The end of the school year is beyond busy; I can't help but wish for 30 or so hours in the day. It is also a time for reflection. I like to think about what went well this year and what steps I need to take to improve. My students tend to dominate my thoughts. How can I fuel their desire to learn math? How can I help them accept that failure is not an ending, but a beginning and an opportunity? 
For our final projects, I gave students the chance to choose among several options. Business plans were the most detailed projects, and videos were the least challenging (or so the kiddos thought). I did not have low expectations, but I am still TOTALLY amazed by some of the projects my students submitted. By law (I think), I cannot choose a favorite, but I'm glad I can brag about the awesomeness of my students. One group decided to create a floor-sized board game where humans were the game pieces. Another group built a spinner out of a trellis. Project after project, I kept thinking, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
The final project experience reminds me that students will rise to the level of expectations given to them. I could have given them restrictive limits, but I chose not to. They had to submit a preliminary plan for approval, submit other items based on their project, and given a final presentation. I wanted them to explore without worry, learn to iterate without fear of failure, and take pride in their final projects. This year taught me that ALL kids want to succeed, and it is my responsibility as a teacher to nurture their abilities and challenge them to be better students. Summer is upon us now, and as I prepare for professional development and begin to plan for next year's incoming students, I feel a sense of excitement I haven't felt for some time. The possibilities are endless, and I am quite ready for the ride.
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