The Power of Words: Why Daily Encouragement for Students Matters

Words Have Power

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” — Mother Teresa

Words have power — power to build up or power to tear down. As educators, we hold incredible influence in the words we speak to our students. Every word is a seed planted, whether we realize it or not.

Our Kids are Facing a Crisis

In today’s world, our students are constantly bombarded with negative messages — from media, technology, and social media. As teens’ technology usage has increased, so have anxiety, depression, and suicide rates. Our kids are facing a mental health crisis like never before, and if a student is struggling mentally or emotionally, he or she is not in the best position to fully engage with the content we’re charged to teach. That’s why every interaction and every moment of encouragement matters.

I’m not a “give everyone a trophy” kind of teacher — but I do believe in being intentional with my words. We have countless opportunities each day to speak life into our students, to remind them of their value, and to plant seeds of confidence and hope.

A True Story: The Power of Words

Educator. Encourager. Resource-Creator. Empowering educators and inspiring students to transform school culture one encouragement at a time.

I once knew a student who longed to fit in at school but struggled. She was overweight, unathletic, and didn’t quite connect with her peers. She felt worthless. One day, a “popular" girl passed her in the hallway and told her she loved her sweater. It was a genuine compliment, made in passing, but it completely changed the trajectory of her entire school year. She finally felt seen. That small moment gave her the courage to reach out, make friends, and engage more fully with her academics.

Creating a Culture of Genuine Encouragement

The ripple effect of our words carries far beyond our classrooms — into our schools, our communities, and sometimes for a lifetime.

I work intentionally to create a positive and encouraging classroom environment. My bulletin boards, classroom walls, and daily agendas include encouraging statements and quotes. I don’t know how each of my students started his or her morning before arriving at school, and I want every child who walks through my door to feel loved and seen — starting the moment he or she enters my classroom.

That’s why I created my 180 Daily Encouragements for Students resource.

These cards give you an easy way to share a daily positive message with your students. You can post them on your agenda slides, share them in morning announcements, print them as handouts, or even email one each day to your students.

Want to Try It?

If you’d like to bring daily encouragement into your classroom routine, you can check out the full resource here.