On your journey, you are going to be faced with conflicts and struggles, successes and achievements, both inside and outside the classroom. Although I will be by your side, so will your classmates. In order to have a dynamic and successful year, you all must work together. When one student prevails, the whole class prevails; if you are struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help. Throughout the year, we will be working in small groups, literature circles, and having engaging class discussions. It is important to not compete with your classmates, but rather, work together cooperatively and collaboratively. I hope you all feel comfortable with one another to listen and share ideas, and of course, treat each other with respect.