As
the school year draws to a close, it’s important to pause and celebrate success
with teachers. Giving teachers the space
to reflect on their own accomplishments is a precious gift during the crazy,
finishing-out-the-school-year rush. Reflection
helps teachers see that their hard work and persistence have paid off.
Yesterday,
I played the Beatles song, “In My Life,” followed by Trace Adkins’s, “You’re
Gonna Miss This,” while teachers reflected on their best memories of the year,
what would stick with them, and how they had changed. Then they shared a memory or celebration with
their shoulder partner. The mood in the
room was noticeably brighter.
A
creative twist on supporting teacher reflection is to ask teachers to reflect
on each others’ successes. The “Strength
Circle” protocol provides this opportunity.
Each teacher is given an envelope and a blank piece of paper. They write their name on the outside of the
envelope, fold the blank paper, and tuck it inside. Then everyone gathers in a circle. Once in a circle, everyone passes their
envelope to the right. With each passing
of the envelope, teachers take out the paper and write a strength they
recognize in their peer. Encourage them
to describe a specific time they noticed this strength. After a minute or so, the paper goes back in
the envelope and the envelope is passed.
Repeat several times to give each teacher a happy list of strengths they
can celebrate and continue to cultivate.
This activity can be done with teams or the whole faculty and staff (be
sure participants know each other well enough to be specific about
strengths).
Coaches
can also celebrate success by offering praise themselves. Specific verbal praise can acknowledge not
only the goal that was achieved but also the actions that contributed to
success. Delivering praise with a smile
boosts the impact. And praise that is
offered in front of peers or administrators is even more encouraging.
Asking
for a teachers’ lesson plans or materials so that you can share them or use
them yourself is a high form a praise.
Many teachers have told me how good it made them feel when a coach asked
for copies of their resources so that they could use them in their own or
another classroom.
Celebrating
successes on digital platforms acknowledges hard work and can make success
viral! Try creating one-minute videos
that highlight class happenings. Feature student interviews and add some fun
music to draw attention to the good things teachers are doing.
Celebrating
achievements leads to ongoing success.
Helping teachers believe in themselves has a lasting impact. By celebrating successes both big and small,
we are teachers’ champions. Rita Person
astutely said, “Every kid needs a champion.”
Similarly, teachers flourish when they are championed by their
instructional coaches. The end of the
year is an authentic time to highlight accomplishments and celebrate unexpected
triumphs.
This week, you might want to
take a look at:
What
makes coaching effective? Report of a meta-analysis:
What does reading comprehension look
like in a digital world? That plus more in this Reading Comprehension
Spotlight:
How much is too much homework?
Why
writing will make you a better writing teacher:
PD
that honors teachers’ professionalism:
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
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