The Power of Education – A Letter to Students From a Teacher

One of the best things about teaching is the ability to pour into and encourage students daily. While, some days are most definitely harder than others. And some seasons extremely challenging. I always feel the most fulfilled in the classroom when I focus on encouraging my students. For me, this has always been a big part of who I am in the classroom. Additionally, I am a big believer that even one small moment of encouragement can go an extremely long way. Which is why I spend purposeful time encouraging my students every semester, each year. I am so excited to share with you a letter that I read to my students, a encouraging letter to students from a teacher.

Now, if you are looking for a little assistance, some inspiration to help YOU write your very own letter to a student, from a teacher be sure to download the FREE guide, How to Write an Encouraging Letter to Students, from a Teacher. This will send a helpful how-to, directly towards your inbox to give you a road map to assist you as you write a letter to your students. Of course, the letter that I use over and over again, specifically to read to my students is here in this post, just keep scrolling a little more. I think it’s worth mentioning, to not take my words directly as your own, but to use them as a source of inspiration as you encourage your own students.

The Power of Education, Learning and Challenge

Let me begin by saying, I believe in the power of education. I believe in learning and challenge. Additionally, I believe in educators and I believe in students. For the last ten years I have had the absolute blessing of teaching thousands of high school students.  The teaching industry can be one that is met with quite a lot of challenge. Equally masked with immense feelings of under-appreciation and overworked burdens.

However, I consider myself very, very lucky. I found a school, a dream school, where I truly have seen my heart grow immensely over the past ten years. The past ten years I have spent pouring everything I have and more into the lives of the individuals who has walked through the doors of my classroom. While, I have always known my role as educator has meant so much to me, it was not until recently, as I read Educated, by Tara Westover, that I became even more motivated to express my thoughts on exactly what teaching means to me.

Thoughts From a Teacher About Her Students

Teaching, for me, I truly believe, is a true joy and opportunity that I get to experience every single day while in the classroom. No matter the age or academic ability, I firmly believe that surrounding my self with students as they challenge themselves, learn, and grow is one of the most rewarding things. Even among the craziness and throughout the chaos. Because teaching is A LOT. It can be full of so many hard and challenging things. If you are a new teacher headed into the classroom for the first time, there is so much encouragement I want to pour into your heart, so that you truly know you can do this!

Because here is the thing. Every single student, every single person has specific gifts, talents and qualities that they have been equipped with. Equipped with for life. And it’s the job of the educators, the coaches, the mentors to fine tune and call out to those traits, those qualities and help allow them to develop to their exact potential. And even though these moments are just small moments in the journey of it all, these moments are incredibly powerful. Which is exactly why I firmly believe in taking the moments to pour life into our students and one of the best ways is through writing a letter to students from a teacher.

Every Single Day is a Gift

My heart feels so fulfilled teaching because every single day, I get the privilege of partaking in that journey. The journey that every single student embarks on. Whether they really realize it or not, the journey of self-discovery and fate as they find their path to destiny. Oh my goodness, the heart is beating faster as I type, which is why I know my heart belongs in a classroom. The revelation of the power of just how important the role of every educator is, but not just for educating. There is more!

The Joy of Teaching

Because the real joy of teaching is found through them. The students. The ones that I learn so much from. Who I am always inspired by. The ones who always, without even meaning it, find a way to lead me to continue to dream and grow. Who inspire me to continue to learn, through the power of education. Unfortunately, society can take for granted just what this all means.

Humans are so quick to judge generations as a whole, leadership as a whole, institutions as a whole, forgetting the power of one, the power of the individual. Yet, I see it in the classroom every single day. Students who choose each other, students who choose to believe in something bigger, something greater! Which is why I firmly believe in this generation and find it so necessary to take the moments to use our words to encourage in the classroom. The exact reason why I find it so necessary for teachers to write a letter of encouragement for their students.

Must-Read Book for Teachers – Educated

Another firm belief I have as an educator is the necessity to evolve. To grow, to challenge myself and surround myself with different perspectives. Recently, I read a book that changed everything for me. And I believe it will do the same for you! I feel as if my appreciation for teaching, has evolved even deeper over the last few days as I read (and listened to with a big THANK YOU to Audible) Educated by Tara Westover. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Boston Globe Bestseller and ranked top novel of the year, the story is written by Tara herself as she recounts her childhood and her quench for creating her own education.

Her story is remarkable, her voice, incredible. In a society where we take so much for granted. Her story reminds us that the most powerful things in life, are the things within us, and our job in this world is to dive on in and use them for GOOD and to not let anything or anyone stand in your way. And it’s for this exact reason why I believe so strongly in teachers encouraging students through a letter.

A Letter to My Students from a Teacher

I wrote this letter one Friday evening in the middle of a busy semester. I was sitting at a Panera, in the middle of grading a whole bunch of essays. Yes, a Friday night, grading essays. Now, before you roll your eyes and falsely assume that I am that teacher. There was an upcoming grading deadline, and my husband was attending a work event, so I purposely chose to use my time wisely and grade. However, in those moments, sitting in my booth at Panera, I became overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for my profession and the students that I get to interact, teach, and encourage on a daily basis. I opened up my computer, and typed. Words exploded out of my heart faster than I could even comprehend.

When I was finished this is what I wrote. A letter to my students, from this teacher. I read the letter back to myself and cried. Then, I posted the note to our class page, as well as read the letter to my students in class on Monday. Now, every semester, every year, on the day that feels the most appropriate, I pull this letter back out and read it to my students. Why? Because it matters. This stuff matters.

Dear Students, A Letter from a Teacher

If there is only one thing you take away from this class, this semester, it is for you to know how cared you are. It is for you to know and fully understand how important your life is. You matter. Your thoughts matter. Your ideas matter. In addition, your dreams matter. Your vision matters. The way that you perceive the world and the place that you hope it becomes one day matters. You have the potential for greatness. You have the ability inside of you to rise above any obstacle, any challenge placed before you. Additionally, you have the power, the strength to be victorious in any situation.

You are intelligent and brave. You are courageous. The way that you see things is important. Every single one of you has a gift, and you are going to use it in really big ways. I am so proud of each and every one of you. I am so honored, so blessed to be able to share a room with you five days a week, 18 weeks a semester. It is an absolute privilege watching as you grow, as you take challenges, and overcome them. As you push yourselves and achieve the goals set before you. I want you to walk away from this class, knowing that you are a warrior, that you are a fighter. That you will never give up, that you will always persevere, constantly fighting for the good in the world.

Be the best possible version of yourself. Never stop working until you reach your goal. If you fail, try again. If you feel defeated, just look at yourself in the mirror, and fully take in the person that you are, the person that you will become. This life is a great one, it can be tough, challenging at times, it will make you sweat, it will definitely make you cry, but what is so neat, is that even through the rough, there always is good ahead. And it’s that good that makes everything worthwhile.

If I could ask one thing of you, it is to never stop believing in yourself, to never stop seeing the good in the world, to never stop going out of your way to help others. Work hard, work harder than you ever have in your life. Push yourself, challenge yourself, take a step out of your comfort zone, it’s the moments when you take a step out of your comfort zone that the growing begins.

You are important. Your life matters. You are awesome. I am so, so proud of you. My heart beats a little faster as I write this, because I am so confident that you are going to end up exactly where you are supposed to. Your life has a purpose, and you will get there. You are destined for greatness, and it will happen. Believe in yourself, work harder than ever, and stay positive. I am always here for you and I always will believe in you.

You as a Teacher Matter A Whole Lot

I hope this encouraged you. I hope you know that you matter a whole lot. Furthermore, I want to encourage you more than anything to take the time this school year to encourage your students. Take a few minutes and express your thoughts. As a teacher, write a letter to your students, and share it with them. Let them know that you, as their teacher, care! More people need to know that they are cared for. One of the best ways to do this within the classroom is through words.

Additionally, please know, you matter. Your voice matters. You have a purpose and it is immensely good. Therefore, have passions and interests, and stay immensely interested in the things that make your heart beat. Encourage. Encourage others as much as you can. Speak up. Your voice matters and use it for good. Live intentionally, live with purpose, and believe in the impact that you are worthy of creating.

Encouragement for Students – Letter to Students from Teacher for Graduation

One final note, one of my favorite things to do in the classroom is too encourage. I love encouraging my students as consistently as I can through words. Specifically, for teachers who teach high school seniors, there is no better time than NOW to use your words to encourage and inspire as this next group of students prepares to enter the world.

Every single year, I write my own hand-written letter to seniors, in hopes of inspiring them, and reminding them of their potential and there worth. Additionally, I have more ideas on a letter to students from a teacher, as seen through both the Letter to the Graduating Class of 2022, and a message to the graduating class of 2023. My hope is these words of encouragement can empower you as a teacher to use YOUR VOICE to encourage and inspire those around you.