ABSTRACT
Having a “Cool” Classroom My central goal was incredibly simple and incredibly complex. I wanted it to be “cool to care” in my room and in my school. I wanted everyone-every student, every teacher, each staff member, all the parents-to think it was cool to care. Ironically, I don’t think I ever shared this goal with anyone-maybe because it sounded so simple, maybe because people might have scoffed at it, and maybe to improve its chance of becoming reality. Chanting, “Be drug free, you and me,” during Red Ribbon Week may or may not make a difference, but I am pretty sure that when kids reach a certain age, its value diminishes. I felt the same about advertising my goal.
