In the first grade at Rex Elementary, Tyler Richards started a practice that ends every day with a chant of affirmations like ‘I am kind’ and ‘I can do hard things.’ The routine, which began as a quiet experiment, has become a daily ritual for that classroom.
Principal Shane Paulus praised Richards’ initiative, noting that it gives students a sense of belonging before they leave the building. He said the practice helps students feel loved and appreciated in a way that academic routines can’t.
Word spread fast; teachers from kindergarten through eighth grade began mirroring the chant in their own classes. The rhythm of the affirmations has transformed the school’s culture, with parents reporting their children coming home speaking about the words.
Parents and students alike see the affirmation as a tool for building self‑confidence and empathy. A group of fifth‑graders has even suggested new slogans, showing that the exercise has moved beyond instruction into ownership.
The principal has announced plans to formalize the routine in the district’s curriculum, making it a model for other schools in the area. The next step is a district‑wide rollout scheduled for the fall semester.