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51 Inspiring Back to School Quotes for Teachers and Their Students

Have you ever wondered about the power of back to school quotes for teachers and their students? If not, now’s your chance to discover their motivational mojo!

As the back-to-school season approaches, I know all of you elementary teachers and parents are gearing up for another year of educating and inspiring children in the second plane of development.

Amid the hustle of lesson planning and classroom decorating, a dose of inspiration can truly uplift spirits and set a positive tone for the school year. Back-to-school quotes for elementary students play a vital role in fostering motivation and creating a welcoming atmosphere in every classroom.

You’ll love sharing these quotes, and your elementary-aged students will start the year on the right foot because of them.

A male teacher and elementary-aged students gathered around a table smiling at the camera. There is a back-to-school sign on the table. They are excited to hear back to school quotes the teacher will share.

51 Back to School Quotes for Teachers to Share

These powerful quotes are perfect for teachers to share with their students, sparking motivation and setting a positive tone for the school year. They turn classroom discussions into moments of learning in disguise, engaging students while encouraging them to think critically and make meaningful connections.

Read all 51 quotes or find them in video format below. You’ll find plenty of profound and thought-provoking quotes that are perfect for creating teachable moments and kicking off the back-to-school season.

Back to School Quotes About Learning

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

A quote to remind adults to let the child experience learning. A great back to school quote for teachers to share with parents!

“Research shows that you begin learning in the womb and go right on learning until the moment you pass on. Your brain has a capacity for learning that is virtually limitless, which makes every human a potential genius.” – Michael J. Gelb

A great quote about learning for teachers to share with students.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Powerful words! This back to school quote for teachers to share with students is an impactful one!

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” – Henry Ford

A back to school quote about the importance of learning.

“A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life.” – Chinese Proverb

This is one of my favorite back to school quotes as an elementary teacher. It opens the floor to feeling free to ask all the questions.

Inspirational and Motivational Quotes for Back to School

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

A quote that says 'Believe you can and you're half way there.' A great back to school quote for teachers.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou

An inspirational quote that makes you want to do good to others.

“All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving towards them.” – Viola Davis

A quote about continuing to move towards your goals. A powerful back to school quote for teachers.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”- George Bernard Shaw

A powerful back to school quote for to teachers to share with their students.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” – Vince Lombardi

This quote encourages students to keep going and chasing their goals.

Quotes About Change to Guide Growth

“Change is the end result of all true learning.” – Leo Buscaglia

A simple back to school quote for teachers to share with students.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” – Wayne W. Dyer

This quote is perfect for back to school.

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton

A great back to school quote for teacher to share with students by Dolly Parton.

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

A quote by Steve Jobs is always motivating for students.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein

This Albert Einstein quote is great for teachers to share with students  this back to school season.

Back to School Quotes on Community and Collaboration

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

A great back to school quote to inspire students to work well with others.

“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” – Aristotle

This is a great thought provoking back to school quote for teachers.

“None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Ken Blanchard

A short quote that works well when introduced during back to school season

“A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way.” – Swahili Proverb

A great quote for back to school season.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” – Aristotle

A great Aristotle quote for the entire class for back to school.

Quotes on Mindfulness and Wellbeing for Back to School

“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

A very profound quote for teachers to use about mindfulness.

“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

A deep back to school quote for teachers to explain to students.

“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.” – Bryant McGill

A great quote to share with kids.

“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg

A quote about mindfulness for teachers to share this back to school season.

“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot

'Wherever you are, be all there' is a great back to school quote for teachers to share with students.

Back to School Quotes for New Beginnings and Fresh Starts

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca

This quote about new beginnings is perfect for teachers to use during the first month back to school.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato

A Plato quote about the importance of the beginning. This is a great back to school quote for teachers to share with students.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Another great quote for new beginnings.

“Every day is a chance to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with positive thoughts and expectations.” – Catherine Pulsifer

A quote about how every day is a fresh start. This is perfect for to use as a quote for back to school.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

A great back to school quote to get students motivated to work and learn.

Back to School Quotes About Setting Goals

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

A great Tony Robbins quote teachers can share with students during the first month back to school.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

This quote about setting goals is great to share with students.

“Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.” – Brian Tracy

A short quote about the importance of goals.

“Dream big and dare to fail.” – Norman Vaughan

'Dream big and dare to fail.' This is a great back to school quote teachers can share with students

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A simple quote that's great for the first month back at school. Teachers need to share this quote with students about the importance of goals.

Quotes on Developing Good Habits and Discipline

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

This is a great back to school quotes for teachers to share with students to express how good habits are important. Aristotle quotes are always so great!

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryun

A quote about habits for students.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

A quote about discipline for students.

“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” – John C. Maxwell

A quote about disciplines turning into accomplishments. A great back to school quote for teachers to share.

“Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” – Aristotle

A short Aristotle quote about good habits being formed at youth for students to ponder.

Quotes on Embracing Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” – Molière

A short quote about how good it feels to overcome obstacles.

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine

A quote about challenges that is perfect to share in the first month back to school.

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

A Michael Jordan quote about how obstacles don't have to stop you. This is a great back to school season quote.

“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” – Napoleon Hill

A great Napolean Hill  quote for teachers to share with students.

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein

An Albert Einstein quote that students can learn from.

Quotes on Positivity and Optimism

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman

A back to school quote from Walt Witman about positivity and optimism.

“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” – William James

A back to school quote showcasing optimism.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

A great quote for teachers to share with their students this back to school season.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller

A quote about optimism for back to school learning.

“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

A positivity quote teachers can share with students.

Our Favourite Back To School Quote for Teachers to Share

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss

A Dr. Seuss quote for kids.

Back to School Quotes Matter

Quotes infuse the classroom with positivity, spark meaningful discussions, and cultivate a shared sense of purpose among students and teachers alike.

Here’s more on why back to school quotes are important.

Quotes Are A Way to Get Students Engaged

Back to school quotes are a fantastic teaching tool, serving not just as sources of motivation but also as engaging conversation starters during those crucial first few weeks of the school year. These wise words can spark curiosity and encourage students to think deeply, setting a positive tone for the classroom.

Sharing meaningful quotes can stimulate thoughtful discussions, allowing teachers to engage with students on a deeper level and foster a love for learning right from the start.

A young girl smiling holding a small paper sized poster that has a quote on it. It's a great back to school quote to get kids thinking.

Quotes Build a Positive Environment

Sharing inspirational quotes with students can help create a positive and motivating classroom atmosphere. When students see quotes displayed around the classroom or hear them used during lessons, they are reminded of the power that words have.

As students connect with quotes, they often find ones that deeply resonate with them, prompting discussions and reflections that extend beyond the classroom walls. This not only encourages students to seek out more inspiring words but also cultivates a culture of ongoing learning and personal growth, both inside and outside the classroom.

A picture frame with a quote inside is laying on a table that has craft supplies all over it.

Quotes Lend to Personal Reflection

Using quotes during the first few weeks back to school enhances learning by providing students with moments of personal reflection. These quotes encourage kids in the second plane of development to ponder their own life journey, values, and aspirations.

Incorporating quotes into the classroom experience helps students to connect with powerful words that likely resonate with their personal experiences and future goals. This engagement not only enhances their self-awareness but also inspires them to think critically about their place in the world and the impact they can make.

Low angle of crop smart ethnic boy sitting on floor with notepad and writing a story using a quote that inspires him.

How to Use Back to School Quotes With Students

Here’s how you can leverage the power of quotes in your classroom this back-to-school season.

Classroom Displays

One effective way to use these back to school quotes for teachers is by displaying them in the classroom. Bulletin boards, posters, and even whiteboards can be adorned with inspiring quotes that students will see every day. This not only beautifies the classroom but also keeps positive messages at the forefront of students’ minds.

An image showing two of our classroom posters we have for sale framed and hanging on a wall.
You can find great classroom quote posters like these on our ETSY shop and our TPT shop.

Classroom Meetings

Incorporating quotes into daily or weekly classroom meetings can set a positive tone for the environment. Starting the day with an inspirational quote can encourage thoughtful discussion, fostering an open-minded approach among both students and teachers toward their surroundings and learning experiences.

A teacher pointing at an Aristotle quote she wrote on the whiteboard.

Lesson Plans

By integrating quotes strategically, teachers enrich learning experiences, encouraging critical thinking and meaningful connections to real-world issues and ideas.

For example, in social studies, historical quotes prompt discussions on pivotal events like the Civil Rights Movement, encouraging analysis of context and perspectives. In science, quotes from scientists like Einstein ignite curiosity and connect theoretical concepts with practical applications, fostering a holistic approach to learning.

Consider incorporating quotes into your lessons to inspire students and create a more engaging classroom environment.

A teacher looking at the camera and smiling with a nice quote on the screen. She is going to use this quote in her lesson plan. Lucky students!

Personal Journals

Encourage students to keep a journal of quotes that resonate with them. This can be a source of personal inspiration and reflection throughout the school year. Students can turn to their journal whenever they need a little pick-me-up.

With quotes as inspiration, you can motivate and engage students right from day one, creating a positive and dynamic learning environment for the school year.

Focused young girl in school uniform sitting at table with stationery and apple while writing in a notebook, taking notes after watching some parts of speech videos.

The Wrap Up: Back to School Quotes for Teachers

Using back to school quotes for teachers can make a significant difference in the classroom. These quotes can inspire, motivate, and create a positive learning environment. As you prepare for the new school year, keep these 51 quotes in mind and use them to set a tone of optimism and enthusiasm.

Start your new school year with our collection of inspiring back to school quotes for teachers and their students. Use them to inspire your students, decorate your classroom, and reflect on your teaching journey.

Teachers take pride in knowing that the quotes you introduce can have a lasting impact, inspiring students to think critically and share their newfound insights with anyone who will listen.

Remember, a single quote can change the course of a day, and a collection can change the course of a year. So let’s make this school year the best one yet with these back to school quotes for teachers and their students!

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