During the last wrap-up day of my first year at a new school in Saudi Arabia, a fourth grade girl, let's call her Amira, asked if she could help me clean the ICE Box. This is the name of my Makerspace classroom, the ICE standing for Imagine, Create, Explore.  Amira light-heartedly wipe down the two walls covered with 3-meter-high panels of tempered class that invite students to draw and design without limits or reserve. Next she helped me sort through the Legos, Tinker Toys, Crayons, clay, pipe cleaners, craft sticks and other assorted, mostly donated items that live in our storage bins. After working quietly for several minutes, Amira shyly approached me. "Mrs. Cook,  she uttered, "Everything has changed so much since you came to our school." 

"Really", I said, a bit taken back, "What do you mean?" 

"Oh, you know...your'e the teacher the teaches with happy!"

Stunned, I gave Amira a hug and sent her on her way. My perspective as a teacher changed forever.

Every time I face a challenge, interact with a struggling teacher in a coaching session, or think of something new to try in my classroom, I always try to keep Amira's entreaty in my mind and heart, I hope to  always TEACH WITH HAPPY!