Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche encouraged us to blog about “Gratitude” this week.  Read more links here.

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My gratitude is for all those who attended (in person or at a distance) #NCTE16 and shared their reflections.  Here are my favorite quotes from our conference days. (Note they are NOT numbered so that I can include those that are “sticking with me” without stressing over the ones that have to be left out!)

• “Courage is more exhilarating than fear–and in the long run it is easier.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt via Tom Newkirk
• “We do not teach for mastery.  We teach for revolution.”  – Cornelius Minor
• “Classrooms have to be spaces of light. That’s our revolution. What you do on Monday at 8:30 is gonna change the world.”— Ernest Morrell  
• Successful readers revise their thinking, and there is a huge chasm between those kids and the kids who grab a thought and then just hold on to it.  – Ellin Keene
• “You probably don’t know adults’ DRA, you don’t know what level book they are reading. You might not even know what their community values. We acknowledge their habits and behaviors.” – Matt Glover
• “Exploration, risk, and failure are essential components in a writer’s growth. Exploration and risk will not occur if everything is graded.” – Kelly Gallagher
• “When we give students multiple choice tests, you get multiple choice test thinkers for an essay world.” – Kelly Gallagher

• From Julieanne’s blog and some of the sessions we attended together!

And from sessions that I did not attend personally but could still learn from due to generous Twitter and blog authors:

• “End every day with JOY no matter how the rest of the day may have gone.”  – Franki Sibberson
• “It’s not what I do that matters, it’s what I do in relation to what my students need that makes a difference.” – Chris Tovani
• “DO NOT USE THE TERM THOSE KIDS. Every kid that walks into the classroom needs an opportunity. They all need you.” – Sharon Draper
• “All of life is material for writing. I rewrite the past as I wish I’d done.” – Tim Federle
• “When you don’t know the language, you don’t realize how important it is to have language.” -Shana Frazin
• “If you don’t struggle in front of students, they think you have a writing gene they don’t.” – Kelly Boswell
• “When I’m not writing I notice a huge difference in my teaching. I need to be writing.” – Beth Moore
• “Help kids revalue themselves as readers by explicitly showing them the complex work they are already doing.” – Dorothy Barnhouse
• “The Just Right Book is the book that meets the head and the heart.”- Penny Kittle
• ““If I gave a child a topic, I would find out what they know about the topic, NOT what they know about INFORMATION writing.” – Mary Ehrenworth
• “We must not judge a child’s story by the chapter of his/her life that we walk into.” – Kristin Ziemke
• “We have an obligation to tell and share stories. And we must make all kids visible in our learning communities.” – Sara Ahmed

What were your favorite quotes? What continues to linger in your mind?

Thanks to all who tweeted and / or blogged about #NCTE16!  Amazing Learning!