I’m in the hallway of our high school doing what has become a routine for us–Hallway TLC. It’s amazing how much both of us are able to get done as we connect with students and teachers throughout the day. We set up a rolling desk and locate it in a high-traffic area of the school. It’s amazing how much you can learn from the casual conversations that students will strike up with you just because they know you’re available to them. So far this morning I learned about one student’s first job interview (intimidating), a weekend birthday celebration (lots of fun) and the academic struggles of a freshman and two juniors. None of this is earth-shattering stuff, and what I like most about it is that it is so ordinary. We’re beginning state tests tomorrow and so our TLC plan will shift slightly. But I have to wonder–how does the experience of having people available to them show up on a test? Will there ever be a way to test the TLC so many educators offer every day?