In 2007, I took my then 7-year-old sister to see Disney's Meet The Robinsons, a story of a child inventor who learns to "Keep Moving Forward" in the wake of failed experiments, no matter the obstacles or how frustrated and fruitless his attempts felt. The characters are similar to many of the gifted and creative students I taught in an Arts Academy in Oregon, although the results of their struggle were not quite so Disney-esque. Watching the film was a practice-altering experience. Clips still sift through my mind when I plan curriculum. It ignited ideas to reinvent my classroom as one that encouraged kids to "keep moving forward" in the face of challenge and failed first attempts in learning. 

As a writer and Language Arts teacher, I've been trained to believe that each word we write, or speak, is significant. Each word choice conveys a depth of meaning beyond its denotation, and therefore should be sought after, pondered, swirled about, revised, reinvented, and given gently, yet confidently, to the world in order to craft an intentional understanding.