Dear Nona,

I am a relatively new teacher. One of my most important goals is to inspire my students. My colleagues have given me conflicting advice on how best to do that. Help!

— Hopeful but Unsure

Dear Hopeful but Unsure,

First of all, bless you. The fact that inspiring students is at the top of your list already makes you the kind of teacher kids remember.

Here’s the thing: Inspiration doesn’t come from flashy bulletin boards or perfectly laminated objectives. It comes from you being real.

There is no one way to inspire. But a few truths that hold up across time, trends, and teacher lounges.

—Students are inspired by authenticity. Loving your subject, showing up with heart, laughing with your kids, letting them know they matter works. What doesn’t work? Faking enthusiasm, trying to “act cool,” quoting TikTok trends you don’t understand.

You don’t have to be the funniest, flashiest, or most tech-savvy teacher. Be real. Be consistent. Care deeply—and show it. That’s inspiring.

—Passion is contagious. If you light up when you teach something, they notice. Even if they roll their eyes. Especially then.

—Respect is reciprocal. Speak to students with dignity, even when correcting. Kids remember who treated them like they mattered.

—Model curiosity. Ask big questions. Admit when you don’t know something. Wonder out loud. That’s how we build thinkers, not just rule-followers.

—Don’t force inspiration. Build connection. Inspiration doesn’t always show up in fireworks. Sometimes, it sounds like:

“Thanks for not giving up on me.”
“That thing you said stayed with me.”

You don’t have to be the most experienced voice in the room. Just the most genuine. That’s what they’ll remember.

— Nona

More Pro Tips

—Leave space in your lessons for students to think and respond. That’s where the spark lives.

—Look for moments, not movements. A single lightbulb moment can outweigh a whole perfect unit.

—Don’t compare yourself to the loudest or most decorated teacher on your hall.

—Inspiration often looks like stability. You may never see the effect—but it’s there.