Practicing Encouragement in School and at Home
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In March, students at National Heritage Academies (NHA®) schools focus on the Moral Focus virtue of encouragement. Through classroom activities and actions, they learn how supporting others can boost confidence, build friendships, and help everyone succeed.
Teachers include encouragement in daily classroom routines, helping students understand the power of positive reinforcement. They create a supportive environment by displaying posters with positive messages in classrooms and hallways. Some classrooms also appoint an “Encouragement Cheerleader”—a student who cheers on classmates throughout the day.
“Encouragement builds confidence,” said Colby Tein, NHA Moral Focus curriculum specialist. “When someone believes in you and sees that you can do it, it becomes easier to tackle challenges at school or anywhere else.”
Tein has seen how encouragement helps students during school visits. “When teachers are clear about what students are going to learn and use encouraging language along with positive reinforcement and redirection, students are able to reach their goals.”
Encouragement isn’t just for the classroom. Parents can teach this virtue at home, too. “One idea is to create an ‘Encouragement Jar,’” Tein said. “It doesn’t have to be a real jar—it could be a list on the refrigerator. Write down encouraging words when someone in the family accomplishes something. It teaches kids the power of positive reinforcement.”
Tein also suggests role-playing with kids to help them practice encouraging others. “Parents can ask, ‘What’s hard at school right now?’ If a friend is struggling, talk about ways to encourage that friend. A kind conversation, a card, or a note can make a big difference.”
Storytime is another way to teach encouragement. Tein recommends two books used in the Moral Focus curriculum: “The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spires and “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña. These books show how kind words help people believe in themselves.
When students learn to cheer each other on—whether it’s with a kind word, a high-five, or a simple “You’ve got this!”—they see just how powerful a little encouragement can be.
Teachers include encouragement in daily classroom routines, helping students understand the power of positive reinforcement. They create a supportive environment by displaying posters with positive messages in classrooms and hallways. Some classrooms also appoint an “Encouragement Cheerleader”—a student who cheers on classmates throughout the day.
“Encouragement builds confidence,” said Colby Tein, NHA Moral Focus curriculum specialist. “When someone believes in you and sees that you can do it, it becomes easier to tackle challenges at school or anywhere else.”
Tein has seen how encouragement helps students during school visits. “When teachers are clear about what students are going to learn and use encouraging language along with positive reinforcement and redirection, students are able to reach their goals.”
Encouragement isn’t just for the classroom. Parents can teach this virtue at home, too. “One idea is to create an ‘Encouragement Jar,’” Tein said. “It doesn’t have to be a real jar—it could be a list on the refrigerator. Write down encouraging words when someone in the family accomplishes something. It teaches kids the power of positive reinforcement.”
Tein also suggests role-playing with kids to help them practice encouraging others. “Parents can ask, ‘What’s hard at school right now?’ If a friend is struggling, talk about ways to encourage that friend. A kind conversation, a card, or a note can make a big difference.”
Storytime is another way to teach encouragement. Tein recommends two books used in the Moral Focus curriculum: “The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spires and “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña. These books show how kind words help people believe in themselves.
When students learn to cheer each other on—whether it’s with a kind word, a high-five, or a simple “You’ve got this!”—they see just how powerful a little encouragement can be.