You May Never Know The Impact You Have...

Some years ago I was working with a student who was upset, defiant and losing control.  Unfortunately, my interventions were not effective.  The child became even more upset.  He ended up kicking my office wall, and putting a hole in the wall.  A pretty big hole.

Over the course of our time together I learned how to work with him.  What to do when he was upset.  I learned how to address issues to have a successful outcome for him.  Perhaps more importantly, I also learned what NOT to do.  We had a good rapport most of the time.  He moved on from my elementary school and eventually moved away.  

Fast forward about ten years.  This same student was graduating from high school.  He reached out to me and asked if he could come for a visit.  He wanted to see me before he graduated.  It was so important to him that he drove an hour and a half just to see me.  We visited for a while and caught up, and took a walk around the school.  It was an enjoyable time for us both!  

I was surprised that it was important for him to come and see me.   I didn't think I had done anything too special.  But you see, I forgot what I always tell young teachers:  You are making an impact.  You are making an impression.  Like it or not, we have the opportunity to make an impact every single day.  I had no idea the positive impact I was making on this young man.  But, I was.  As educators, we often don't know.  In this case, I had the rare opportunity to hear for myself the effect I had on him.  It was special for both of us.   

It was an important reminder for me.   What we do matters.  What we do shapes the children we work with.  Our work is important.  You may never know the impact you have, but you are having an impact.  I hope you will make the choices necessary to have a positive impact on our future, even if you never get the opportunity to hear it from a former student.           

Teacher Appreciation Week 2022

I look forward to making teacher appreciation week special for ALL STAFF. I celebrate everyone who works at our school during this week.  People who work in schools all have the most important job in the world! They are an amazing group to work with, and I am lucky to work with each of them to help shape our future leaders!! This year I planned a little something each day of the week!   Here is what I did this year:  

Monday- Thank you Gifts in Mailboxes! This was a customized mug.

Tuesday- "This Is How We Brew It!"   Coffee & Tea Bar. I delivered this to each room.

Wednesday- "Life's Batter with Pancakes" Pancake Breakfast  

Thursday- "Taco" Bout a Great Team!!  Taco Bar   

Friday- "Franks" for all you do!  Hot Dogs for Lunch!

Home Visits- Recognizing Our Children For Their Good Work!

Visiting students at home to recognize them for their great work at school is so powerful!  It is an excellent way to motivate students to continue their hard work!

We visit one student from each grade level each marking period to thank them for all the great things they do at school.  Here are the steps we follow for our home visits:

• We select a date and time for our visits.
• Each grade level selects one student.  They try to select a child who may not normally get recognized.  Often it's a child that has growth or improvement in a certain area.
• The teacher contacts that family to let them know we are coming.  We keep the visit a secret from the child.
• We go as a large team to each child's home.   Everyone applauds and cheers for the student when they answer the door.
• I read a certificate about why the child was chosen.  This is a unique piece written by the teacher specifically for the child.
• We give them balloons, a t-shirt, and a yard sign.
• We take some pictures and thank the family, then move on to the next home.
• It takes about an hour to visit all the students, and makes a HUGE impact!

If you are not visiting students at home to acknowledge their good work at school, you are missing out on an amazing experience!

Remember: No One Can Predict The Future

Would anyone have guessed that number 12 would be one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game?  Perhaps the best shooter of all time?  Probably not!  Many may have even told him his dream to become an NBA player was foolish.  

For those who don't know, number 12 is Steph Curry.  One of the 75 greatest NBA players of all time, and perhaps the best shooter that has ever played the game of basketball.  Among his many achievements, he is a two-time league MVP, and a three-time NBA champion.

We never know what the future holds.   We don't know who will be the next person to achieve greatness in their chosen area.   Children have dreams.  Support them.  Encourage them.  Work with them to help them pursue their dreams, and understand what it takes to achieve them.  We cannot predict the future.  But, we can instill the idea that hard work and dedication to a goal pay off!

   

Positive Contact Challenge

Here's a simple way to encourage your staff to make positive contact with their students' families!  Hold a month-long challenge, and reward them!

Here is what we did:

• Determine a reasonable and achievable goal for your staff.
• Determine a reward that your staff will enjoy.
• Inform everyone of the goal, and what you are looking for.  I encouraged specific positive praise through a variety of means:  phone calls, postcards, text messages, emails, and even home visits!
• Create a "Big Board" for everyone to record their contacts.
• Keep track during the month.
• Reward everyone when they meet your goal!

Check out this SHORT VIDEO explanation.

Proud of My "Selfie"

Proud of My "Selfie" 

Here's a quick and easy way to acknowledge your students for their good work!  I created "Proud of My Selfie" cards!  Here are the simple steps we follow to use them:   

1. Staff members write a short note on the card acknowledging the student's excellent achievement. 
2. The student comes to the office with their card.
3. I have a quick discussion about what they did and how great it is to hear about their excellent work.
4. We take a selfie together with the student holding their card.
5. I post the selfie on our social media pages with a quick note about their amazing work.
6. I text or email the selfie to the parent with a short note.

Here is a SHORT VIDEO on this idea!

Positive Post Cards

POSITIVE POSTCARDS 

Here's an easy way to acknowledge your staff!  Create positive postcards and mail them to their homes.  How often do we ever get good news in the mail?   If you're like me you get mostly bills and junk mail.   What a pleasant surprise to get a nice note!

Here is what I do:

1) I create a template.  On one side of a regular-sized 8.5x11 sheet of card stock is 4 postcards, and the other side has the return address.  I made mine years ago on Microsoft Word.  But this can easily be done on Google, Publisher, or the program of your choice!  Here is a site with some premade TEMPLATES.  A quick Google search will help you find many other templates. 

2) Cut out your postcards with a paper cutter.

3) Get mailing labels printed with all your staff's names and addresses.  Our staff information system will do this, and it makes it easy to address by just sticking a label to each one.

4) Add a short, handwritten positive note that is specific to each person.

5) Sign them, put on a stamp, and mail them! 

Here is a short video describing what I do.