ABSTRACT
This chapter offers ideas for fostering a positive learning environment and for finding solutions to the most challenging issues today in areas such as teacher-student relationships, learning and instruction, assessment, motivation, educational policies and politics, and student engagement. There are many teachers who teach the art of narrative writing by starting off with graphic organizers that will assist students to collect and organize their thoughts. The chapter discusses some of the stories written by students that were meant to help other students and adults to wonder, reflect, and then drive changes that are based on their own ideas and perceptions about something that made them mad or glad. It examines the types of topics emerged when students thought about school, their education, and the daily victories and barriers that they face each day. Sometimes vague stories pack a punch for helping teachers to see so many different viewpoints.
