(Day 100 falls on a… snow day! The problem with snow days, for me, is that I am so filled with anticipation about whether or not that they will call it that I wake up all night giddy with anticipation, and when I finally get the text at 5:00am, I’m wide awake and ready to start the day. Of course, then there’s a snow day to make up for it.)

This morning, in my predawn giddiness, I was reflecting on a move I shared with educators at a workshop I led just before Thanksgiving: the thank you. When students are done with group work, ask them to give one another a handshake or high five and say, “thank you” while looking one another in the eye. I also like to employ variations of this: when I notice we are really flowing well together, I ask them to put one hand up, then give themselves a high five, or turn and give 2-3 people a high five. This can create little pockets of connection between students, and a reminder to appreciate the contributions each person is making, including ourselves. And there is something in that physical contact, that can become so taboo in our education world, that really cements the feeling.