--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to show the children how every…" description: "\"I try to show the children how every lesson I teach them is going to be something they use in their real life. That's why my kids work so hard, not bec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/rafe-esquith-15671_children_i-try-to-show-the-children-how-every-les_2123434.png" --- # I try to show the children how every lesson I teach them… ![“I try to show the children how every lesson I teach them is going to be something they use in their real life. That's why my kids work so hard, not because I'm so cool. They're working for themselves.” quote by Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/rafe-esquith-15671_children_i-try-to-show-the-children-how-every-les_2123434.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/rafe-esquith-15671_children_i-try-to-show-the-children-how-every-les_2123434.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/rafe-esquith-15671_children_i-try-to-show-the-children-how-every-les_2123434.png) > “I try to show the children how every lesson I teach them is going to be something they use in their real life. That's why my kids work so hard, not because I'm so cool. They're working for themselves.” [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes teaching practical, real‑world skills to empower students, focusing on intrinsic motivation over fame. **In simple terms:** Students learn useful lessons, not for coolness. Key Takeaway Teach for lasting impact. Themes education empowerment practicality Mood encouraging thoughtful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - Classroom lessons - life‑skill workshops - after‑school programs Key Concepts Pedagogy student motivation Questions to Reflect On - What real‑world skills matter most? - How to balance fun and utility? A Different Perspective May undervalue creative inspiration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [You hear terrible stories because there'll be a story about some terrible kid, but most of the kids I work with are terrific kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/you-hear-terrible-stories-because-there-ll-be-a-story-about-some/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [Every person you meet has a lesson to teach, a story to tell and a dream to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/every-person-you-meet-has-a-lesson-to-teach-a-story-to-tell-and-a/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [You can't always choose who comes into your life but you can learn what lesson they teach you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/you-can-t-always-choose-who-comes-into-your-life-but-you-can-learn/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [Time waxing old can many a lesson teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/time-waxing-old-can-many-a-lesson-teach/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [The strongest lesson I can teach my son is the same lesson I teach my daughter: how to be who he wishes to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-strongest-lesson-i-can-teach-my-son-is-the-same-lesson-i-teach-my/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Every affliction has its own rich lesson to teach, if we would learn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/every-affliction-has-its-own-rich-lesson-to-teach-if-we-would-learn-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Great works of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our own spontaneous expression with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/great-works-of-art-have-no-more-affecting-lesson-for-us-than-this/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You don't always have to teach the the corrective lesson. Sometimes you can teach the lesson of patience and non-engagement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-don-t-always-have-to-teach-the-the-corrective-lesson-sometimes/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Just remember the world is not a playground but a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday but an education. 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They just need someone to show them the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-don-t-think-we-expect-enough-of-students-they-just-need-someone-to/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' I realized then where the problem lay. My students, and so many of our young people today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-happiness-i-realized-then-where-the/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [“Those who celebrate failure will not be around to help today's students celebrate their jobs flipping burgers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/those-who-celebrate-failure-will-not-be-around-to-help-today-s/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I always tell the kids that excellence is like pregnancy. You can't be a little bit pregnant. 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