A teacher sends an unexpected email—what a family reads aloud brings everyone to tears
Credit: Instagram/rachelearls
When a simple email from Wyatt’s teacher landed in the inbox, the family paused, smiled, and teared up
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When @rachelearls opened her inbox one afternoon, she didn’t expect a message that would stop her family in their tracks. In a now-viral video with more than 366,000 views, she reads an email from her son Wyatt’s teacher aloud—a note that leaves everyone, especially Dad, in tears.
“This made his dad cry,” the text on the video reads. “We got an unexpected note from someone’s teacher. Wyatt’s teacher sent Mommy an email today.”
Then dad then narrates the sweet incident to the little boy, making him chuckle at his own accolades. “I wanted to send an email to tell you I love having Wyatt in my class. He is a silent leader and follows the class and school rules. Thank you for sharing your awesome boy with me.”
The camera pans to Wyatt’s face—proud, shy, and beaming. His parents cheer and tell him how proud they are. “Thank God for good teachers!” Rachele writes in her caption. “We definitely had cookies to celebrate him andddd dad gave him an extra one and he said, ‘I’m going to share it!’ and shared with all his siblings.”
Why small notes from teachers mean so much
For parents, these messages mean everything. In a world of report cards, test scores, and daily logistics, hearing that a teacher sees your child for who they are—a kind, dependable, quiet leader—can feel like a balm. It’s also a reminder that the traits that matter most can’t always be graded.
According to a study published on Developmental Psychology, children who received person- or trait-based praise (e.g., “You’re smart”) were more likely to show “helpless” responses after setbacks—such as self-blaming or avoiding challenges—compared with children who received process praise (e.g., “You worked hard”) or outcome-focused praise.
Parents and viewers share their own heartwarming moments
The video resonated with thousands of parents, many of whom took to the comments to share their own experiences witnessing small acts of kindness and growth in their children.These responses show just how much these everyday victories matter—and how much families appreciate being reminded of them.
- “As a teacher I love to hear you reading this message as a family and celebrating together! That’s what we always hope for!!” — @anjanom
- “He is so precious! He’s learned all these good qualities from his parents!” — @sarahbelle528
- “The nervous giggle at first!” — @thebestdawgfan
- “What an angel! Nothing more rewarding as a parent. Seeing them take pride in who they are becoming. 👏👏.” — @krista.dvm
How parents can echo this at home
Experts say that parents can extend the power of teacher praise beyond the classroom by intentionally noticing and reinforcing the values behind their child’s actions—not just the outcomes. Focusing on specific behaviors, modeling gratitude, and acknowledging quietly powerful traits helps children internalize positive habits and build confidence.
- Use specific praise: Edutopia advises that instead of vague remarks like “good job,” parents should highlight the behavior—for example, “You were really thoughtful to share your cookie with your siblings.” Specific, behavior-focused praise helps children understand exactly what they did well and encourages them to repeat it.
- Model gratitude for feedback: According to Stanley Clark School, when teachers reach out, responding with appreciation demonstrates gratitude and strengthens the partnership between home and school, while teaching children to value recognition.
- Celebrate quietly powerful traits: Grow & Thrive KC notes that recognizing traits like empathy, consistency, or helpfulness—even when a child isn’t overtly leading—encourages intrinsic motivation and reinforces character development.
A small message, a big reminder
What touched so many viewers about this video wasn’t just the sweetness of the teacher’s note, but the family’s response to it. They didn’t turn it into a performance or a grade—they turned it into connection.
Because sometimes, one unexpected email can remind a child (and their parents) that doing good and being kind is the kind of success that deserves celebration—cookies and all.
Source:
- Edutopia. 2017. “Making Sure Your Praise Is Effective.”
- The Stanley Clark School. “The Power of Positive Interactions: Beyond Just Praise in Parenting.”
- Grow and Thrive KC. 2025. “The Power of Specific Praise in Parenting.”
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