I am a middle school learning disabilities teacher. The students that I work with come to me with low self esteem. They often view themselves as “retarded” because of the teasing they endure. One student entered my specially designed math class after recently being identified as having a learning disability in mathematics. She had not passed even one test in her general education math class. On one test she was unable to answer even one question correctly. The first weeks in my class she was sullen, withdrawn and struggled to complete short assignments outside of class. I worked especially close with her during resource time, making sure she completed the assignments for the practice she so sorely needed. She failed her first test in my room, but it was the closest she had come to passing all year. The second test was higher still. Gradually she opened up in class, volunteered answers and began completing her assignments on her own. Our combined efforts paid off and I knew I had her, when after one of our final tests of the year, she got her highest score ever, a 95%...this on a test of fractions, a killer for many students…not just those with a learning disability in mathematics. When she looked at the top of the test she yelled out to the class, “I’m awesome!” That moment is why I teach.