School
is out and I am on my dad’s farm. He has been gone for over a year, but of course, his
influence remains. I’ve been reflecting on his use of the word, “appreciate.”
My dad grew up (and raised us) in a family where love was expressed through
actions. In both the family he was raised in and the one he raised, each child
felt they were the special one. This
despite the fact that the words, “I love you,” were rarely spoken. But there
was a substitute which, as I came to reflect on it over the years, meant
somehow more. He would often say, “I appreciate you.” This phrase held value
about who I was and what I did, and his words were affirming.
You’ve
probably heard about the book, The Five
Languages of Love. But have you heard about the book by the same author
called, The Five Languages of
Appreciation in the Workplace? The authors purport that expressing appreciation
will reduce toxicity and increase productivity at work. Their studies found
that 70% of employees say they receive no praise or recognition at work*, leaving
people feeling undervalued.
I
recently attended an end-of-year teacher appreciation night put on by a local
church. Youth selected a teacher they wanted to recognize for the impact they had had on their lives. The superintendent of our district was invited, and in her
comments she remarked how infrequently teachers receive that kind of
appreciation; she said she wished every one of the teachers in the district
would have that opportunity.
As
a coach, you have the chance to spread a little sunshine. If school is out for
you, a note in the mail expressing appreciation would be such a welcome
surprise! If your school is still in session, that final message in the teachers’
mailboxes can end the year on a positive note. Expressing appreciation is one
way to affirm good things that have happened throughout the year.
In
the latter part of my dad’s life, he began using the word “love” more
frequently. But it felt ever-so-meaningful when he said to me, “I love you and
I appreciate you!”
Appreciation
spreads the sunshine.
This week, you might want to
take a look at:
A PD
podcast: Do teachers learn differently than their students? (You’ll find a host
of other podcasts here as well):
Many
of the ideas in this article on mentoring new teachers are important beyond the
first year:
Gradually
releasing: A coaching minute on “I do, We do, You do.”
How to
create fruitful co-teaching experiences:
Thoughts
on Marie Clay’s words, “What is right about what is wrong?”:
That’s it for this week. Happy
Coaching!
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