10) Inspire them with all that is at your disposal, and allow yourself to be inspired by them.

9) Make them laugh. They will learn better.

8) Cultivate the magic in the classroom. You know how it is. You show up. You open the door and voila! You are in the magic kingdom of young people! Grow the magic!

7) Humble yourself. Sometimes kids may know more than you, sometimes they do prove you wrong. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Make fun of yourself.

6) The old adage is still true: “Kids (adults too) don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

5) Never forget you are there to serve. Act accordingly. Listen to and respect what administrators, coworkers and parents have to offer.

4) Do not take for granted the smile of a child. Do not disrespect the simple notes that say you are the best. They don’t have to say that, you know.

3) Remember that they are not just brains. Cultivate the hearts. It’s not just about the cognitive domain; nurture the affective domain. 2) Treat your students as if they are real people. They are!

1) Love them as God has loved us…unconditionally. Don’t expect anything back, just love unselfishly and without conditions. You’ll be surprised who it is that comes back years later to tell you the impact you had.