I’ve said this before, but one of the only reasons I’m a writer is because I had a teacher in 3rd grade who looked at my poem about clouds & said “you can be a writer when you grow up.” It stayed w/me forever. Teachers, don’t underestimate what your words can do for your students
@ClintSmithIII I’m a 2nd grade teacher, these stories let me know that years later, my students will still remember my words. #teachers
@ClintSmithIII Thanks for the reminder. And remember that not only teachers have this power to change lives with words.
@ClintSmithIII I had a back teacher do that for me when I was in fifth grade in 1969.My white fourth grade teacher told me in 1968 that there were no famous colored writers. I told her “then I would be the first.” I remembered both of these women as I advanced through academe and published.
@ClintSmithIII So glad you posted this. Same here. Growing up in rural America nobody much could see or understand my potential except one teacher who said; "You could be an artist when you grow up". Made all the difference.
@ClintSmithIII I got an A+ on a creative writing assignment and that was it for me. Chasing the A+ ever since.
@ClintSmithIII @LukasGraham Thank you ! We teachers need to hear stories like this more & more 🙏
@ClintSmithIII And the D- a teacher gave to gifted, artist son on an illustrated book report on book beyond his grade level. I kept it and he’s 25, an emerging artist. Still hurts, though.
@ClintSmithIII @Kaymar_xoxo Indeed. My mother recently retired after being a teacher for a long, long time. She received a letter from one of her first students recently, accrediting his success as an adult to her. Small ripples can make waves.