Just as negativity can be contagious, so can optimism. The more we hear and remember optimistic messages, the more likely we are to have an optimistic reaction when things don’t quite go as planned. One way to do this is to create an optimistic bulletin board. Any time you hear an optimistic message, scribble it on a sticky note and put it up on the board. Having a clear reminder will help kids remember to make more optimistic statements in the future. Any time a student is feeling frustrated, she can look up and be inspired to keep trying.