Coverage, coverage, coverage. In an attempt to make sure that my students were prepared for the state standards test and up to pace with district scope and sequence my classroom had taken on the feel of a factory. While I could boast that my students wrote up to twelve essays in the six months leading up to the state writing test, it was clear that many did not internalize the standards or craft meaningful work. They were simply going through the motions. How could I change this tempo and cultivate a classroom culture that values beautiful work? Beautiful work being work that is top quality, meaningful, and has a lasting impact on its creator and audience. My research examines what happens when I use peer collaboration, relevant curriculum, critique and celebration of student work to foster a culture that values beautiful work.