To teachers, the New Year is not on January 1st, but rather the first day that students return to their classroom. Even though we certainly enjoy some time off in the summer, we are all very ready to be back in the classroom doing what we really love to do: teaching! Remind yourself why you love doing what you do day in and day out.

1. "Life as a teacher begins the day you realize that you are always a learner." - Robert John Meehan

You may be the teacher, but you're always going to learn something during the lesson, even if it's not about the lesson at all.

2. "When one teaches, two learn." - Robert Heinlein

Maybe Robert John Meehan and Robert Heinlein are friends. Regardless, they're both right.

3. "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin

Let your students explore and be hands on. Once they figure it out themselves, you will see the light bulbs turn on to help guide them on.

4. "Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way." - George Evans

Teach your students in various ways everyday. If they don't get it at the beginning of the unit, give them some time, and don't give up. They will get it soon.

5. "Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work." - C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis is right. They are the reason we are teaching after all.

6. "Strive for progress, not perfection." - Unknown

No student is completely perfect, and you won't ever be the completely perfect teacher either. Look for progress in your students to reach the end goal, rather than just looking for the 100% on an assignment.

7. "If you can't explain it to a 6 year old, you don't understand it yourself." - Albert Einstein

If you can answer the child that always asks, "But, why?" then you get it. Go teach those little wondering minds!

8. "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." - Aristotle

Help teach your students to want to come to school, to want to learn. You're the stepping-stone to getting them to love learning.

9. "Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning." - Robert John Meehan

If you do what you love, you will radiate that through all of your actions. Keep it up!

10. "They may forget what you said, but they will not forget how you made them feel." - Carl W. Buechner

Ask yourself who your favorite teacher was in elementary school. Chances are you aren't going to remember the specific lesson that made you love them so much, but instead you remembered that they believed in you. Believe in your students and make them feel loved.

11. "It's a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together." - Unknown

It's a true calling to be a teacher. You must be passionate about it in order to succeed. Live out your passion, go teach, and make a difference!

12. "Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story." - Josh Shipp

You students are going to notice if you truly care for them. Give them a little bit of extra love, an they are sure to succeed.

13. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

Even Mandela agrees that being teacher means that you have superpowers.

14. "We didn't go into teaching to get rich, but to enrich others." - Robert John Meehan

If we wanted to pick a career based off of salary, we certainly would not have decided to be a teacher. The joy of being a teacher means that we get to change lives and help mold them to want to always learn, so that they may one day enrich the lives of others themselves.

15. "The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day." - Todd Whitaker

Let it matter every day, and remember that, while in school, your students come first.

16. "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius

Everyone that becomes a teacher tends to love what they are doing, otherwise they would not have decided to go down this journey. Love what you do. Love your school, and most importantly, love your students.

Now, go teach little minds to do great things!