"...a one-point source for ways to make Monday mornings less tedious and more fun. Want to make your employees look forward to the workweek? This is the 'must have' book for you."

William Warren, Instructional Manager/Teacher
Van Buren Technology Center

"Every administrator needs a copy of this book . . . and should keep it on the top of the to-do pile."

Nelda Howton, Principal
Shoemaker High School, Killeen, TX

"Through the use of subtle humor, Hodges gives us extensive ideas and examples of ways we can improve our individual workplace environments. This book is enhanced by the inclusion of personal experiences by the author."

Shawna Mahaffey, Professor of Business
Delta College

Diane’s Books!

Looking Forward to Monday Morning

Looking Forward to Monday Morning

Empower your staff members with a fresh appreciation for their work by nurturing their growth and success!

Has Monday morning become a less-than-exciting event for your staff members? Do you wish that you could help them look forward to the new week; that you could provide them with a more tangible appreciation for their efforts? In Looking Forward to Monday Morning, Diane Hodges shares numerous staff appreciation and recognition activities that can be implemented to promote a positive environment and inspire staff members to look forward to the beginning of each new week.

In this insightful text, you will find low-cost, fun ideas that will help staff members:

  • Experience concrete recognition for hard work and accomplishments
  • Increase productivity and job longevity
  • Exercise creativity during meetings, holidays, and lunchtime
  • Participate in their own success while encouraging the growth and success of others

Empower your staff members with a fresh appreciation for their work and transform each day of the week into an opportunity for creativity and fun.

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"If you ever wanted to thank your staff but didn’t know how to, this is the book for you. According to Hodges, surveys show that recognition for a job well done ranks higher as a motivational factor than wages and job security. Principals and managers who actively show how much they value their employees build a positive climate that filters down to students. The ideas contained in this book are sure to tickle your staff and build morale."

—Principal Magazine, NAESP, Nov/Dec 2005

"My entire philosophy on staff development and motivation has changed since I read this book, which breathed life into my new-found style."

—Dave Woods, Principal, Delhi Middle School, CA

Looking Forward to MORE Monday Mornings

Looking Forward to More Monday MorningsBring fun and appreciation to every Monday morning and all days of the week!

In this sequel to the best-selling book Looking Forward to Monday Morning, Diane Hodges shares a new collection of low-cost staff appreciation and recognition activities that school leaders can implement to promote a positive and upbeat work environment.

This uplifting resource for new school leaders or those who want a fresh slate of team-building strategies offers winning activities to use during special school events, staff development meetings, and throughout the workday to easily acknowledge staff members when they do a good job.

Dozens of morale-boosting ideas and suggestions are included for:

  • Rewards for specific behaviors such as attendance, classroom cleanliness, positive attitudes, and school achievement
  • Recognition for groups and individuals
  • New year starters and year-end treats
  • Staff meetings
  • Celebrations, holidays, and winter break

Looking Forward to MORE Monday Mornings offers leaders the opportunity to give hard-working colleagues a well-deserved "pat on the back" while infusing a light-hearted and inspiring climate into any school setting.

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"True to form, Hodges once again provides administrators with superb ways to support and encourage a wonderful, nurturing culture in our buildings. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to have fun as you welcome staff back and greet new staff members. Though these activities are enjoyable, their underlying purpose is important—one of collaboration, respect, trust, and getting to know one another. The author offers numerous opportunities for faculties of all sizes to interact with one another throughout the year. For new and experienced administrators, this book is a treasure chest of ideas just waiting to be opened!"

—Tess W. Blumenthal, Principal
Valley Elementary School, Jefferson, MD

"Hodges shares very practical and innovative ideas for making ‘fun’ of the hard work we do! Her ideas will be used with our administrative council to motivate and reward them for what they do, and to model how they can take these ideas back to their own staff. I’ll be buying this book for each of them as a back-to-school gift for their professional libraries!"

—Julie Germann, Assistant Superintendent
Monett R-1 School District, MO

Season It With Fun!

Season It With Fun!A Year of Recognition, Fun, and Celebrations to Enliven Your School

Create a fun, inspiring climate that motivates staff members the year 'round!

In this exciting new resource, Diane Hodges, best-selling author of Looking Forward to Monday Morning and Looking Forward to MORE Monday Mornings, offers a wealth of ideas, strategies, and tips for creating a positive, rewarding, and fun school climate.

Based on research findings that identify educator needs along with a collection of ideas from educators throughout the U.S. and Canada, the book provides positive, spirited approaches to help principals and school administrators create a nurturing culture where staff members are encouraged and appreciated for all that they do. Organized around the seasons, this reader-friendly guide includes:

  • Preparation plans for the new school year
  • Fun campus and community events that prompt everyone to get involved
  • Seasonal activities, songs, and tips for celebrating special holidays and occasions
  • End-of-the-year reflections and rewards
  • Unique original artwork by John Speeter that highlights important ideas and concepts

Spark staff members' enthusiasm and boost campus morale every day by incorporating proven techniques that will revitalize the spirit of your entire school community!

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Quote This!

"A wonderful mix of art and wisdom and a delightful resource for any educator or administrator. The quotes are perfectly suitable for framing, use in a PowerPoint slideshow, or simply for personal enlightenment. This book will touch your heart and leave a lasting impression."

—William R. Warren, Teacher
Van Buren Technology Center, Lawrence, MI

"This is a truly magical book that reminds me why I went into teaching and continue to love what I do."

—Patricia Stubbs, Third-Grade Teacher
Reche Canyon Elementary School, Colton, CA

Quote ThisA Collection of Illustrated Quotes for Educators

Inspire yourself and your staff with these empowering words!

Known for her motivational and humorous books, Diane Hodges provides the ultimate collection of inspirational quotes and reflective sayings designed to influence, encourage, and motivate educators. Complete with illustrations on a CD-ROM, the quotes can be easily used in memorable PowerPoint presentations, memos, newsletters, note cards, banners, and more.

These thoughtful quotes about children, education, leadership, and work/human relations are perfect for:

  • Personal reflection and inspiration
  • Enhancing correspondence, school communication, and bulletin boards in teachers' lounges
  • Motivational gifts for fellow educators

Quote This! offers touching words and morale boosters that recognize educators' contributions to the lives of their students and is packed with humorous sayings that will generate smiles, chuckles, and laughs.

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Laugh Lines for Educators

Bring humor to the classroom and promote fun in the school environment!

Laughter is the best medicine and humor really does make a positive impact. No one knows this better than best-selling author and renowned motivational speaker Diane Hodges. As a school director, Hodges often included humorous and motivational pieces in staff correspondence and on bulletin boards. To her delight, many others contributed to these messages, and this new book is filled with an array of humorous anecdotes, stories, jokes, and student remarks that will surely lighten the day for educators and promote fun in the school environment.

Focusing on amusing material about children, teaching, school, and holidays, this book is a great way to incorporate humor into:

  • Speeches
  • Staff lounges
  • Bulletin boards
  • Meeting icebreakers
  • Newsletters

Laugh Lines for Educators is just the right "pick-me-up" to bring a lighthearted note to your day and help you find the funny side of life—and your profession!

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Grin & Share It!

Grin and Share It

More Laugh Lines for Educators

Infuse sparks of humor and amusement into your school culture!

Laughter can indeed be the best medicine. Building on her success as a renowned motivational speaker, Diane Hodges once again delights readers with a creative resource of humorous pieces that can be shared with colleagues.

This lively sequel to Laugh Lines for Educators provides teachers with more laughs, chuckles, and smiles to spice up written and oral communication, add fun to the job, and enliven the school environment. Grin & Share It! is an amusing collection of anecdotes, stories, jokes, and artwork that:

  • Touches on the themes of children, teaching, “school daze,” college, and special occasions
  • Presents ideas for icebreakers, staff meetings, cards, presentations, newsletters, and written correspondence
  • Helps educators find the funny side of life—and the teaching profession!

This clever, pick-me-up reading is the perfect companion for any educator and an ideal addition for every staff breakroom!

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