Are you looking for the famous Haim Ginott inspirational poem for teachers – the one that begins, “I have come to a frightening conclusion…”?
Today I’m sharing a FREE printable of Haim Ginott’s poem – a powerful reminder for teachers, homeschool moms, and Christian moms who want to create a calm, life-giving home or classroom.
How I Discovered Haim Ginott’s Poem
It was my first year teaching when I stumbled across this incredible poem by Haim Ginott.
Not too long, not too short – but its message went straight to my heart.
I printed it out and hung it on my classroom wall so I would see it and read it every morning. The next year, I slipped it into the clear pocket on my 3-ring teacher planner so it would stare at me daily.
I pondered those words often, letting the words roll around inside of me like hot soup on a cold winter’s day. I drank them in, I embraced them, I lived them, I taught them.
And my classroom was a happier, stronger, healthier, and safer place because these words constructed the foundation of our shared moments together.
And then I lost my poem
I quit teaching school to homeschool my kids.
When I packed up all my classroom materials, my beloved teacher binder with my #1 inspirational poem for teachers got shoved into a box somewhere.
I thought I knew how to be a mom and didn’t equate my teacher experience with motherhood. Who needed Haim Ginnot when you were burping babies and wiping bottoms?
Well, me, it turns out. And my kids.
Somewhere along the way, I forgot the wisdom wrapped into these 12 short lines.
Daily moods?
Misery and joy?
Humiliation and healing?
Tools of torture?
Yep, moms can be all that, too, just like a teacher. Those aren’t just classroom realities.
They’re motherhood realities, too.
After all, a mom is a child’s first teacher – their most constant life-long teacher, too.
So, several years later when I reopened all those boxes I had packed, I re-discovered my poem by Haim Ginott! It was like I hadn’t tried the hot soup on a cold winter’s day in ages and ages! I was famished and drank it in.
Once more, I let the words roll around inside me and discovered the wisdom and humility tucked into this impactful poem.
Haim Ginott’s Inspirational Poem for Teachers (and Moms!)
I have come to a frightening conclusion that
I am the decisive element in the classroom.
It’s my personal approach that creates the climate.
It’s my daily mood that makes the weather.
As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power
to make a child’s life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or
An instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or heal.
In all situations, it is my response that decides whether
A crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child
Humanized or dehumanized.
You Have Tremendous Power
You – the mom reading this blog right now – are the decisive element in your home.
If you are the teacher reading this blog right now – you are the decisive element in your classroom.
You create the daily climate, and you have tremendous power over the little beings that God has placed into your care today. How are your responding to those children? Are you bringing hurt or healing to your home? Are you escalating or de-escalating the 1,001 little crises that pop up each day? In each crises, you have a choice to make.
Be inspired by Haim Ginott’s little inspirational poem for teachers (and moms!). Read it often and let the words roll around inside you to build a foundation for the daily moments you share with your children.
I made you a free printable of the Haim Ginott poem so you can hang it up on your wall or slip it into the cover of your own 3-ring binder. Enjoy – and cherish it!
Psst! – There’s a pin, too, so save it digitally, too! Just hover over the pin image and click the Pinterest button.