take place Dec. 10-22.  I am so proud of their generosity and kind spirits.

Now that Laura has been with us, how has your thinking changed around making a difference? What is last week’s presentation inspiring you to do? Remember to post a comment to reply.

This friday, Laura Stockman will be visiting with us. Laura has just spent a year doing small things to make a difference, and she blogs about this on her site Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference.

In the coming weeks, you will have the chance to learn more about how to make a difference yourselves. We’ll be thinking about those who mean the most to us, our community, and our school. Each of you will then decide how you would like to give back in a way that is unique and meaningful to you and you will actually start doing this!

Laura will be here to help us get started with this exciting research project. She has a lot to share about the service work she’s done, her experiences as a blogger, and what she is learning about things like internet safety. We’ll be blogging about what we learn through our work this quarter and about our experiences as we begin to take action in response to what we learn.

Let’s start brainstorming now, though!

Please read Laura’s About page on her blog. Then, come back here and comment on the following questions:

Why did Laura decide to spend a year doing small things to make a difference?

What sorts of challenges have you or the people that you care about faced in the past?

What small things can you do to give back to others in ways that will help?

Please leave a comment below, sharing your response. Please leave your FIRST NAME and LAST INITIAL only on this response.