The Sunrise

I wanted to share a personal refection that both teachers and administrators have seen repeatedly each school year like the daily sunrise, that is, students, children and adults alike, really do succeed with enough resources, support, confidence, and self-esteem, to name a few. I believe it is both fulfilling and rejuvenating as an educator to see a student be an "achiever."

I have seen the confidence and self-esteem in the kids of our classroom soar high on a number of occasions this year, to say the least. I recall this student whose writing skills has increased significantly, and more recently, wanted to learn how to write his name in cursive. It actually started when I heard this student ask another student at the table in a daring voice, "Do you think I can write my name is cursive?" The other student replied, "No way... You will never be able to do that." When I heard this while I was working with another student, I chuckled to myself. While this student's confidence is sky high who posed the question, I have seen the student submit papers with the name in cursive each time.

On other occasions, I have seen students be so ambitious to do more than what is asked, students take big steps in the letter/sound relationship, students undertake math problems, and more. At the end of all of this, I am reminded how powerful confidence and self-esteem is for every child to have under their wings.