Pride Comes Before…Success

Dear Teacher,

What effect does pride have on you?  No, not pride in yourself…though there can be power in that…I mean pride that someone else has in you.  What does it do for you to know that someone is really and truly proud of you?  How does it feel to hear that from them?  What good does it do your your heart, soul, and mind to have someone in your corner, cheering you on, beaming with pride?

Do your students have this in their life?

I am inspired to write about this because of my last class of the day yesterday.  As I looked around while they worked, and I had such a feeling of pride.  I am so proud of them.  I am proud of that class and all of my other classes.  They have risen up to meet my expectations this year…and I have very high expectations for my students.  I am really, and utterly proud of my students.  They are so AWESOME!

Can you look around at your students today and find things to be proud of about them?  I would challenge you to try.

And more than that, I challenge you to tell them.

As I looked at my class yesterday, it hit me that I am often struck by proud feelings about them but I do not say it often.  They should know how proud I am of them.  I need to tell them more often.  Pride changes things.  Pride helps you want to work harder.  Pride makes you strive for success.  I need to share how proud I am of my students, and in turn they will keep working hard for more success to make me even prouder of them.

I recently took on the task of writing a personal note to each of my students.  In it I tell them how proud I am of them and how awesome they are.  I have seen some changes in students just because of these letters.  They want to make me proud because I am proud of them.  Hope and pride is the light at the end of the tunnel.  My students are starting to see the light, and some are running for it as soon as they see it.  It is so cool to watch them run towards success and achievement.

Tell your students how proud you are of them today.  Write some quick notes.  Inject some hope into their lives by giving them some fuel that can ignite into the fire of success.  You are proud of them.  Let them know!

You are awesome, Teacher.  I am proud of you.  You do all you can to get your students to see and live up to (and past) their potential.  Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

For more hope and encouragement: @DearTeacherLT