One of my favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln:

“He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.”

A professional, and frankly personal goal of mine, is to not be the guy Lincoln was referencing. In fact, in my earlier years, my dad once said to me, “Jeff, you should take every opportunity you can to keep your mouth shut.” Not too much subtlety in that statement. And of course, he was and is right. Got to keep working on that one.

Saw a tweet earlier this week from Monte Syrie. Included this picture:

How absolutely great are those simple words? Three words that convey such a huge message. Sort of the opposite of Lincoln’s statement. The most ideas in the smallest words.

As we go about the important work of getting a new school year underway, as we are establishing the roots of relationships with kids, we should continue to be aware of our words. Any teacher with any length of tenure will know that her/his words will echo for decades. For good or ill. Make a kid’s day. Break a kid’s day. Potentially send a kid’s life on a wholly different path…for good or ill.

#myroommessage is a great hashtag and “I trust you” are wonderful, simple words that directly speak to a kid’s heart. For good.