This is Malala's awesome answer to the Taliban (and some cool thoughts on education too).

Hear Malala's amazing answer to herself when she thinks about hitting a Taliban with a shoe at about 4:30. But the whole clip is really worth hearing, especially her thoughts on the importance of your profession.

Students are discovering new things . . . thanks to you!

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."

- Mark van Doren

Find out who made TIME's Top 10 Movie Teachers list.

Yes, TIME magazine has a fun slideshow of Top 10 teachers in film. Do you agree with their list? Anyone missing or deserve to be there who's not?

View it here.

Whoopi Goldberg think this is your reason for existence. I do too. (And I bet you're fulfilling it.)

"We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark."

~ Whoopi Goldberg

Kylene Beers is taking some things on, for Lent.

Here's a really cool post by the thoughtful literacy blogger, Kylene Beers. I think you'll be inspired.
An excerpt:

"This Lent — and it doesn’t matter if you call this time Lent or simply the quiet days before spring blooms in all its brilliance — this Lent, I plan to do more taking on than giving up. I plan to take on the naysayers of education, reminding them of all the good that our nation’s teachers do each day. Dear teachers, don’t you lose sight of the opportunity you have each day to make a difference in each child’s life."

John Steinbeck thinks highly of you.

"Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts 
since the medium 
is the human mind and spirit."

~ John Steinbeck 

Here's a thought from a cool poem that might bring you comfort.

I came across a wonderful poem in Garrison Keillor's very nice anthology, Good Poems. It's "To be of use," by Marge Piercy. Great first lines: "The people I love the best/jump into work head first."

She concludes, "The pitcher cries for water to carry/and a person for work that is real."

Remember and take comfort in the fact that you and I have work that is real and important! Read and enjoy the whole poem here.