A lot goes on in the classroom. When students come together, they do more than review the ABCs and 123s; their teachers also help them become the best people they can be. Young people may stumble, but luckily, they have good teachers and a classroom community who will help them learn and grow. The following motivational quotes touch on different values that we try to promote in the classroom: progress, inquiry, dedication, and kindness. They serve as reminders to teachers and students alike of what the overall goals are.
Progress, not perfection
We all start from different points, and we will reach different destinations. That’s why in the classroom we emphasize progress rather than perfection. It’s an important part of meeting students where they are. These quotes help us remember that though we all make mistakes and sometimes our plans don’t work out exactly the way we want them to, we can still learn from the experience.
- If Plan A doesn’t work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet! —Claire Cook, writer, Seven Year Switch, 2010
- If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes. —John Wooden, UCLA Bruins basketball coach
- Success isn’t about the end result; it’s about what you learn along the way. —attributed to fashion designer Vera Wang
Curiosity will take you places
Teachers try to encourage their students to become lifelong learners. This spirit of inquiry and curiosity broadens horizons and expands possibilities. These quotes emphasize the importance of being “a student of the world.” Key to this process is, of course, reading, which exposes young people to new ideas and cultures outside their daily experiences, all within a classroom (although we certainly want to encourage outdoor exploration, too!).
- If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden. —Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, 1911
- Reading requires concentration; a single word may be worth a fortune. —Chinese proverb, from Bustling Beijing, Medium.com
- Don’t waste your time. Keep learning. Study languages, literature, math, geography… Try photography. Visit museums. Broaden your horizons and stretch your imagination. Become a student of the world. —Mikhail Baryshnikov, dancer and choreographer, Pointe Magazine, November 4, 2022
- The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. —Dr. Seuss, I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, 1978
Hard work is key
These quotes from civil rights leaders Angela Davis and W.E.B Du Bois are referring to the work of liberation and creating a more just and equal world for all. However, they could equally apply to the work of learning new things. These two ideas are intimately connected: part of creating a better world is gaining an education so that you can understand what is going on and express yourself clearly. This process isn’t always easy, but it is very important.
- Sometimes we have to do the work, even though we don’t yet see a glimmer on the horizon that it’s actually going to be possible. —Angela Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle, 2015
- It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or year… Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime. —W.E.B. Du Bois
Be kind, to yourself and others
Part of what creates a positive teaching and learning environment is encouraging everyone to be themselves and treating those who are different from us with kindness. In this way, we foster kindness towards ourselves and towards others. Bullying springs from treating those who are different in some way with hostility and aggression. Teaching our students to act in a way that is respectful, both inwardly and outwardly, makes the school environment welcoming of everyone, regardless of appearance, class, race, religion, ability, or orientation.
- You’ve got to run your own race, first and foremost… Be honest with what your journey is for you and embrace what that is, all the while being your authentic self. —Stephen Curry, NBA player, The Charlotte Observer, November 22, 2022
- No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. —The Lion and The Mouse, Aesop
- Bad days happen to everyone, but when one happens to you, just keep doing your best and never let a bad day make you feel bad about yourself. —Big Bird, Sesame Street
Want more quotes about kindness that you can use in your classroom? Seeking more words to motivate your students to reach for the stars? Check out our articles Have A Little Fun With These Motivational Quotes For Kids and Pay It Forward With These Kindness Quotes for Kids.
