Writing workshop on the topic of "happiness" with a fourth-grade class. "What makes you happy?" I ask. "When someone says something nice to me." "Oh, yes," I reply. "Maybe you should write something nice down, then it'll stay with me longer." The children work with red cheeks, becoming increasingly cheerful. Then they give the compliments to each other. "This is so much fun! Could we maybe give notes to the children in the other classes too?" "Sure, why not?" Within a very short time, the pillars in the school entrance area are plastered with yellow sticky notes. "Here," says the little boy, "This is for you." "You shine like the sun" is written on the yellow note in scrawled handwriting. I stick it in the front of my car. It reliably makes me happy, even when the day is dull and gray.
