As the new school year began, I wanted to foster strong relationships and cultivate a positive learning environment for my students. My goal is to improve student engagement by increasing their intrinsic motivation. To set a welcoming tone, I started with a student-centered activity focused on building community and confidence. Students created personalized affirmation bookmarks with encouraging statements and designs to be a daily reminder of their unique strengths and potential.
To reinforce this message, I read the book Bubble Gum Brain by Julia Cook. Through the story's contrast between a flexible, resilient "bubble gum brain" and a rigid "brick brain," students explored how effort, mistakes, and perseverance help their minds expand. This lesson built a foundation of trust and mutual respect between teachers and students. I want all my students to know and feel every day that “They are Worthy” of all the good things in life.