"You can be the reason some kid gets up and comes to school when his life is tough. You can be the reason some student 'keeps on keeping on' even though her parents are telling her she can't succeed. You can inspire your at risk students." -Bell (2003)

On an unrelated note, successful blogs need a theme, as well as a title that reflects that theme. I'm not sure if I am interested in being a successful blogger, but I know that I would like to create my own little network of people who care about working with youth through education, coaching, volunteering, and all that jazz. I will probably be posting a fair amount of reactions and links to articles/media regarding:

• coaching & teaching methods
• swimming
• education

I may also use this as a place to talk about my experiences as I go through the teacher prep program, and as I teach swim lessons at the YMCA.

Does anyone have suggestions for a more descriptive title?

Fostering a Love for Language

I am not what you would normally classify as a writer. I am generally on the opposite side of the scale, enjoying the structure of mathematics and science. Despite my tendency to avoid writing I have decided to start a blog as my own little nook in the internet. My focus here will be on the world of education, as I am working towards teaching in the elementary classroom. I hope that I will develop a fondness of writing if I make it a habit, but let's see what happens.

My first entry in this simple little blog is a praise of Dave Eggers. I never thought I would say that as I previously despised the man. I read two thirds of his book A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius before I dismissed him as self-aggrandizing.

It turns out that Mr. Eggers is incredibly selfless. He is a co-founder of 826 Valencia, which is an amazing literacy project that you can hear about in the video I am posting from TED. He is addressing literacy problems directly, and fostering a love and enthusiasm for writing. I now have a deep admiration for a man that I once loathed. He is making writing exciting, giving kids help that they need to be successful, surrounding children with role models, and making writing meaningful by providing publishing opportunities. Lets bring this to Detroit, kay?