Positive Affirmations for the Classroom

Building a welcoming classroom environment where pupils feel valued is important, and positive affirmations can help! This set of 25 printable affirmations posters has been created by our teacher team with pupils in mind and includes empowering statements they can repeat out loud, such as:

• Your perspective is so important.
• You are a great problem solver.
• You are part of the class family.

What Are Positive Affirmations?

Positive affirmations are statements that can help to challenge and overcome unhelpful and negative thoughts. When you repeat them often and believe in them, you can begin to make positive changes in your life. Positive affirmations can increase self-esteem, motivation, resilience, and self-belief and develop a growth mindset.

How to Use Affirmations in the Classroom

Did you know that experts estimate that we have somewhere between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day? What’s even more shocking is that it’s estimated that 80-90% of our thoughts are negative ones. When you stop and listen to pupils’ self-talk, you will likely hear comments like…

• I can’t do this.
• This is hard.
• No one likes me.
• I am not good enough.

Does this sound familiar? Because many of our belief systems are formed in early childhood, it is critical to challenge this.

It’s certainly had our teacher team thinking (ha)…how can we get children to think positively and to have a growth mindset? Why not give affirmations a try?

Here are a few favourite ideas from the Teach Starter teacher team for using these affirmation cards in your classroom. These can help pupils to develop the skill of positive thinking and self-empowerment.

Teach Starter Teacher Tip: Download the accompanying ‘I’ statement affirmation cards to expand your repertoire!

Set Them Up Around Your Classroom Mirror

Year 5 teacher Miss Fauni printed out each positive affirmation card and posted them around her classroom mirror to ensure every child could see them when they take a peek. Check out the result:

This is a good way to promote body positivity and boost pupils’ self-esteem.

Create an Affirmation Wall

You don’t have to set up a mirror to ensure these can be displayed in the classroom. Choose a blank space on your wall, and add the various cards so that when your pupils walk by, they read positive messages that build them up.

Mindful Colouring

These cards can be printed in black and white to use for some mindful colouring.

Affirmation Treasure Boxes

Affirmation boxes are ideal to use with individual pupils who need additional support in the area of emotional and social well-being. Affirmation boxes can also be used as an effective initiative for school guidance counsellors during one-to-one sessions.

All you need is a suitable box and a set of positive affirmation cards. Using a small box creates a sense of hidden treasures.

Suggested Activity

1. Reveal the affirmation box to the pupil emphasising how special the box is.
2. Place all of the cards (face-up) on a table.
3. Ask the pupil to describe how they are feeling. Listen.
4. Select the card that best helps change the pupil’s negative narrative.
5. Encourage the pupil to say the positive affirmation aloud. Repeat this several times with a strong posture and conviction.

Pupil Gifts

Do you need a pupil gift for a birthday or a holiday? Print an affirmation card and slip one into each child’s gift bag.

Add Them to Your Door Decorations

Let pupils know your classroom is a safe and welcoming space from the moment they arrive, with affirmation cards used to decorate your classroom door!

Classroom Theme

You may also like to make affirmations your entire classroom theme this school year or term.

Set Up a Positivity Tree

Purchase (or make) a small classroom tree and hang the affirmation cards from its branches.

There are a few different ways that you can use a positivity tree in the classroom:

1. As a class, gather at the affirmation tree once a day. Choose one affirmation, and say it aloud three times.
2. Encourage your pupils to visit the tree when they catch themselves thinking negatively.
3. Give your pupils a positive affirmation card (when they need a boost), and encourage them to hang it on the tree.