Katie Booser’s third-grade classroom sings a song before taking a test and this song is her own lyrical creation made to encourage confidence and motivation in her students.
Booser is a 34-year-old teacher at Franklin Elementary in Santa Barbara in California and she wants to give her students the tools to be successful in life which she believes begins with confidence.
She established a daily journaling time during her classes and the song she wrote is rich in positive affirmations.
Teacher Motivates Her Students in a Unique Way
Inspired by the popular children’s chant Repeat After Me, Booser managed to adapt the lyrics and make it fit into her philosophy that builds confidence.
On one video shared on social media, she’s seen walking around in her classroom and chanting “I believe in myself, I believe I can, I believe I’ll try my best”. She then pauses after every affirmation so that her students can join her in.
Booser says that she’s been singing before tests in her classroom for years.
She believes it’s good that her students see their teacher dancing with a mask and a microphone. It’s a connection they have because they’re probably thinking “look at my goofball teacher, I’m now able to show my silliness.”
After she started the positive affirmation song routine, Booster said she noticed that her students’ confidence and focus bettered. She doesn’t care if they earn 100 or 50, as long as they give their best.
Booser who was anxious when she did tests in school credits her teachers for helping her overcome this anxiety. This is also part of her inspiration behind what she’s trying to achieve in her classroom today.
She explains when she had those kinds of teachers, her demeanor changed, she became more confident and she wants her students to experience the same.
Journaling Is also Important in Booser’s Classes
Along with her affirmation songs, Booser is also motivating her students to do journaling. She begins with the prompt “I am” and she asks her students to fill in the rest.
She gives them examples like “I am capable” or “I am healthy”. Booser explains her students enjoy it and often remind her about their journals when she forgets.
The pandemic changed this teacher’s dynamic in the classroom because some students were attending in person and others virtually. This made the routine of journaling and singing even more essential.
Important Aspects of Children’s Healthy Development
Daily journaling helps students channel their challenges and frustrations and Booser considers this to be a major advantage since it gives a moment for pause and a time to talk about the situation of every student.
For Booser, these talks with children are vital because it gives them the necessary tools to voice their feelings. She admits that a lot of her students don’t know what affirmations really mean; however, they certainly understand more than adults are crediting them for.
They’re like sponges, she explains, particularly the 8-year and the 9-year-old ones who soak in everything. At the end of the day, Booser considers her profession to be a gift and a chance to make a difference in a child’s life that she hopes could contribute to a positive change in the world.
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