--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk…" description: "\"Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing's coming to me, I remember my fifth-grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png" --- # Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk for long hours and… ![“Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing's coming to me, I remember my fifth-grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said, 'This is really good.'” quote by Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png) > “Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing's coming to me, I remember my fifth-grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said, 'This is really good.'” [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recalling a teacher’s enthusiasm can reignite personal motivation during creative blocks. **In simple terms:** Teacher’s praise reignites motivation. Key Takeaway Remember supportive feedback. Themes motivation memory creativity Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing sessions - creative brainstorming - learning environments Key Concepts psychology of praise mindset Questions to Reflect On - What current sources inspire you? - How can you create your own “good” moments? A Different Perspective Relying on past praise may not sustain long‑term drive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Fifth grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifth-grade/) [Long hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-hours/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [I had a fifth grade teacher who, as a very small way of trying to contain my class clown energy, gave me 10 minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/i-had-a-fifth-grade-teacher-who-as-a-very-small-way-of-trying-to/) [Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/) > [I wanted to be a fifth grade teacher because my teacher was so important to me and was giving me the education that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wozniak/i-wanted-to-be-a-fifth-grade-teacher-because-my-teacher-was-so/) [Steve Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wozniak/) > [From the time I was ten, I thought of myself as 'good with words,' thanks to a perceptive and supportive fifth grade teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hesse/from-the-time-i-was-ten-i-thought-of-myself-as-good-with-words-thanks/) [Karen Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hesse/) > [“Kendall’s eyes lit up. “You have no idea, Noreen. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-keene/kendall-s-eyes-lit-up-you-have-no-idea-noreen-he/) [Carolyn Keene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-keene/) > [“Ty's eyes lit up. They still moved restlessly around Kit as if he were reading him, examining him, never quite meeting Kit's own, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/ty-s-eyes-lit-up-they-still-moved-restlessly-around-kit-as-if-he-were/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He stared at her the way he used to in the days of their youth, his eyes lit with open yearning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/he-stared-at-her-the-way-he-used-to-in-the-days-of-their-youth-his/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“...his eyes lit up and glowed red against the dark bulk of it. A moment they remained so ... then they soared up, phosphorescently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-douglas-kerruish/his-eyes-lit-up-and-glowed-red-against-the-dark-bulk-of-it-a-moment/) [Jessie Douglas Kerruish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-douglas-kerruish/) > [“Her siren smile appeard and her eyes lit up the room. Her laghter sounded like music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/her-siren-smile-appeard-and-her-eyes-lit-up-the-room-her-laghter/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [I was a very shy kid. In 8th grade, I had a teacher who got me into improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-collins/i-was-a-very-shy-kid-in-8th-grade-i-had-a-teacher-who-got-me-into/) [Mo Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-collins/) > [There was an email forwarded to me from a first-grade teacher, and she said she was teaching them civil rights for MLK weekend, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/there-was-an-email-forwarded-to-me-from-a-first-grade-teacher-and-she/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [My first-grade teacher told me I was the dumbest student she ever had. She did me a favor. If she told me I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gallo/my-first-grade-teacher-told-me-i-was-the-dumbest-student-she-ever-had/) Ernest Gallo > [When my sixth grade teacher opened the class with subtle praise for the guardsmen shooting four people to death at Kent State, I'd given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/when-my-sixth-grade-teacher-opened-the-class-with-subtle-praise-for/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) > [I had a ninth grade teacher who told me I was much smarter and much better than I was allowing myself to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/i-had-a-ninth-grade-teacher-who-told-me-i-was-much-smarter-and-much/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends' eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/there-was-something-about-telling-the-lie-story-and-seeing-your/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [By the time I was in fifth grade, I was dreaming of the Pulitzer Prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/by-the-time-i-was-in-fifth-grade-i-was-dreaming-of-the-pulitzer-prize/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) ## More by Jacqueline Woodson > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I think, even though homophobia still exists, there is much more of a dialogue and a taboo around being homophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-even-though-homophobia-still-exists-there-is-much-more-of-a/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I still love Carson McCullers and Raymond Carver and Toni Morrison and James Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-still-love-carson-mccullers-and-raymond-carver-and-toni-morrison/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I'm usually working on several things at once. If I get bored with one, I can go on to another. That way, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-m-usually-working-on-several-things-at-once-if-i-get-bored-with-one/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [You have those walls up all around you...Come a day you gonna want to tear them down brick by brick and gonna find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/you-have-those-walls-up-all-around-you-come-a-day-you-gonna-want-to/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“That's all anybody is-themselves. People all the time wanting to change that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/that-s-all-anybody-is-themselves-people-all-the-time-wanting-to/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I don't know how women stop being friends with other women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-don-t-know-how-women-stop-being-friends-with-other-women/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [Who are you without your girls? I truly believe that. Who are you without the people who help you make sense of the misogyny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/who-are-you-without-your-girls-i-truly-believe-that-who-are-you/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“And freedom? Oh, freedom. Well that's just some people talking. Your prison is walking through this world all alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/and-freedom-oh-freedom-well-that-s-just-some-people-talking-your/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I've learned about marrying poetry and prose and making both accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-ve-learned-about-marrying-poetry-and-prose-and-making-both/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [You're a part of me...You're in my heart. Forever and always, all right? —D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/you-re-a-part-of-me-you-re-in-my-heart-forever-and-always-all-right-d/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I wouldn't mind the early autumn if you came home today I'd tell you how much I miss you and know I'd be okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-wouldn-t-mind-the-early-autumn-if-you-came-home-today-i-d-tell-you/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > ['Another Brooklyn' came to me in this kind of dreamlike series of vignettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/another-brooklyn-came-to-me-in-this-kind-of-dreamlike-series-of/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“They're all inside of us,...past people and present people. And probably even the people we'll become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/they-re-all-inside-of-us-past-people-and-present-people-and-probably/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [When I was a kid, I got in trouble for lying a lot, and I had a teacher say, 'Instead of lying, write it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/when-i-was-a-kid-i-got-in-trouble-for-lying-a-lot-and-i-had-a-teacher/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) [Explore all 237 Jacqueline Woodson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) ## More Eyes quotes > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Human beings should stick together. Honestly, if I see a red-haired person with blue eyes now, I say, 'Is your granny black?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/human-beings-should-stick-together-honestly-if-i-see-a-red-haired/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [My only trick to having wing liner sharp enough to cut is be careful and take your time! I have hooded eyes, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-charles/my-only-trick-to-having-wing-liner-sharp-enough-to-cut-is-be-careful/) [James Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-charles/) > [“I fell in love with your eyes first because I looked into their depths and saw the other half of my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/i-fell-in-love-with-your-eyes-first-because-i-looked-into-their/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) > [I think, reading about yourself through somebody else's eyes, you're always going to have your own story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/i-think-reading-about-yourself-through-somebody-else-s-eyes-you-re/) [Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/) > [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Evertime I close my eyes it doesnt matter where, I always see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/evertime-i-close-my-eyes-it-doesnt-matter-where-i-always-see-you/) Patience > [Look with all your eyes, look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/look-with-all-your-eyes-look/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It's not your mistake if you cant read the eyes which cheats you. But it's really your mistake if you cant read the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/it-s-not-your-mistake-if-you-cant-read-the-eyes-which-cheats-you-but/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) > [Kiss me with your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/kiss-me-with-your-eyes/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) [Browse all 3,942 Eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing's coming to me, I remember my fifth-grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said, 'This is really good.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacqueline Woodson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-for-long-hours-and-nothing-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eyes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-for-long-hours-and-nothing-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/jacqueline-woodson-1482_eyes_sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-fo_2719721.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing's coming to me, I remember my fifth-grade…” — Jacqueline Woodson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jacqueline Woodson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes, when I'm sitting at my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-for-long-hours-and-nothing-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/sometimes-when-i-m-sitting-at-my-desk-for-long-hours-and-nothing-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```