This post originally appeared on the blog Blair Turner.
Whether you’re a new teacher or a veteran teacher, gearing up for your first day of school or finishing up a long week….
I have a message for you.
You are enough.
So many teachers struggle with this. Let me say it again for the folks in the cheap seats.
You are enough. And it’s time to believe it.
Teaching is such challenging work. You’re here because you have what it takes. You are enough. But in order to be it, you have to believe it.
You are smart enough. You are capable enough.
When you believe this, big things are possible:
You craft well-developed lesson plans that not only engage your students, but also deliver content effectively. You become an authority in your field. You know your students, and you know what works. You read your students and reflect on your craft. You keep up with current practices, develop your areas of weakness, and learn from fellow teachers. You seek help when you need it.
Nobody handed you a degree in education. You earned it. You are a lifelong learner who knows that knowledge is power.
You are strong enough.
When you believe this, big things are possible:
You accept constructive criticism – and even not-so-constructive criticism. You are able to truly listen to and hear the opinions of others without being defensive. A poor evaluation or observation does not define you – in fact, it inspires you. You can dust yourself off, take responsibility for the things you could have done better, and let the rest go. It motivates you to be a little better than the day before. You realize that perfection is a myth, but there is always room to grow.
And in the absence of recognition or acknowledgement, you continue pressing ever-forward. You define your own vision and chase it with purpose each day. You challenge yourself to move from good to great. You measure and celebrate your own success. You acknowledge, but forgive, your own failure.
You are bold enough. You are brave enough.
When you believe this, big things are possible:
You take healthy risks in your classroom. You try new strategies and experiment with unfamiliar techniques. You embrace technology. You speak up for yourself in PLCs and staff meetings. You share your opinions without fear, knowing your opinions have value. You avoid negativity and seek out fellow bold and brave allies. You advocate for your students’ needs in the face of opposition or adversity.
You are kind enough.
When you believe this, big things are possible:
You inspire your students each day. You show them how to treat others, rather than simply telling them. You find the good in each and every child, including (perhaps especially) the ones who test your patience and push your boundaries. You establish a positive classroom community in which each member feels safe, supported, and capable of achieving great things. You are able to be both a respected leader as well as a graceful follower. You instill trust in your students, your colleagues, and your community partners. You invite families to play an active role in your classroom. Your positivity makes them want to do so. You embrace diversity in all forms. You empower your students to redefine their own potential, challenge stereotypes, and make the world a better place.
You are tough enough.
When you believe this, big things are possible:
You accept that teaching is synonymous with change. You are flexible, able to adapt to new standards, new assessments, new teammates, new evaluations, new policy. You tackle adversity head-on. You understand that teaching is a challenging and often thankless job – and you embrace that challenge. You teach with spirit and dignity each day because it is the job you signed up for and you refuse to back down. You never throw your hands up in the air and wax poetic about the “good old days”. You creatively work with what you’re given to create the greatest learning opportunities for your students. Through your actions, you fight the trope of teachers as martyrs, and instead prove that teachers are trained and capable professionals who can handle anything.
You are enough. It’s time to believe it.
Now get out there and BE IT!
UPDATE: I’ve added a set of printable posters to my TpT shop. You can download them for free by clicking {here}.
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Blair Turner taught 3rd grade and worked as a math intervention teacher in grades 1-4. As a Teacher-Author, her goal is to help ALL students achieve at high levels by providing them with the tools they need to succeed. Blair’s passion is creating rigorous and standards-based materials that engage students and make teachers’ lives easier. For more teaching ideas, resources, and inspiration visit Blair on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. Or stop by her TpT store!
