Sticky Advice
The small truths I repeat to my students and myself
In my eight years of teaching English, across both high school and my current seventh-grade classroom, I’ve noted something consistent and not at all surprising: all kids benefit from little, bite-sized pieces of advice now and then. These are easy-to-remember suggestions, typically applicable to any situation, and I repeat them continually throughout the year—in small conversations, whole-class chats, or 1-on-1 when I notice a student is feeling off. I love teaching. I enjoy the creativity in building a thinking experience for kids. I use these moments to reframe their idea of how things should be by asking the hard questions and pushing them just a little harder than even they expected.
Teaching requires real-life optimism, kindness, structure, and grace built in. We ask so much of their underdeveloped brains. It is hard enough without the constant adult messaging of, “just wait until you’re older; it gets worse.” I want them to hear the truth. Aging is freeing and challenging, but it is not a slog. Adults need grace, too. I often remind myself of my own advice, because some days I need it more than they do. Honesty, self-awareness, and intention go a long way. None of this matters if students don’t feel respected. Advice only lands when kids know you see them as people first, not projects to fix or behaviors to manage.
I’ve collected these lines from a myriad of places, and they aren’t all originally attributed to me, but they are things that have stuck and are now very much a part of my teaching personality. While many of these are my own adaptations from eight years in the classroom, the core ideas are often timeless and universal.
The Advice
Here is the bite-sized advice that consistently sticks with students and guides my own philosophy:
I know writing might not be your favorite thing, but borrow some of my passion for it. Try it on for size. Do this in every subject that isn’t your favorite.
Writing is just tailored thinking… which is why it’s hard.
You don’t have to be good at it yet.
Perfect isn’t the goal. Done is the goal. Make it better later.
Do it or don’t. The time will pass anyway.
Effort compounds.
Just because you’re finished, doesn’t mean you learned. Reflect on it.
Own your education. Not everyone gets the same opportunity.
No one cares about your opinion unless you can back it up with evidence.
Comfort is not the goal. Growth is.
Pretending you can’t without even trying isn’t cool. It’s embarrassing.
Bad days are normal. Too many in a row… not so much.
Journal about that.
People just want to be understood.
Clarity is kindness.
That is an inside thought.
Give someone a compliment today.
Be specific with gratitude.
Maybe you should drink some more water.
You should probably drink more water.
Take a walk and get grounded again.
Pay attention to what energizes you.
Art does real & permanent good.
Not spoiling the ending of a book is a special kind of love.
A good friend wouldn’t ask you to compromise your values.
Your version of success is unique.
You’re allowed to change your mind.
Everyone who stands in front of you has something to teach you, and you choose whether or not you will learn it or not—even if it’s “I don’t want to be like that when I grow up.”
Leave things better than you found them.
Everything always works out.
There is still so much more. Life gets so much better with each passing year when you finish school.
What if this year were your last year of education? What would you do differently?
Make it matter.
I hope a few of them stick with you, too. If you have a line you come back to, I’d love to hear it.
As always, take good notes and subscribe if you’re cool.