“Applause
is a celebration not only of the actors but also of the audience. It constitutes a shared moment of delight.”
John Charles Polanyi
While
driving in an unfamiliar city this week, I spotted a building with the word,
“Bravo!” lit in bright blue to advertise the name of the acting academy housed
there. I was struck by the joyous and
celebratory feel of the word. “Bravo!” is a shout of approval that acknowledges
a job well done.
At
the close of a school year, we often take time to express our delight about
positive outcomes. We cheer the growth
of students, applaud the hard work of teachers, and rejoice together over our
shared successes. I’ve been thinking about how to carry this celebratory stance
with us throughout the year.
Verbal
praise is
an easy way to celebrate success. Acknowledging
the goal and the actions that contributed to success encourages ongoing use of
effective practices.
Writing
a note leaves lasting evidence that a
teacher’s effort is recognized. We can capture a “shared moment of delight,”
giving specifics about what we noticed and appreciated. A personal note warms the heart!
Public
acknowledgement of
a job well done boosts teachers’ confidence.
When talk in the teachers’ lounge includes recognition of teaching
strengths or outcomes, it lifts the spirit and boosts energy for the work.
Social
Sharing is
another way to acknowledge success. Post
videos to celebrate a job well done.
Teachers glow when their students’ work is highlighted. This could be a magical whole group
discussion or student presentations of their unit projects. Tweet out the good
things that are happening. Digital
sharing publicly recognizes amazing accomplishments.
Celebration
goals support
teamwork and collaboration. What is a
schoolwide outcome that everyone can contribute to? This might be based off of school improvement
plans or new initiatives. Set realistic
goals and monitor incremental improvement.
The same marble-in-the-jar or paper chain processes that motivate
students can be fun ways to track growth. Then celebrate BIG when goals are
achieved.
Celebration
spaces create
a buzz about good things that are happening
Design a bulletin board where successes are celebrated. Change the
display frequently to capture good things that are happening.
Celebrating
the triumphs, both large and small, leads to even more success. To rephrase the words of Rita
Pierson, “Every teacher needs a champion.” As we dream about next school year, let’s plan
opportunities for applause. When we
consistently celebrate the good things that are happening, we are shouting a
metaphorical “Bravo” for their successes.
This week, you might want to
take a look at:
3
Ways to More “Aha” Moments in Coaching:
A podcast
on mentoring beginning teachers:
Using transition time to teach number
(or letter) recognition in the early grades:
Building
a community through reading a common text:
What
to get rid of in your classroom library:
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
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ReplyDeleteWow that was really a great read indeed. Expecting more such blogs in near future. Thanks for sharing.
Please help me suggest
The Best School in Perambur
The Best School in Vyasarpadi