Peter Paul prides itself on its academic rigor but we also recognize the importance of encouraging our students to be great. All of our teachers find unique ways to build confidence in their classroom. A former Peter Paul 3^rd grade teacher, Tresa Brown, observed that her students often made negative comments about their own performance in the classroom. Ms. Brown’s former colleague, and current PPDC 3^rd grade teaching aid, Ms. Townes shared that students would say things like “I’m not good at math” or “This is too hard.” To help combat these self-deprecating messages, Ms. Brown found a chart that she recreated for her classroom. The chart displays messages that students frequently say to themselves, which discourage their efforts, and then offers a positive message to use instead. When students said something negative about their work, Ms. Brown and Ms. Townes would point to the chart and ask what else they could say to feel better about their school work. This helped her students shift their mindsets to a positive-thinking outlook surrounding their academics. While Ms. Brown has moved on to a new full-time opportunity here in Richmond, her poster is still on display in our 3^rd grade classroom. It is a poster that reminds our students that they can do well if they work hard and find their inner confidence – a message that works for kids and adults alike.