14 Messages Every Student Needs To Hear From You
by Terry Heick
1. It’s not how much you know, but what you do with what you know.
Okay–quick post on the kinds of messages that can disarm the teacher-student (or school-student) relations and help build relationships with students that last.
This is tough to wrap your head around, but once you do it can change everything.
2. I care about you.
And this classroom is a place I’ve created for you.
3. The word ‘smart’ doesn’t mean anything.
So you and I aren’t going to use it anymore.
4. You belong.
You truly belong here–right here, right now, with me. I believe you can do great things, and I am here to help you do them.
5. The past is the past, today is today.
Past failures or mistakes are gone. If the past is truly relevant to today, let’s use it; otherwise let’s swallow it and move on.
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6. You’re more than a test score or letter grade.
As a matter of fact, you aren’t those things at all.
7. You have to care more than I do.
If you truly care about the quality of what you say and do in life, everything becomes easier.
8. Your only competition is with yourself.
You are on your own journey. Don’t compare your own chapter 2 to someone else’s chapter 8–or even their chapter 2. You are different stories.
9. Learning should feel good.
If it doesn’t, let me know.
10. Mistakes help us grow.
It’s okay to fail. Take risks and make mistakes. This classroom is for practice, not performance. Learning is practice.
11. I’m a person, too.
I teach, but I’m more like you than you’d think. Sometimes I’m going to make mistakes and sometimes I’m going to need your help.
12. You can’t be your best without hard work.
Show me an athlete or musician or scientist who is great–who is their ‘best self’–without hard work.
13. The world is better with you in it
To me and everyone else in your life. You are seen and heard whether you realize it or not, and everything you do impacts others around you.
14. You’re capable of anything.
And that’s pretty amazing. So let’s get to it, shall we?
14 Messages Every Student Needs To Hear From You