# data[].attributes.body
I am taking each thing as it comes and not just surviving but thriving.

This is a goal that I can apply to both my personal and professional life. I keep getting "thrown from the frying pan into the fire" and I just have to remind myself one step at a time. I am an overcomer and I will reach my goals no matter how hard they may seem.

# data[].attributes.body
I am peacefully accepting the changes in my life.

I have experienced many changes in the past month and it has not been easy for me. I want to be at peace as I adjust to these new changes in my life.

# data[].attributes.body
I value and love every student, giving them their best chance every day.

I know that there are already several students who will drive me nuts this year. I also know that those students do not receive the love and care at home that they need to be successful. It breaks my heart. So, I have to remind myself each day that every person in my room has potential and I cannot give up on them even if they have already done that.

# data[].attributes.body
This year I want to listen to understand, not listen to respond.

I believe this is something that I can work on in every aspect of my life. I never noticed that I did this until someone said there was a difference. This is especially important since I work in an inner city school. Many of my students have no one that will listen to them. They lose their voices because of the circumstances around them. I want to make sure I am listening to understand because it will allow me to make deep and lasting connections with my students and reinforce that they are important and cared for.

# data[].attributes.body
"I am becoming an amazing teacher one step at a time."

In the past, I tended to want to fix all of my problems or shortcomings at once and be done. It's taken me years to realize that life is a journey and you've got to take each piece one step at a time. I will never be done growing, but I have to keep reflecting on ways to make small improvements each year, each month, each week, and each day.

# data[].attributes.body
I am a positive person that shares the sunshine with everyone around me.

I've always been known as a positive person and that's something I've been rather proud of. So far this school year, I have found negativity coming in and settling due to stress. I have to remind myself daily to be positive for myself because it will spread to my kids and my personal life. Some days, it's hard with all of the negativity that surrounds the world. Positivity is the only way to take the negativity away.

# data[].attributes.headline
I am being positive despite constant negativity with myself, my students, and my colleagues.

# data[].attributes.subject
I am being positive despite constant negativity with myself, my students, and my colleagues.

# data[].attributes.body
Abby Choate
My goal is to be intentional about being positive even when I don't feel like it. Negativity is everywhere and it tears down and overshadows good things that are and can happen. Everybody NEEDS more positive!

# data[].attributes.body
I am building meaningful relationships with the parents of the students at my school.
I will encourage my parents to try to attend each and every event that is offered to them this school year. When students see their parents actively engaged in the school's community...this will make the students want to engage and do their best in school!

# data[].attributes.body
I am helping my students to become the best version of themselves.

I want to make a difference in my students lives. I hope that I am teaching them more then only academics.

# data[].attributes.body
We wrote affirmations at our opening day professional development. It was a very powerful moment seeing hundreds of teachers write their hopes for the year!

My affirmation:
I am becoming a stronger person each and every day.

# data[].attributes.body
I am making my students' school experience the most positive it can be.
So many students come to school excited to learn and connect, but that fizzles out for most students at some point. I am determined to making my students WANT to come to school because of how much they are lifted up by me and the classroom environment. My goal is to make learning fun, and I hope I am doing that.

# data[].attributes.body
I am becoming a better person because of what my students show me through their eyes.

Teaching can seem very overwhelming sometimes. At times, I feel like I wasn't good enough during the day, but my students are constantly teaching me patience, love, and kindness.

# data[].attributes.body
I am courageously taking risks.
This is for work, school, and personal reasons. I want to be more willing to take risks in and beyond the classroom.

I am building stronger relationships with my students.
This is a personal goal of mine every year. I hope to make more personal connections and build stronger relationships with my students.

# data[].attributes.body
I am making a difference.

At the beginning of a new school year, everything always seems more chaotic - especially this year. But at the end of the day (and some can be quite long), I know I am doing all I can to enrich and better their lives.

# data[].attributes.body
I am helping my students to become independent and challenge themselves.

Something I want to do this year is make my students more independent where they are creating their own learning and I am their coach. :)

# data[].attributes.body
Everyday I am connecting with my students by showing them I care.

# data[].attributes.body
WHAT IS AN AFFIRMATION:

An affirmation can be described by the following:

1.      the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed.

2.      emotional support or encouragement.

Affirmations are positive statements where you state something that you want to happen as if it as already happening. Writing affirmations and telling yourself your affirmations daily makes them more likely to come true.

EXAMPLE: This year I want to build stronger relationships with the students in my class. I created the following affirmation so that this will hopefully come true if I continue to tell myself it. It hasn’t necessarily happened yet but I am stating it as it already is happening.

I am having meaningful conversations with my students about their lives. We are building stronger relationships daily.

YOUR TURN: I want you to each write an affirmation that you have and post it to the Padlet. Your affirmation can be personal or it could be related to school… you choose!