‘Arthur Quiller-Couch’s advice to “murder your darlings” was meant for writers but speaks to any creative professional, including teachers. Just as a writer’s love for a well-written line can distract them from the larger purpose of a piece of writing, a teacher can fall so in love with a well-conceived activity that they can lose sight of their larger purpose of students’ growth. “Murdering our darlings” means being objective about whether our plan best serves the specific students we have in this moment. While some people make art just for themselves, teachers’ creative work depends on what students do with it. Teaching is a responsive form. If we cling to a unit, assessment, lesson, or activity that doesn’t meet the needs of the specific students we have right now, then we’re not doing our best teaching. Yes, we must hold ourselves accountable to planning, but then we have to pay close attention to what’s happening at the moment and adapt as needed.’ Sydney Chaffee