10 Important Teaching Quotes to Keep In Mind This School Year

As you gear up for the next school year (and hopefully fit in some time for relaxing and recharging), here are a few tips and insights to tuck away in your toolbox. We’ve paired quotes from some of today’s most trusted education experts with practical strategies you can use to connect with students and families and create a classroom where every learner thrives. A great resource to explore, bookmark, and share before you welcome your new class in the fall!

(Have a favorite insight of your own? Add it in the comments!)

Quote #1: “When we expect students to learn, they are more likely to do so.”—From It’s More Than “Just Being In,” by Cheryl M. Jorgensen

Take action >> Learn from Cheryl Jorgensen’s expert perspective on The Power of Presuming Competence and get her 10-Step Plan for Jumpstarting Inclusion.

Quote #2: “Learning about students’ families and the lives they share outside school walls is the first and most important step toward getting connected to students.”—From You’re Going to Love This Kid!, Third Edition, by Paula Kluth

Take action >> Try these practical tips for Conducting Home Visits with Diverse Families and Supporting Families of Students with Disabilities.

Quote #3: “Planning for the mythical ‘average’ learner means you are planning for no one.”—From True Inclusion with UDL, by Patti Kelly Ralabate

Take action >> See how to implement Structured Dialogue: An 8-Step Process for Planning Authentic Inclusion.

Quote #4: “No student does better by feeling worse about who they are.”—From The Re-Set Process by Dyane Lewis Carrere with Wynne Kinder

Take action >> Try these 12 Ways to Help Students Feel Safe, Calm, and Regulated at School.

Quote #5: “Students are not giving us a hard time, they are having a hard time.”—From Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools by Jen Alexander

Take action >> Support your students’ emotional well-being with these 21 Trauma-Sensitive Teaching Tips to Try This School Year, and take Jen Alexander’s virtual course on Becoming a Trauma-Sensitive Educator (CEUs now available!).

Quote #6: “If a student is not doing something as expected, try to think of why they are having difficulty. Often, you’ll find that what looks like a defiant “won’t” is actually a “can’t yet.”—From Unstuck and On Target! Ages 11‒15, by Strang, Kenworthy, Cannon, Alexander, Adler Werner, Pugliese, & Gutermuth Anthony

Take action >> Support learners on the road from “can’t” to “can” with these 11 Ways to Be a Flexible, Organized, and Supportive Teacher.

Quote #7: “True inclusion is not sharing space. It’s about belonging.”—From True Inclusion with UDL, by Patti Kelly Ralabate

Take action >> Build belonging and equity with these Tips for Inclusive School Communities.

Quote #8: “Educators must view learning as being as much a part of their work as teaching.”—From The Reading Comprehension Blueprint, by Nancy Hennessy

Take action >> Set aside time to watch a few of these archived webinars and coffee chats from Brookes experts—a great resource for professional development!

Quote #9: “Being a caring teacher is a blend of attitude and action.”—From The Social‑Emotional Learning Toolbox, by Kathy Perez

Take action >> Get all students ready to learn with these 7 Relationship-Building Strategies for Your Classroom

Quote #10: “A system that excludes any one of its members is not equitable.”—From Reimagining Special Education, by Jenna M. Rufo & Julie Causton

Take action >> Upgrade your teaching toolkit with these 10 Ways to Teach and Include All Students This Year.

Use these books for PD this year!

Interested in purchasing our titles for professional development, or asking your school to acquire them? Contact your Brookes representative today and get individualized help!

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