Dear Dr. Mollenhauer,

My name is Brea Marsh and I'm a 6th grade teacher in Austin, TX. This summer, my school took part in a training called "Capturing Kids Hearts". As part of the training, we made little bags that we decorated with our names and our co-workers (veteran staff & new) could write affirmations to us and put them into the bags. I was thinking about how great it was to take the bag home at the end of the week and see what my co-workers had to say about me-what they saw in me. SO-I decided that I would do WEEKLY affirmations in my classes this year. Students are encourage to not only affirm each other with their mouths, but also write notes throughout the week to students to affirm each other. The students have "mail boxes" at the back of the classroom, and I put the notes once they are turned into me in their mail boxes, and on Fridays they can take their affirmations home to read and see what their classmates have said about them. We talk as a class about how it is really easy to say negative words, but not always positive ones to each other & that this it one an affirmation is, lifting someone up. The students love it, and so do the parents-and they get to practice their writing (what can I say, I'm an English teacher).Brea Marsh, brea.davis@manorisd.net

Thanks for sharing your story Brea!! As a special thank you, we are sending you an affirmation safety pin for each one of your students. Hopefully you will send us some pictures of your student's bags and maybe a story from them to post on the blog!! We AFFIRM YOU for capturing the idea and running with it!!

Martie