"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

When a dentist pokes my teeth, it stresses me out. But hearing their encouraging words, like ‘You’re doing great!’ or ‘Almost done!’ helps me calm down. I like when they do that—even if it hurts, it makes me feel at peace knowing the poking or pulling is almost done! I think students feel the same way about the stresses of school activities— reassuring them – loving them – could make the difference too!

• Catch them Doing Good!: I know the tendency is to always react to the bad news or the misbehavior but what if, this time you catch them doing good and acknowledge that?
• Be Patient – I mean BE MORE PATIENT?: Give students time to talk and understand them. Ah, how we love to just shhhh them to stay quiet, but what if we give them time to talk? What about sharing of “good things” before you start the class lessons? What if you build a culture of trust, respect, and love?
• Be Flexible – chill a bit?: Try different ways to teach to connect better with your students. We do teach the way we were taught – and the truth is – times have changed! So, shouldn’t we too?

It’s easier said than done! I know it’s hard, especially if you have unruly kids. But what if changing how you react to their “actions” or “inactions” could help you get better results?

WHAT IF YOU SHOW LITTLE ACTS OF KINDNESS? 

• Praise Your Students: Say “Good job!” when they do well.
• Smile and Be Friendly: A simple smile can make a big difference.
• Get to Know Your Students: Learn about them and show you care.
• Say Kind Words: Try saying, “You did great!” or “I believe in you!”
• Write a Nice Note: Leave a message that says, “Keep up the awesome work!”
• Celebrate Wins: Cheer for someone when they finish something hard.
• Smile or High Five: A happy face or a quick high five can brighten someone’s day.
• Treats of love: Candies from the dollar store! – could be it! 🙂

If you hear kind words do you feel happy or brave? You were once your own students! And yes, small acts of encouragement —like saying, “You can do it!” or “Great job!”—help kids feel stronger and more confident – like you were before! Yes, the littlest of things like a smile or a thumbs-up!

How Small Acts of Encouragement for Students Help Them Grow

When kids hear nice words, it helps them believe they can improve. This is called a growth mindset. It means, “I may not know how to do this yet, but I can learn if I keep trying.”

For example, if your friend is having trouble with a puzzle, you could say, “You’re almost there! Don’t give up!” Your kind words might make them feel better and help them finish the puzzle. That’s how small acts of encouragement for students can lead to big changes.

Why Small Acts of Encouragement for Students Matter

Encouragement helps students in three big ways:

• It Builds Confidence: Kind words remind kids they are capable.
• It Inspires Hard Work: When kids feel supported, they keep trying.
• It Spreads Kindness: When one person is kind, it makes others want to be kind too.

Small acts of encouragement for students might seem small, but they make students feel stronger and ready to grow. The same way – when you give  small acts of kindness – you tend to receive it too – in more ways than you could ever imagine! Just give it a change to grow.

Try it! Encourage Someone!

You can make someone’s day better with just a few kind words. Tell a classmate, friend, or even yourself something positive. Small acts of encouragement for students don’t take much time, but they can change how someone feels – and how you feel – and that will make the big difference! –  🥰 Gemma

The Leader In Me

Your Mental Health is Important – check out Embracing New Mercies in the Classroom here:

Embracing New Mercies in the Classroom: A Fresh Start

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