We should show teachers appreciation more than just during Teacher Appreciation week. If you are an administrator or supervisor, you should consider showing your teachers and staff appreciation several times throughout the school year. We will take a look at three easy and reasonable ways to show teachers, paraprofessionals, other educators, and staff appreciation. In addition, to showing your teachers appreciation, these activities will foster teamwork and collaboration, and build esprit de corps. The three ways are to:
1. Draw gift cards for perfect attendance.
2. Treat your teachers to ice cream, smoothies or some other refreshing beverage.
3. Buy your teachers chocolate candy, cake, or cookies.
Let us begin, with drawing gift cards for perfect attendance. Perfect attendance is a valued objective for most teachers. For the administrator or supervisor a teacher or staff member with perfect attendance is a highly valued team member. The drawing could be one time in the school year, once each semester, or a drawing every six weeks. This may be dictated by budgetary constraints, or by a desire to use other appreciation ideas. Drawing and presenting before the team adds a dimension of fun and anticipation to the presentation. In addition, it publicly recognizes a valued attribute desired of team members.
Second, we will look at treating your teachers to ice cream, smoothies or other refreshing beverages. All of us enjoy a refreshing beverage, the presentation of the beverage may add to the positive feelings that your teachers get with this appreciation method. You should consider whether you will provide the beverage before school, during lunch, or after-school. In addition, the setting where the beverage is provided is important, as well. If at an after-school faculty meeting the more time allotted for socialization the better. Keep in mind: teacher appreciation, foster teamwork and collaboration, and build esprit de corps.
Finally, you may choose to provide your teachers chocolate candy, cake or cookies. Chocolate candy is a favorite of most teachers. You may select an everyday chocolate, or a fancy chocolate. In addition, you may want to include a quality non-chocolate candy for the few individuals who do not like or desire to eat chocolate. If you go with cookies or cake, do not forget the plates, utensils, and napkins. As with the previous two suggestions for appreciating your teachers, the more social time the better.
In concluding, gift cards; ice cream; chocolate candy, cookies or cake, are three great ways of showing your teachers appreciation. Also, these activities will foster teamwork and collaboration, and build esprit de corps. Keep in mind the presentation is important. Don’t forget about the when, where, and how of the appreciation activity.
Copyright 2013
