Friday, May 11, 2018

Celebrating Success


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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