One of my goals when I became an administrator was to always remember the 22 years I served as a teacher. It’s important to keep that perspective in mind every time I make a decision that impacts my staff.
Top of my list is to SPOIL my staff as much as possible. Take care of the staff so they can take care of the students. And that means ALL staff: custodians, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, secretaries, teachers, maintenance — everyone is crucial to the daily goings on of my building.
In this post I want to link many of the strategies, games, and ideas I have used to try and reach ALL staff. Many of these ideas are featured on my TikTok (@carriewisehart) if you need videos to help you. If you decide to use one of these ideas, please comment below — I am always looking for new ideas and love to share!
All the fun & games…
My staff is incredibly competitive. I realized this early on — so when I sense a tough week coming on, I try and add a little competitive edge to take their minds off of the rough stuff. Many of these games I found on TikTok — but then I started creating some of my own, using ChatGPT to embellish my ideas with fun.
- Before Holiday Break, we always have a week of REINDEER GAMES. If you are interested in Holiday Games, check out my FREE doc at Teachers Pay Teachers with the list of games AND their rules.
- Spudsgiving Showdown – Just before Thanksgiving, we play a game with potatoes. Yep. Here is a link to the free rules and info.
- Teacher Walk Up Songs — There was a trend on TikTok for awhile with teachers and staff choosing their “walk-up songs”. Basically, teachers picked the songs. Then, the week before Spring Break, we played those songs during passing periods. When students got to class, they got to choose which teacher they thought chose that song. Here is a free link to the Google Slideshow you can copy to do this same fun activity!
- Holly Jolly Hydration Cart – We sent out a Google Form asking our staff their favorite drink (we gave them 5-6 choices). Then, we set up a festive cart and delivered drinks. We even ordered these “for-keepable” straws and gave everyone a straw, napkin, and candy cane!
- Breakfast Cake – I could tell that it was time to spoil my staff. So I decided to get a cake at Wal-mart, put it on a cart, and deliver “breakfast cake” to all of my staff in the morning. It was a great pick-me-up for everyone involved! Check out the video below!
All the recognition & encouragement…
It is so important to remind people how important they are. In my staff meetings and Morning Meetings with the entire school, I tell our school community, “Never admire quietly.” It is important to SAY the kind things you THINK — and to say them often. Here are just a few ways that I encourage my staff (and students!):
- The Marigold Award – In 2013, Jennifer Gonzalez posted an article on her blog, Cult of Pedagogy that has impacted me since then. She talked about the power of the marigold – how it protects other flowers from weeds and pests. When I became an administrator, rather than choosing a teacher of the month or teacher of the year, I celebrate monthly Marigolds. These are staff members who encourage, support, and uplift other educators. And they are nominated by educators. My secretary created this beautiful trophy that passes from staff member to staff member each month. I read the nominations out loud in our Morning Meeting for all the school to hear. It has become a very important time for us.
- Thankful for You – I stole this incredible idea from TikTok. There is a crazy way you can create a Google Form that feeds to a Google Slide and creates a printable slide with messages from parents. Here is the free resource on TpT you can steal.
- Staff Wellness Day – On a day set aside for Professional Development, I brought in a group that curated wellness activities for my staff. In addition to work time in their rooms, staff could choose to paint, do yoga, decorate cookies, play games, and many other fun activities. The goal of this afternoon was not just for them emotionally and mentally, but also for our staff to have time to bond together. It was important for ALL of us.
- Holiday Parties, Food, and Coffee Trucks – I am blessed to have an amazing parent organization who want to support and encourage my staff. So when I want to spend the money to take my staff to a super cool place for our holiday party, they always say yes. But FOOD is always a win — getting donations of food, finding organizations to provide meals, asking parents to have a potato or soup bar — it always means something. I even had a coffee truck pull up outside my school during our PD day — each teacher was able to get a free drink.
All the intentional choices…
- I did a video instead of a meeting before school started. More time in the classroom, less time in a meeting. Make sure that meetings matter.
- I provide food, child care, and cancel a staff meeting when I would like my teachers/staff to attend something outside of their contract time. GIVE TIME BACK when you TAKE TIME.
- Address the problem, not the entire staff. I have to check myself on this one, because it’s an easy temptation. But if only 2-3 staff members are doing it, then address those people, not an all-staff email. My mantra? “Inspect what you expect”. If you expect it, then be present and be there to see if it is happening.
- Write notes. Be present. Provide relief when teachers and staff need it (coverage, behavior issues, family concerns).
- Tell them OFTEN that they are rock stars. Because they are the reason the school runs. Tell them, show them, and remind them. I don’t believe in too much admiration. Never do it quietly.
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Carrie Wisehart 