Encouragement thoughts by Max Lucado

As we near the end of our blogging days for class I want to talk about the importance of encouraging students. I have read the book "You Are Special" by Max Lucado. This book describes wooden people called Wemmicks. Wemmicks were all different just like we are. The Wemmicks put stickers on each other to represent good things or bad things. If they did good things they were given golden star stickers which were not removable. If they did things wrong they received gray dots which were also not removable. Golden stars were given for things such as being pretty, being talented, if they knew big words, etc. Gray dots were given for things such as being clumsy, having chipped wood, forgetting things, etc. There was one certain Wemmick called Punchinello who received many gray dots. He was very sad about all his gray dots. One day he met a young Wemmick who had no stickers. Long story short she sent him to their maker Eli. Eli explained to Punchinello that he was very special and loved. Eli told Punchinello why the young girl didn't have any stickers "Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them." As Punchinello began understanding how much he meant to Eli the gray dots began to fall off of Punchinello. When I begin teaching I hope to encourage each and every child in my classroom. I want to be a "sticker free" classroom. I also want to explain to my students that sometimes people will say hurtful things but they don't need to let that sticker stick. They need to believe they are special in their own way. I am looking forward to this journey in my life. God bless each one of you and I wish you all the best of luck in your future.