Writing for meaning wasn’t something I set out to teach. It was something I learned over time, as I watched student motivation rise and fall depending on how writing was used.

When most people hear the word innovation, they often picture robots, coding labs, or high-tech inventions. Those things certainly have their place. But when you work with young learners, especially preschoolers through about third grade, you begin to realize that innovation often starts much earlier and looks much simpler. It begins with curiosity. It grows through exploration. And it shows up in moments we don’t always plan for. Here are some ways that I have witnessed in