Motivating staff is an important step to creating a successful school. Administrators who regularly show appreciation to their staff members find that those employees are happier, healthier (fewer sick days), and more focused than when they do not feel supported.
If you know of motivational activities that you would like to share with your peers,
send them to Dr. Hodges with this easy form.
They will be posted here, in the following categories:
| Start of School End of School Semester Celebrations Holidays Staff Appreciation Week |
Administrative Assistants Week Birthdays Peer Recognition For Fun! |
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Start of School
Photo Scavenger Hunt
We began this year's staff development with a Photo Scavenger Hunt in our school community. We have many new staff members and wanted to provide everyone with a fun way to get to know each other and the community. Each team had to take a photo (with all members) for each item on the list: Example: each subdivision/apartment that attends our school, local business partners, PTA members, etc. Teams also wrote and delivered “Thank You” notes to local business partners and collected contact information for possible business partners. We also include some silly items which get everyone laughing like, "a picture of all team members in a tub." The teams received their pictures in the afternoon and created a display. The parents and students love seeing their teachers having fun!
Lisa Leethem, Bear Creek Elementary, Houston, TX
We began this year's staff development with a Photo Scavenger Hunt in our school community. We have many new staff members and wanted to provide everyone with a fun way to get to know each other and the community. Each team had to take a photo (with all members) for each item on the list: Example: each subdivision/apartment that attends our school, local business partners, PTA members, etc. Teams also wrote and delivered “Thank You” notes to local business partners and collected contact information for possible business partners. We also include some silly items which get everyone laughing like, "a picture of all team members in a tub." The teams received their pictures in the afternoon and created a display. The parents and students love seeing their teachers having fun!
Lisa Leethem, Bear Creek Elementary, Houston, TX
What Not to Wear Fashion Show
At our back to school faculty meeting, the Leadership Team put on a “What Not to Wear at Welcome Elementary” fashion show. This showcased some of the “interesting” outfits that had been worn in previous years. All was taken with a good dose of humor. The Team then came out to “reveal” what should be worn while Aretha Franklin’s song, RESPECT played in the background. This was a huge hit and has helped all of the professionals take more pride in what they wear in schools.
Christine Phillips, Welcome Elementary School, Greenville, SC
At our back to school faculty meeting, the Leadership Team put on a “What Not to Wear at Welcome Elementary” fashion show. This showcased some of the “interesting” outfits that had been worn in previous years. All was taken with a good dose of humor. The Team then came out to “reveal” what should be worn while Aretha Franklin’s song, RESPECT played in the background. This was a huge hit and has helped all of the professionals take more pride in what they wear in schools.
Christine Phillips, Welcome Elementary School, Greenville, SC
Happy New Year!
Since my school is brand new and just opened, we had a Happy New Year...New School theme the first day with staff and the first day with students. We had decorations and “get to know you” activities around the Happy New Year theme. The teacher's lounge was decorated with festive decor to remind everyone to have a happy new year at our new school. During the first day meeting, we used sound makers to cheer, to get out the stress, etc! Fun was had by all.
Carol Leveille, Mary B. Neal Elementary, Waldorf, MD
Since my school is brand new and just opened, we had a Happy New Year...New School theme the first day with staff and the first day with students. We had decorations and “get to know you” activities around the Happy New Year theme. The teacher's lounge was decorated with festive decor to remind everyone to have a happy new year at our new school. During the first day meeting, we used sound makers to cheer, to get out the stress, etc! Fun was had by all.
Carol Leveille, Mary B. Neal Elementary, Waldorf, MD
Rolling in a Great New Year!
We started the year off by "Rolling in a Great New Year." Faculty and staff were invited to dinner and a bowling night. We had a great time together and awarded fun prizes like, most gutter balls and the most fabulous form. We laughed and celebrated good and bad bowling techniques.
Beth Richert, Washington Elementary, Clinton, OK
We started the year off by "Rolling in a Great New Year." Faculty and staff were invited to dinner and a bowling night. We had a great time together and awarded fun prizes like, most gutter balls and the most fabulous form. We laughed and celebrated good and bad bowling techniques.
Beth Richert, Washington Elementary, Clinton, OK
Kids Expect Your Smiles
My theme for the first Professional Learning Communities meeting of the year was "You are the KEYS (Kids Expect Your Smiles) to Success." The song, "I've Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates" was playing when they entered the room and each person selected a key with a colored tag on it. We brainstormed ideas for a Positive Intervention Plan for our building. On four different occasions during the meeting all those with the same colored keys had to stand and say something positive about someone else who was standing. We looked at all of our positive brainstorming and came up with three ideas to use for the first semester and made a plan. At the end of the meeting we celebrated our success with key-lime pie!
Vicki Lewis, Washington Elementary, Miami, OK
My theme for the first Professional Learning Communities meeting of the year was "You are the KEYS (Kids Expect Your Smiles) to Success." The song, "I've Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates" was playing when they entered the room and each person selected a key with a colored tag on it. We brainstormed ideas for a Positive Intervention Plan for our building. On four different occasions during the meeting all those with the same colored keys had to stand and say something positive about someone else who was standing. We looked at all of our positive brainstorming and came up with three ideas to use for the first semester and made a plan. At the end of the meeting we celebrated our success with key-lime pie!
Vicki Lewis, Washington Elementary, Miami, OK
Above and Beyond
This year, our theme is "Above and Beyond." The Welcome Back letter included a balloon and a strip of paper. Each staff member had to write his/her personal goal on the paper and put it inside the balloon. On the first day of school, we collected the balloons, filled them with helium, and used them to decorate our meeting room. At the staff meeting, we had much discussion about our theme, planning, etc. Then each staff member chose a balloon, popped it, and had to report on the goal inside. All goals are now posted in our mailroom as a daily reminder of our plans to go "Above and Beyond" this year!
Susan Saint John, Starlight Cove Elementary, Lantana, FL
This year, our theme is "Above and Beyond." The Welcome Back letter included a balloon and a strip of paper. Each staff member had to write his/her personal goal on the paper and put it inside the balloon. On the first day of school, we collected the balloons, filled them with helium, and used them to decorate our meeting room. At the staff meeting, we had much discussion about our theme, planning, etc. Then each staff member chose a balloon, popped it, and had to report on the goal inside. All goals are now posted in our mailroom as a daily reminder of our plans to go "Above and Beyond" this year!
Susan Saint John, Starlight Cove Elementary, Lantana, FL
People Scavenger Hunt
We kicked off our school year by engaging our high school and adult students to participate in a "people scavenger hunt." The next day we popped popcorn for everyone for their breaks and served coke floats on another day. In keeping with the summer Olympics, we are going to hold a Wii boxing match with each class selecting one person to represent them and present medals to the winners!
Karen Koehn, NW Technology Center, Alva, OK
We kicked off our school year by engaging our high school and adult students to participate in a "people scavenger hunt." The next day we popped popcorn for everyone for their breaks and served coke floats on another day. In keeping with the summer Olympics, we are going to hold a Wii boxing match with each class selecting one person to represent them and present medals to the winners!
Karen Koehn, NW Technology Center, Alva, OK
Semester Celebrations
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Celebrate that Spring is here or coming by having a garden party. Here are some party ideas to make it a very fun event:
Debra Macklin, Jennings Elementary, Quincy, MI
Celebrate that Spring is here or coming by having a garden party. Here are some party ideas to make it a very fun event:
- Make a fruit bouquet. Using skewers, pierce pineapple slices with grape centers, strawberries, and chocolate covered strawberries and place them into styrofoam for support. Place the bouquet into an urn for serving.
- Rent a chocolate fountain and serve it with angel food and sponge cakes, bananas, stawberries, etc.
- Serve all of the salads in all types of plastic plant pots and use shovels as spoons.
- Serve the dips in smaller pots with smaller shovels.
- Identify the contents of each dish with a small clay pot with a garden marker in it.
- Serve the nuts and mints in bird feeders.
- Serve the drinks in large watering cans with the sprinkler end removed.
- Store and serve the ice in a wheelbarrow lined with clean plastic and use a shovel for scooping.
- Serve the cutlery from small planters.
- Serve "Dirt Pudding with Worms" and decorated with apples sprouting gummy worms.
- Use garden gloves for potholders.
Debra Macklin, Jennings Elementary, Quincy, MI
Holidays
Shopping Passes
To celebrate the season, I held a drawing in which I gave out two Half-day Shopping Passes during the November staff meeting. The certificates had a 30-day expiration date. The drawing was repeated at the December staff meeting as well. As principal, I covered the classrooms while the teachers were gone on their shopping sprees.
Anita Brown, Stonington Elementary School, Stonington, IL
To celebrate the season, I held a drawing in which I gave out two Half-day Shopping Passes during the November staff meeting. The certificates had a 30-day expiration date. The drawing was repeated at the December staff meeting as well. As principal, I covered the classrooms while the teachers were gone on their shopping sprees.
Anita Brown, Stonington Elementary School, Stonington, IL
Halloween
Our staff is reinforcing our push on literacy and everyone is dressing as a favorite character from a book or an author. If students guess the book or author correctly, they win prizes throughout the day.
Jennifer Buteyn, Ridgewood High School, Norridge, IL
Our staff is reinforcing our push on literacy and everyone is dressing as a favorite character from a book or an author. If students guess the book or author correctly, they win prizes throughout the day.
Jennifer Buteyn, Ridgewood High School, Norridge, IL
Things I Love About My School (Valentine’s Day)
Each Valentine's Day I prepared a special "love letter" for my faculty/staff. I wrote one statement of admiration about EVERY person in the building. Some statements were funny, some were serious, and some were sentimental. Each had to reflect the person and my relationship with him/her. I would print it on pink paper using a pretty "girly" font and then hand deliver them on Valentine's Day with a special, pretty cookie from the bakery. This was a huge hit! Teachers would stop what they were doing to read the letter. There was no particular order to the names, so they would have to read through them to find theirs. Many would share the letter with their students. It became a tradition. Some teachers and staff kept their letters up for the rest of the year. One lady even had kept every Valentine that I'd ever written on her bulletin board. It takes a while to compose, but I would start a template in January and then just add to it as a thought crossed my mind.
Some examples of the things I wrote were:
Each Valentine's Day I prepared a special "love letter" for my faculty/staff. I wrote one statement of admiration about EVERY person in the building. Some statements were funny, some were serious, and some were sentimental. Each had to reflect the person and my relationship with him/her. I would print it on pink paper using a pretty "girly" font and then hand deliver them on Valentine's Day with a special, pretty cookie from the bakery. This was a huge hit! Teachers would stop what they were doing to read the letter. There was no particular order to the names, so they would have to read through them to find theirs. Many would share the letter with their students. It became a tradition. Some teachers and staff kept their letters up for the rest of the year. One lady even had kept every Valentine that I'd ever written on her bulletin board. It takes a while to compose, but I would start a template in January and then just add to it as a thought crossed my mind.
Some examples of the things I wrote were:
- I love that (name of staff person) knows exactly what to say to make me feel special.
- I love that (name of teacher) has a chuckle laugh.
- I love that (name of staff person) gives me a compliment every day.
- I love that (name of staff person) is always available to help when you need an extra hand…
Administrative Assistants Week
I do something special for each day of Administrative Assistants Week. We give them a
hanging flower basket, lunch at a nice restaurant, and a You Are Worth a Million bouquet.
This year I brought in a massage therapist (a graduate of our school system) on Friday. I
changed our conference room into a spa complete with a fountain, candles, low lights, and
relaxing music – and, of course, truffles. Each administrative assistant was treated to a
20-minute foot soak/leg massage and a 10-minute chair massage. It was very inexpensive and
a BIG hit.
Wilma Widmer, Walton County Schools, Monroe, GA
Wilma Widmer, Walton County Schools, Monroe, GA
Peer Recognition
Tweet-tastic
The principal from one of our district's elementary schools and I have been working with the teachers at his school to set up school-based Twitter accounts so that they can “Tweet” about good events happening in their classrooms. Teachers are also using it to share resources and to follow educational leaders for expert advice.
Elizabeth Kohut, Technology Education Coordinator
Richland County School District One, Columbia, SC
The principal from one of our district's elementary schools and I have been working with the teachers at his school to set up school-based Twitter accounts so that they can “Tweet” about good events happening in their classrooms. Teachers are also using it to share resources and to follow educational leaders for expert advice.
Elizabeth Kohut, Technology Education Coordinator
Richland County School District One, Columbia, SC
Bosses Day
The theme for Bosses Day is “The Big Dog.” The teachers are having hot dogs and coney dogs for the principal and the students are decorating and making posters.
Diana Nichols, Owen Valley High School, Spencer, IN
The theme for Bosses Day is “The Big Dog.” The teachers are having hot dogs and coney dogs for the principal and the students are decorating and making posters.
Diana Nichols, Owen Valley High School, Spencer, IN
Brag Board
In order to help motivate others, create a Brag Board where items are posted that show the strengths of someone. On days that are especially stressing for a certain individual, post a line or two or a picture to illustrate the strengths of that person. This shows that others notice the things that are done well and helps to refocus attention to their own strengths.
Natalie Kuhl, Lima, OH
In order to help motivate others, create a Brag Board where items are posted that show the strengths of someone. On days that are especially stressing for a certain individual, post a line or two or a picture to illustrate the strengths of that person. This shows that others notice the things that are done well and helps to refocus attention to their own strengths.
Natalie Kuhl, Lima, OH
Pay Day
I deliver paychecks each month to the certified and support staff. I give them a “Thank you” and a Pay Day candy bar.
Tami Barrett, Principal, Hugh Bish Elementary School, OK
I deliver paychecks each month to the certified and support staff. I give them a “Thank you” and a Pay Day candy bar.
Tami Barrett, Principal, Hugh Bish Elementary School, OK
Every quarter an Exceptional Teacher is chosen by the staff – teachers,
assistants, cafeteria, and janitors. The winner received a half day off and I cover the classroom.
It is a great motivator and I get a chance to be in the classroom to spend time with the
students as well as giving appreciation to the teachers.
Patty Daniels, Principal, Wewoka, OK
Patty Daniels, Principal, Wewoka, OK
The administration at Hyannis Schools recommends a list of staff and/or
students to the Board of Education for commendation. The Board votes to commend these staff
members and sign a card which reads, “We are glad you are on our team.”
Mike Davis, Superintendent, Hyannis, NE
Mike Davis, Superintendent, Hyannis, NE
For Fun!
Staff Jeopardy
Make a Jeopardy game that reflects the school’s staff and play it during a long in-service day. Some of the categories could include:
Natalie Winkler, Clear Creek Middle School, Idaho Springs, CO
Make a Jeopardy game that reflects the school’s staff and play it during a long in-service day. Some of the categories could include:
- What child is this?—the answers give clues to certain students in the building
- Acronym me ASAP—which gives clues to the acronyms students use these days
- Name that tune—staff members identify either the artist or lyrics of a song
- ISMs—this reflected the –isms that teachers use in their classrooms
Natalie Winkler, Clear Creek Middle School, Idaho Springs, CO
The Jimmys (The Oscars)
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are presented each year in February by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.The awards date back to 1929 and recognize professionals in the film industry. Awards are given in categories such as production, acting, music, sound, costume and make-up, etc. Within each category are subcategories such as best actor and actress in a leading roles, best picture, best actor and actress in a supporting role, etc. The winners receive an Oscar, an 8.5 pound gold-plated statuette.
Have some fun and hold your own version of the Oscar Ceremony. Develop the categories for which nominations will be made (e.g., Earliest to Arrive at School, Most Creative, etc.) Have each staff member vote for who they think most deserves each award. Determine who the top three nominees are in each category. Hold a staff member dinner with an awards ceremony. Read each category and have a PowerPoint presentation which describes the award and the nominees. The winner of each category is called to the podium to receive the award—a gift certificate. The award may be titled after the principal (in this case the Jimmys were the awards), the school mascot, etc.
Jim Mule, St. Ameila School, Tonawanda, NY
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are presented each year in February by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.The awards date back to 1929 and recognize professionals in the film industry. Awards are given in categories such as production, acting, music, sound, costume and make-up, etc. Within each category are subcategories such as best actor and actress in a leading roles, best picture, best actor and actress in a supporting role, etc. The winners receive an Oscar, an 8.5 pound gold-plated statuette.
Have some fun and hold your own version of the Oscar Ceremony. Develop the categories for which nominations will be made (e.g., Earliest to Arrive at School, Most Creative, etc.) Have each staff member vote for who they think most deserves each award. Determine who the top three nominees are in each category. Hold a staff member dinner with an awards ceremony. Read each category and have a PowerPoint presentation which describes the award and the nominees. The winner of each category is called to the podium to receive the award—a gift certificate. The award may be titled after the principal (in this case the Jimmys were the awards), the school mascot, etc.
Jim Mule, St. Ameila School, Tonawanda, NY
How full is your bucket?
We are using the book, "How Full is Your Bucket," by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton this year as our theme for the faculty. Give each grade level a supply of glass marbles which represent drops of water (and steps toward achieving the school’s goals) and a glass jar (which represents a bucket). Have each grade level meet as a group and review the action steps necessary to achieve the school’s goals. As each action step is completed, have them drop a glass marble into the grade level bucket. This will assist teachers in realizing and celebrating their success in reaching their grade level goals for the year.
Wendy Ricci, Horizon Elementary School, Madison, AL
We are using the book, "How Full is Your Bucket," by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton this year as our theme for the faculty. Give each grade level a supply of glass marbles which represent drops of water (and steps toward achieving the school’s goals) and a glass jar (which represents a bucket). Have each grade level meet as a group and review the action steps necessary to achieve the school’s goals. As each action step is completed, have them drop a glass marble into the grade level bucket. This will assist teachers in realizing and celebrating their success in reaching their grade level goals for the year.
Wendy Ricci, Horizon Elementary School, Madison, AL
Ask with a Smile
At the beginning of each month I e-mail staff members to remind them to submit their monthly reports. I try to soften the request by including a seasonal humorous item from sources such as Diane Hodges!
Wendy Doremus, Hudson Public Schools, Hudson, MA
At the beginning of each month I e-mail staff members to remind them to submit their monthly reports. I try to soften the request by including a seasonal humorous item from sources such as Diane Hodges!
Wendy Doremus, Hudson Public Schools, Hudson, MA
Team Rivalry
Ohio State University and the University of Michigan are rival universities. This activity was implemented before the OSU game. Any staff members who wore Ohio State attire on the Friday before the big game was entered into a contest. At the end of the day, a drawing was held for prizes which included a framed photo of Brutus Buckeye, a framed photos of the OSU stadium, and cheerleader pom poms. For those who dared to wear Michigan attire, we gave them M&Ms for Michigan Madness.
Darlene Roll, Hi-Point Career Center, Bellefontaine, OH
Ohio State University and the University of Michigan are rival universities. This activity was implemented before the OSU game. Any staff members who wore Ohio State attire on the Friday before the big game was entered into a contest. At the end of the day, a drawing was held for prizes which included a framed photo of Brutus Buckeye, a framed photos of the OSU stadium, and cheerleader pom poms. For those who dared to wear Michigan attire, we gave them M&Ms for Michigan Madness.
Darlene Roll, Hi-Point Career Center, Bellefontaine, OH
