Each year, I choose one word—not as a resolution, but as a guide. A word that grounds my work, sharpens my focus, and gently calls me forward when the days feel heavy or rushed. For 2026, my word is Rise. You may already know this if you read my last post or follow me on any of my social media channels.
As a former elementary principal and now a classroom teacher, I’ve learned that meaningful growth doesn’t always come from doing more. Often, it comes from being more intentional. Choosing one word has become a simple but powerful way for me to reflect, refocus, and lead with purpose.
And this year, I’m encouraging educators across grades K–12 to bring this practice into their classrooms—not by assigning a word, but by empowering students to choose their own
Why One Word Works
In a world that constantly demands students’ attention, the idea of choosing one word offers clarity. One word is not overwhelming. It’s accessible to a kindergartner learning to name their feelings and just as meaningful to a senior preparing to step into the world.
Unlike goals or resolutions, a one-word focus:
- Encourages reflection rather than perfection
- Allows space for growth and grace
- Builds self-awareness and ownership
- Evolves as the year unfolds
When students choose their own word, they begin to see themselves as active participants in their learning and personal growth.
Modeling the Practice Matters
Students need to see us live what we teach.
When I share my word—Rise—I will explain what it means to me:
- Rising to meet challenges without losing my heart
- Rising with intention, not urgency
- Rising in how I show up for others and for myself
This modeling invites students into the process authentically. It shows them that growth is lifelong and that reflection is not reserved for adults alone.
How to Introduce One Word in Any Grade
This practice can be adapted beautifully across grade levels.
Start with reflection.
Invite students to think about who they are and who they want to become this year. Prompts might include:
- What do you want to get better at?
- How do you want to feel at school?
- What kind of person do you want to be to others?
Explore words together.
Create a shared word bank. Read picture books, poems, or short excerpts. Discuss words like brave, calm, curious, focused, kind, confident, or rise. For older students, invite them to research words and their meanings.
Let students choose.
Choice is essential. The word must belong to them. Some students may need time—and that’s okay. The process is just as important as the outcome.
Make it visible.
Have students write, illustrate, or design their word. Display it in a journal, on a desk card, or digitally. The word becomes an anchor they can return to throughout the year.
Keeping the Word Alive
The power of one word is not in choosing it—it’s in revisiting it.
- Begin morning meetings or advisory periods by reflecting on how the word is showing up
- Encourage journal entries connected to the word
- Invite students to share moments when they lived their word
- Normalize revisiting or refining meaning as students grow
This practice builds social-emotional skills, supports goal setting, and strengthens classroom culture in a way that feels natural—not forced.
Rising Together
When students choose their own one word, something shifts. The classroom becomes more intentional. Conversations deepen. Students begin to understand that growth is personal, ongoing, and worthy of attention.
As educators, we rise when we create space for reflection, voice, and heart. And when we model that practice—when we share our own word and live it openly—we invite our students to do the same.
My word for 2026 is Rise.
And in classrooms across K–12, when students are given the opportunity to choose their own word, they rise too.
Below are intentional, developmentally appropriate grade-band adaptations of the One Word practice, designed so the same idea grows with students from kindergarten through high school.
One Word for the Year: Grade-Band Adaptations (K–12)
Grades K–2: Naming Feelings & Building Identity
Purpose:
Help young learners connect words to feelings, behaviors, and simple goals while building emotional vocabulary.
How to Introduce It:
- Read aloud picture books that highlight emotions, perseverance, kindness, or courage
- Discuss words through stories, visuals, and role-play
- Use sentence stems such as:
- “My word helps me when I feel…”
- “My word means I will try to…”
Choosing the Word:
- Offer a curated word bank with visuals (kind, brave, calm, try, happy, strong, help)
- Allow students to choose independently or with teacher support
- Focus on meaning, not spelling or writing skill
Keeping It Alive:
- Morning meetings: “How did you use your word today?”
- Drawing and dictation activities
- Praise effort connected to the word (“I noticed you were brave during math.”)
Why It Works:
This builds emotional awareness, self-regulation, and language—all through ownership and play.
Grades 3–5: Reflection, Responsibility & Growth
Purpose:
Support students in connecting personal goals to habits, choices, and mindset.
How to Introduce It:
- Discuss the difference between goals and guiding words
- Share your own word and explain why you chose it
- Use reflection prompts:
- “What do you want to improve this year?”
- “What kind of classmate do you want to be?”
Choosing the Word:
- Students brainstorm independently, then refine
- Encourage words connected to learning and character (focus, courage, patience, kindness, confidence)
- Introduce dictionary work to deepen understanding
Keeping It Alive:
- Journal reflections tied to the word
- Midyear check-ins: “How is your word helping you?”
- Student-led sharing circles or written reflections
Why It Works:
This age group is ready to take responsibility for growth while still benefiting from structure and guidance.
Grades 6–8: Identity, Self-Awareness & Resilience
Purpose:
Help students navigate change, identity development, and increasing academic and social pressures.
How to Introduce It:
- Frame the practice as a personal anchor—not a rule
- Allow private reflection before sharing
- Use prompts such as:
- “What do you need more of in your life right now?”
- “What helps you stay grounded when things feel hard?”
Choosing the Word:
- Encourage abstract words (balance, resilient, determined, patient, confident, rise)
- Invite students to write a short explanation of their choice
- Emphasize that words can evolve in meaning over time
Keeping It Alive:
- Advisory or homeroom check-ins
- Private journaling
- Optional sharing for students who feel comfortable
Why It Works:
Middle school students crave autonomy and authenticity. One Word gives both—without pressure.
Grades 9–12: Purpose, Values & Future Readiness
Purpose:
Support students in aligning values with actions as they prepare for life beyond school.
How to Introduce It:
- Connect One Word to leadership, mindset, or future goals
- Share examples of how adults use guiding words professionally and personally
- Use prompts like:
- “What kind of person do you want to become?”
- “What value do you want to live by this year?”
Choosing the Word:
- Students research words, quotes, or cultural connections
- Encourage sophisticated or nuanced choices (integrity, intention, resilience, rise, clarity)
- Invite personal interpretation—no right or wrong answers
Keeping It Alive:
- College and career reflections
- Portfolio or capstone connections
- End-of-year reflection: “How did my word shape my choices?”
Why It Works:
This practice builds self-direction, reflection, and purpose—skills students carry beyond graduation.
A Practice That Grows With Students
The beauty of One Word is its flexibility. The word stays simple—but the thinking deepens as students mature. From learning to name feelings in kindergarten to clarifying values in high school, the practice rises with them.
When we model intention, reflection, and growth, students learn that who they are becoming matters just as much as what they are achieving.
And that lesson lasts far beyond one school year.
Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to read this post. I hope you found it worthwhile and that it inspires you to encourage your students to choose "One Word" for 2026.
Best,
Jennifer
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