Forward is Forward

Catherine Addor
Jun 13
3 min read

There’s a moment every educator, parent, or school leader recognizes when a student makes a small step that feels enormous. Maybe they finally raised their hand. Perhaps they submitted something on time. Maybe they simply walked through the door with their head held higher than the day before.

It may not appear on a report card or be announced at an assembly. But in that moment, you know they’re moving forward.

We live in a world that celebrates fast movers, those who achieve quick results, high scores, and big wins. But in real learning, the progress that matters most is often quiet and steady. That’s why this week’s reminder is so important:

Your speed doesn’t matter. Forward is forward.

Rethinking What Progress Means

Students grow at different rates. Some blossom early. Some need time to find their stride. Some take detours or need to start over. All of it is valid. All of it is movement.

Progress can look like:

A student learning how to stay focused for 10 minutes instead of five.
Trying again after getting something wrong.
Asking for help for the first time.
Taking ownership of a mistake and making a new plan.

When we define success too narrowly, we risk overlooking these milestones. However, when we choose to focus on growth over perfection, we create an environment where every student can thrive.

Helping Students Set and Reach Goals

If we want students to keep moving forward, we need to help them see what that means for them.

Goal-setting is one of the most powerful ways to support progress when done right.

Educators can:

Encourage students to create personal, manageable goals that reflect their current strengths and needs.
Build time into the week for students to reflect on their progress and reset their goals.
Highlight effort and improvement regularly, not just final outcomes.

Families can:

Reinforce goal-setting habits at home by asking questions like, “What’s something new you’re working on?” or “How did you handle that challenge?”
Celebrate small wins just as enthusiastically as big ones.
Partner with teachers to support shared goals in and out of the classroom.

Leaders can:

Promote a school culture that values individual growth and ongoing effort.
Provide resources and time for teachers to support student reflection and goal-setting.
Communicate with families in ways that highlight student development, not just achievement.

Partnering to Keep Students Moving Forward

Progress is most powerful when schools and families work together. That partnership doesn’t require perfection—it just needs consistency.

Here are three ways we can strengthen that connection:

Share what “forward” looks like. Use language that helps families understand your learning goals and how they can support them.
Ask for family input. Invite parents and caregivers to participate in conversations about goal-setting and growth.
Keep communication open. Regular check-ins, updates, and celebrations go a long way in helping families feel connected to their child’s journey.

A Step at a Time

Think back to a student you’ve seen grow, not all at once, but over time. Maybe they struggled at first. Maybe they didn’t believe in themselves. But with time, support, and persistence, they took one step. Then another. Then another.

That’s what this work is all about.

We don’t need every student to move at the same pace. We just need to make sure they’re moving and that they know we see them.

So as we move through the year, let’s continue to remind our students (and ourselves):