“For the shortest month…February is the LONGEST MONTH.” In this light, Dave brings the question for  this episode: “How can we beat the February doldrums?” We think out loud together, as usual, and share some of our strategies. Some are small things, like just noticing how the days are getting longer. Others are bigger strategies, like dress-up days, or including intriguing projects, or saving a high-interest mini-unit that brings you delight to break up this stretch. We also think about how we sometimes need “permission to play”--and encourage ourselves (and our students) to be a little silly, playful, and whimsical. (Like leaving signs around your classroom that say, “It’s been 1000 days since the last bear attack on our campus.) We hope that this episode will get your creative juices flowing for how to spark a little joy and delight–for both you and your students alike.