Affirmations are powerful! As the new school year kicks off, teachers can refer to the following wise words for support and guidance. From inspirational quotes to relatable sayings, these motivational messages show teachers that they’re not alone, even when the going gets tough:

Words of affirmation for the new school year

Teachers, we recognize that the first few weeks of school can be an exciting and challenging time. Consider implementing daily affirmations as a way to practice self care and foster a positive mindset.

The following quotes evoke feelings of hope and perseverance, while also serving as a reminder that it’s okay to slow down and rest, take a nontraditional path, and even make occasional mistakes:

“No one is perfect. That’s why pencils have erasers.”

— Wolfgang Riebe

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

— A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.”

— Walt Whitman

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

— Winston Churchill

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”

— Amy March, Little Women

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”

— John Keating, Dead Poets Society

“Every day may not be good… but there’s something good in every day”

— Alice Morse Earle

“Rest is not idle, is not wasteful. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do for body and soul.”

— Erica Layne

“Don’t ever think that just because you do things differently, you’re wrong.”

— Gail Tsukiyama

If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but by all means keep moving.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –”

— Emily Dickinson

Relatable quotes about teaching

During times of transition, it can be helpful to hear that others have gone through similar experiences! Read the following quotes about the teaching, and know that you’re not alone:

“Your heart is slightly larger than the average human heart, but that’s because you’re a teacher.”

— Aaron Bacall

“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.”

— Scott Hayden

“The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.”

— Alexandra K. Trenfor

“Being a new teacher is like trying to fly an airplane while building it.”

— Rick Smith

This back-to-school season, Education.com is helping teachers with ready-made lesson plans, worksheets, activity guides, and more! Explore our Learning Library of 37,000+ resources for grades PreK through 8, and see for yourself how we can help you succeed this school year.