English & Language Arts Teacher Blog

Another week of touching hearts and changing lives!
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Helping Students Develop Grit: A Teacher’s Guide Part 2:

Tip #2: Celebrate Effort, Not Just Talent

Many students think they need to be “naturally good” at something to succeed, but that’s not the case. 

It’s not about talent—it’s about effort.

I make a point to show students that hard work matters just as much, if not more, than any natural skill. 

If a student is struggling with reading & writing, for instance, I remind them that progress comes through practice and persistence and I commend them for not giving up. 

I am also encouragingly remind them that they should not compare their progress with others in a way that causes envy or jealousy, but to use that as inspiration and motivation.

That’s how I’ve been showing my kiddos that grit is something they can build with practice.

Tip #3 will be in the next email!

Try these out and let us know how it goes! Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Instagram and Facebook!
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Check out our latest video on book recommendations for students that “hate” reading!

Or you can read the blog post here or listen to the podcast here! 

Because our headspace matters when we are trying to show up as our best selves for our students, our loved ones, and ourselves!

We’d like to think of this as a little bit like life coaching the teachers :-)

Here’s a short zen koan with a powerful punch!

There was once an old farmer who had spent many years tending his land. One day, his horse ran away. When the neighbors heard, they came by to express their sympathy. “What terrible luck,” they said. The farmer simply replied, “Perhaps.”

The following day, the horse returned, bringing along three wild horses. The neighbors were amazed. “How wonderful!” they said. The farmer calmly responded, “Perhaps.”

Soon after, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown off and broke his leg. The neighbors came to show their concern. “What a misfortune,” they remarked. The farmer again said, “Perhaps.”

A few days later, military officials arrived to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the farmer’s son had a broken leg, they left him alone. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good fortune. He replied, “Perhaps.”

Powerful, right?!

​Sharing is caring—so please forward this to any teacher that could benefit from this message and help spread the love!

The goal of these messages is to help ourselves improve—for our students, for our loved ones, and for ourselves. 

You can always reply to this message or message us on Facebook here!

Keep touching hearts and changing lives!
Charlie with Shining Scholar Education
Our podcast is back—check it out!
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P.S.: Looking to monetize your educational content? Consider joining our TPT Affiliate Program for 25% commissions here!

(These are Amazon affiliate links, but don’t worry, it does not affect your price at all. 🙂)

Hello again, teacher superheroes!

Today, I want to share some incredible books I've used over the years to engage reluctant readers—students who say they "hate reading." It’s funny, though, because once I introduce these books, each student reacts differently, and the magic happens when you find the one that truly sparks their interest. When that happens, it’s like a lightbulb goes off, and they fall in love with reading. I always tell them, "It’s not that you hate reading; you just haven’t found the right book yet."

I’ve included links to all of these books in this post. These are Amazon affiliate links, so if you buy through them, I get a small commission—but it doesn’t affect your price at all, so don’t worry.
Let’s get started!

You can also watch the video summary of this post below or listen to the podcast version here! 

It’s a great way to engage students who might otherwise shy away from reading. The story is gripping, and the ending is both emotional and satisfying. Highly recommended!
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It's a powerful read, offering both personal insight and a glimpse into his life and struggles.

If you’re interested in Tupac, I also recommend these biographies:
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Students often connect with the stories of famous figures, and Tupac’s story is especially impactful.

These biographies are more detailed reads (over 200 pages), but they are incredibly engaging for high school students.

Even if they’re not assigned, they’re perfect for open-choice reading time or sustained silent reading.

I hope these books help you inspire your students to embrace reading.

Remember, it's not about forcing them to read—it’s about finding the right book that speaks to them.

Please feel free to share any great books you’ve used to engage reluctant readers in the comments, and I’ll be sure to cover them in a future video.

Sharing is caring—so please forward this to any teacher that could benefit from this message and help spread the love!

The goal of these messages is to help ourselves improve—for our students, for our loved ones, and for ourselves. 

Keep touching hearts and changing lives!
Charlie with Shining Scholar Education
Our podcast is back—check it out!
​
P.S.: Looking to monetize your educational content? Consider joining our TPT Affiliate Program for 25% commissions here!

Always, always, always touching hearts and changing lives!
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Helping Students Develop Grit: A Teacher’s Guide Part 1:

First off, don’t worry! Grit isn’t something you teach independently or with a separate lesson plan —you teach & model grit as you’re covering your material!  

As teachers, we know that success isn’t just about grades or test scores. 

It’s also about GRIT—the ability to keep going, even when things get tough. 

Grit helps our kiddos push through challenges, stick with their goals, and stay motivated when it gets hard. 

Some kiddos seem to have grit innately while others need a little more help.

I can think of my kids throughout the years that needed a little more guidance in not giving up: Seth, Matthew, Eddie, Michelle, Alexa, Jackie—I’m sure some names pop into your head, too. 

Remember that developing grit isn’t something that happens overnight, but with the right support, every student can learn to build it.

Here are some straightforward ways to encourage grit in the classroom and help our kiddos face challenges with confidence!

Tip #1: Set Small Goals Along the Way

When students face big assignments, they can easily feel overwhelmed. Breaking big goals into smaller chunks makes the work feel more manageable. 

For example, if we’re working on a project, I’ll guide students to set smaller goals: complete research by a certain date, then make an outline, then write a first draft.

This approach lets them see their progress step by step, which builds confidence and keeps them motivated.

Baby steps!

I’ve also found that when students help set their own goals, they feel more ownership and are more likely to follow through.

Keep an eye out for tip #2 in our next email! 

Try these out and let us know how it goes! Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Instagram and Facebook!
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If you haven’t seen the movie “The Ron Clark Story” starring Matthew Perry, you have to check it out!

While there is always some Hollywood magic that makes you very, very aware you’re watching a movie, it is a powerful film nonetheless.

It’s about this teacher who steps into a tough classroom and somehow reaches kids everyone else has kind of given up on.

He’s dealing with behavior issues, kids with zero confidence—you know, the usual stuff.

But instead of giving up, he finds ways to connect and make a real impact.

What I love about this movie is how it shows him putting in the time to understand each student, not just going for quick fixes.

Watching it reminded me why we do this job. Even on the hardest days, we have the power to make a difference! 

I even found it streaming for free on YouTube here! 

Because our headspace matters when we are trying to show up as our best selves for our students, our loved ones, and ourselves!

Check out this video of when a brother realizes he’s a match to save the life of his little sister who has cancer! #grateful
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Sharing is caring—so please forward this to any teacher that could benefit from this message and help spread the love!

The goal of these messages is to help ourselves improve—for our students, for our loved ones, and for ourselves. 

You can always reply to this message or message us on Facebook here!

Keep touching hearts and changing lives!
Charlie with Shining Scholar Education
Our podcast is back—check it out!
​
P.S.: Looking to monetize your educational content? Consider joining our TPT Affiliate Program for 25% commissions here!