Every year on the first day, just like so many other teachers, I lay down the law. The rules, the expectations. Pretty standard stuff. But then I tell the students two rules and one fact that are the three most important things to remember in my class (and in life). Rule 1: No Glitter . Now, don't get me wrong. I love glitter. Sparkly things are pretty! But, sometimes I really hate glitter. When kids cover a project in glitter it is inevitable that the glitter is going to end up everywhere. For months afterwards, I go home with pieces of glitter stuck to my face and and I find it all over the classroom. Also, I run a science classroom where students learn to think like scientists and act like scientists. As far as I can tell, scientists don't often (or ever) put glitter on, well, anything. It's hard to take someone's life's work seriously when it sparkles. After I present this rule, there are the inevitable "What about...." questions. What abo