Words matter. If you work with students, please know that nothing matters more than the words you speak to them. Important adults become a child's inner monologue. They talk to themselves the way that others talk to them. I know. It's a huge responsibility. More than content or skills, I want my students to leave my classroom knowing that I care about each and every one of them as people. So I use my words carefully to build them up. I let my students know I believe in them. As a leader in my school, I want all our students to know they are capable of so much more than they think they are. The world is too negative, too toxic, too harsh. People are too quick to judge and tear each other down. Our words as teachers, day in and day out, carry so much more weight than we realize. So much potential for good. At the top of a hallway in my school, there used to be a dark, ugly, lonely corner. Long ago abandoned by the counseling department when they moved offices, this ugly little corner greeted each one of our students as they trudged up from lunch to go to their afternoon classes. It was downright depressing. So I asked permission, and I took it over. I thought to myself, if the majority of our students see this space day in and day out, how can I use it to bolster their mental health and well being? So I made it my own. The first part of the year it was basic mindfulness strategies and resources. The second part I featured mantras to help students move past stuck emotions. This last part of the year I wanted them to be surrounded by positive words to help build their confidence. The corner has become a pretty popular little attraction. So much that the afternoon after I finished the latest display, someone took one of the "you are..." signs for themselves. I like to think they needed a little boost to remind themselves of their potential (or maybe they gifted it to someone in their life who needed that reminder even more). Needless to say, I have loved the response from students.
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AuthorA midwest teacher in love with creating awesome opportunities for students to think, communicate, and produce. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Comfortable-Classroom
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