Looking for meaningful classroom mottos to use with your preschoolers?
Even though it’s mid-year here in Australia, I’ve been reflecting on ways to strengthen the sense of community in my classroom, and that led me to explore the power of classroom mottos.

Classroom mottos are simple, powerful phrases that help set the tone for the year. They guide behavior, support social-emotional learning, and build a strong, connected classroom culture, right from day one.

What do you want your preschoolers to know when they enter your classroom?
What do you expect from them, and what can they expect from you?

If you’re preparing for a new school year (or ready for a reset), classroom mottos are a beautiful way to communicate your classroom values in language little learners can understand.

Before I jump into how to introduce a class motto, I’m wondering if you have downloaded my Free Guide to Getting Intentional with Social Emotional Learning in Your Preschool Classroom yet? This step-by-step guide will help you bring social emotional learning into the heart of your preschool room. 

How to introduce classroom mottos to your preschool students?

1. Choose some values and beliefs that are important for your classroom.
2.  Introduce them to your young learners at morning group time or morning meeting. Perhaps one or two a week. 
3. Discuss what each class motto means and what that looks like in practice.
4. Display your classroom mottos up somewhere where everyone can see them.
5. Refer back to them often.

Here are 9 of the best Class Mottos for the Start of the Preschool Year:

1. We will care for each other

We want our kiddos to know that we will care for each other in this classroom. Like family, we watch out for each other and will try our very best to care for each other.

2. We will use kind words

We want our kiddos to understand that using kind words is expected in our classroom. What we say can hurt others and that we need to think before we speak.

3. We will use gentle hands

When I think of gentle hands, I think about being gentle with our peers but also being gentle with our classroom equipment/ resources. 

We want to encourage our preschoolers to use their words and to communicate verbally with their peers. As they learn this skill, it is only natural that at times frustrations boil over and they may be tempted to grab, push, pull or hit. Having this expectation spelled out at the beginning of the school year allows us to work towards improving our problem solving skills.

I don’t know about you, but this year, I’ve noticed spending a lot of time talking to the children about broken or damaged equipment in the classroom. I would love to see less disregard for our things in the classroom and more care and valuing what we have.

4. We will spend a lot of time reading

If you’ve been in my world for a hot minute, you’d know, I LOVE books! I love reading with the children! I want my preschoolers to know they are in the presence of a fellow book lover! This one activity has so much potential for learning that it will take center stage in our day. I want my students to leave my classroom having read so many fun, exciting, thoughtful and imaginative books! I want them to leave loving books just as much as I do!

5. Your thoughts and feelings matter

This value is such a good classroom motto because it tells my students what I believe about them. It gives them insight from the beginning that I care what they think. As their teacher, I care about their feel feelings. I want to hear their thoughts. I want to know how they are feeling.

6. We aren’t afraid to make mistakes

Making mistakes is all part of the learning process. I want to encourage my students to take chances in their learning. To not let the fear of making mistakes guide them. I want them to understand that we will all make mistakes at many points during the year and that okay.

7. We will learn from our mistakes

From our last class motto, it leads nicely into this next one …. We will learn from our mistakes. I want my students to understand that mistakes are an opportunity to learn. They help us see how we can improve or do things differently.

8. We will try our best

There’s one thing I always remember my Dad saying to me when I was young … try your best. That always gave me comfort in knowing no matter what, I have tried my best and that’s the most important thing. I want to instil in my students this idea that things will get challenging at times this year, especially when learning new things … as long as we try our best and keep trying our best … we will improve and we will get better.

9. We will learn together

Finally, I want to set the stage for learning. How will we learn this year? We will learn together. We will learn together in play, in our lessons, during morning meetings … As a class, everyone’s contribution is valuable and that knowledge, expertise and perspective will help us all learn and grow together!

I hope these mottos give you a little boost of inspiration as you prepare for a new school year. Use them, tweak them, or let them guide you in creating your own classroom sayings that feel just right for your little learners.

Your Top Questions About Preschool Mottos

1. What is a class motto for preschool?

A class motto for preschool is a short, positive phrase that helps set the tone for the year. It teaches young children values like kindness, teamwork, and trying their best in language they can understand.

2. Why are classroom mottos important in early childhood education?

Preschool class mottos help build a strong classroom community. They provide simple, consistent messages that guide behavior and create a sense of belonging right from the first day of school.

3. When should I introduce classroom mottos to preschoolers?

The best time to introduce class mottos is at the beginning of the school year. Use group time to talk about one motto at a time, and revisit them often through stories, play, and real-life moments.

4. How can I teach class mottos in a fun and meaningful way?

Teach class mottos through songs, stories, and role-play. Display them on the wall and refer to them throughout the day to reinforce the messages in real-life situations.

5. What are some examples of positive classroom mottos for preschool?

Examples include: “We use kind words,” “Mistakes help us learn,” and “We are a team.” These simple mottos help preschoolers learn how to care for themselves and others.

**Updated with fresh ideas and resources on July 22, 2025**

Want more inspiration for Back to School? Check out these blog posts:

1. 12 Simply Fun First Day of School Activities for Your Preschool Classroom
2. 10 of the Best Back to School Books for Preschoolers
3. How to Build Relationships with Your Preschoolers from Day One

If you like the look of my Class Mottos, check them out at my TpT Store or my Website Store.