I touch the future. I teach.
—Christa McAuliffe

A principal asked three second-grade teachers what they were doing in math that day.

One said, "I am teaching Module 5, Topic A, Lesson 6 today."

A second said, "We are focusing on CCSS.Math.Content.2.NBT.7, adding and subtracting within 1,000."

The third said, "We are working to build fluency as we add and subtract within 1,000. I am teaching kids strategies based on place value so they can think like mathematicians and build fluency that will help them solve problems accurately for the rest of their lives."

Interestingly, all three were teaching the same lesson, yet we get the sense that one was inspired.

It can be easy to lose our inspiration. It can be easy for our vision to be narrowed by the trench we are in. When we pause to see the big picture, and understand that the work is much greater than ourselves, we can keep a spirit of authentic purpose and importance in all we do.

You are making a difference every day. You are preparing readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, and artists to make the world a better place. So in addition to being an inspiration, stay inspired. You really are touching the future.