The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Tomorrow join @ShiftParadigm and me for #whatisschool “Dealing with Treachery, Villainy, Jealousy and other Bad Things at School.” 7pm EDT Please note time change. #bfc530
Lots of celebrations: T of month, T of yr, Quarterly Spotlight board, special PA announcements, Principal's Apple Award....and a fantastic T appreciation week. #bfc530
Good morning everyone! Busy times ahead as I have received permission to get creative with my grading as I make changes to better my kids’ experience! Working at ‘working the system’’!! #bfc530
One way that our school helps to celebrate the wonderful things going on in classes is via the PINEAPPLE CHART.
Perfect forum to bang that cowbell loudly. We find strength and inspiration in each other. #bfc530
Lots of celebrations: T of month, T of yr, Quarterly Spotlight board, special PA announcements, Principal's Apple Award....and a fantastic T appreciation week. #bfc530
So many ways! ROAR boards for staff shout outs, goody carts brought around by admin, staff meeting awards and shout outs-and my favorite, a peppermint patty for a “pat” on the back! 😉 👍 #bfc530
They provide lunch on opening day, holiday tea, T appreciation luncheon, and are supportive of Ts with mini-grants. Agree. Our Home School Assn is awesome. #bfc530
A : we would celebrate teachers day on a particular day of the year and we would honour the teachers for their hard work with gifts and appreciation words which were in the form of speech #BFC530
Our PTO handles different events for teacher and staff recognition that happen during the school day throughout the year, but we really don't spend a lot of time celebrating different successes (except for short comments in our PLC meetings). #bfc530
If you apply for recognition outside the school you'll be recognized, but there are so many ppl I work w/who quietly do a great job day in & out who dont seek those opportunities out, so its their reputation among the students that is their recognition #bfc530
My school sends out a weekly newsletter that features photos and stories from each of the divisions, as well as faculty and sports news. Not sure it always highlights and celebrates teachers’ most important successes, but it’s a start. #bfc530
At the end of each year, at our party on the last day, a teacher is awarded "teacher of the year" voted on in secret by those Ts that have won previously. Given to a T that has made an exceptional contribution to the school & students over time.
#bfc530
GM #bfc530
The thing that always struck me as awesome about MHRD is when all the admins line up in the office to shake our hands and tell us Thank you. Simple but powerful!
Lots of celebrations: T of month, T of yr, Quarterly Spotlight board, special PA announcements, Principal's Apple Award....and a fantastic T appreciation week. #bfc530
It was a lot of fun to work with NJHS as we collaborated with the PTSA on Teacher Appreciation Week. Ss brainstormed on what they could do & amazed me each time. #BFC530
We do a Teacher of the Month & Year. We also do weekly "shout outs" in my newsletter to teachers. we also started a Brag Book this year, where you write something nice about someone & pass it on #bfc530
This is it right here. I may be the last teacher at my school to get " teacher of the year"- but if my students know I'm working hard for them, that's all the recognition I need #bfc530
T of the year. Make Someone's Day board in each of the three workrooms for peer to peer shout outs and TYs. Newsletter mentions and at the top of each FM we always start with good news. #bfc530
At the end of each year, at our party on the last day, a teacher is awarded "teacher of the year" voted on in secret by those Ts that have won previously. Given to a T that has made an exceptional contribution to the school & students over time.
#bfc530
I think we do a great job but we can always be better. It’s all about developing those relationships. It’s still my answer to just about every Q. #bfc530
One year the kids dedicated their yearbook to me. I could still cry...
The kids are the reason we are there. When they love you as much as you love them. That's it:)
#bfc530
This is it right here. I may be the last teacher at my school to get " teacher of the year"- but if my students know I'm working hard for them, that's all the recognition I need #bfc530
Sometimes shoutouts can get competitive. We had a new principal who kinda wanted to pit staff against each other; we strongly videoed it. We have less than 20 teachers. Let’s be collaborative and not competing #bfc530
Hmmm. Well the teacher of the year is displayed on the electronic sign outside of our school. And we get emails to announce everyone's birthday. Outside of that I'm not sure, something the lead teachers want to improve but all we have done is a " staff shout out" once #bfc530
I think I answered this question yesterday ... shout outs are nice ... we have teacher of the year, but I see many TOY as being better at talking about themselves and not necessarily better teachers #bfc530
Same thing happened to me my last year teaching in CT. Really loved that senior class, and for them to dedicate the yearbook to me as we both left the school together is my favorite award ever as a teacher #bfc530
Same thing happened to me my last year teaching in CT. Really loved that senior class, and for them to dedicate the yearbook to me as we both left the school together is my favorite award ever as a teacher #bfc530
I think the big celebrations are great but ongoing validation is necessary as well - walking through classrooms, noticing what Ts and Sss are doing and telling them or leaving a note. #bfc530
Are you on our #BFC530 map yet? Place a pin to show us where you work:
https://t.co/2cyh8OQCK7
+ You all have great ideas for our daily Qs ... so take a moment to add one or two to our question bank:
https://t.co/CD0APwowIK
We do the "Wolfie Awards", modeled after the Oscars. We celebrate and give "Wolfies" to teachers who have taken risks & been innovative. There is a red carpet & I wear a tux to hand out awards #bfc530
I think the big celebrations are great but ongoing validation is necessary as well - walking through classrooms, noticing what Ts and Sss are doing and telling them or leaving a note. #bfc530
We do a Teacher of the Month & Year. We also do weekly "shout outs" in my newsletter to teachers. we also started a Brag Book this year, where you write something nice about someone & pass it on #bfc530
I love that feeling. Tomorrow our social committee is celebrating is with green bagels to remind us how lucky we are to have reach other. #bfc530#tgmsjags
I like all these ideas of bulletin boards in the faculty room. Our faculty room looks like a dark prison cell with no windows and a dripping sink without a bulletin board - but maybe I can do a giant post-it note or something ! U have me thinking... #BFC530
It's often the little things. Yesterday, when I announced at the end of 2nd period that we would not have class today due to our school's drama presentation, a student said "What! No!, Ahh!" Made my day to hear a student is invested in my class #bfc530
It’s nice if your school has a PTO to celebrate teachers annually, but I think we miss great opportunities to celebrate each other on a building level, staff to staff, admin to staff, etc, #bfc530
We have T nominated awards (Starfish awards) every faculty meeting - as many as are submitted, and admin recognize 2-3 T each money with ‘Boldy Blazing New Trails’ award. Also a ‘feeling’ of being recognized - all admin very good at letting you know they noticed #bfc530
I think the big celebrations are great but ongoing validation is necessary as well - walking through classrooms, noticing what Ts and Sss are doing and telling them or leaving a note. #bfc530
In some ways I see this as similar to awards for students-- the intrinsic motivation is what's really most important. Sometimes it's the realization of a job well done. #BFC530
I think the big celebrations are great but ongoing validation is necessary as well - walking through classrooms, noticing what Ts and Sss are doing and telling them or leaving a note. #bfc530
We have a cake for everyone's birthday.
Special things people do are announced at morning briefing BUT sometimes the special thing is really just that person's job so it waters down everyone else's special thing #bfc530
I think the gift of really listening to a teacher, taking the time to go into their room and see the wonderful things going on. That is a true measure of appreciation. #bfc530
A Showcase Ts success with grants funded spotlight, elevator speech for conference presentations, improved outcomes data shout-out, and research poster showcase #BFC530
Not in our school. I was so happy & excited for my work bff who got it this year! Most will be happy for the person. Others you should NOT worry about;)
#bfc530
It's often the little things. Yesterday, when I announced at the end of 2nd period that we would not have class today due to our school's drama presentation, a student said "What! No!, Ahh!" Made my day to hear a student is invested in my class #bfc530
not that I've noticed. It's once per year at my school so it's really the cream of the crop that gets it. It's always very well deserved by the person being recognised. #bfc530
Oh yes! We have surprise Coffee Cart Days. Admin walk around while we are teaching with a cart filled with treats. They watch our class while we fill our cup - figuratively and literally! #bfc530
I dig shout outs, but we also need to be careful to no celebrate mediocrity ... we should not be in the practice of handing out participation trophies. #bfc530
Actually, one admin told me that they stopped praising teachers at mtgs bc they were getting word of jealousy of who was spoken of &who wasn't. Lprolly was some truth to that, even as adults sometimes the staff makes me feel like I'm in the middle school cafeteria again #bfc530
That would totally put me over the edge. I am smiling just thinking about it. I know my brother @CrecArtsMiddle1 does that for his staff and I am so jelly. #bfc530
In reply to
@BrysonBridget, @SusZanti5, @CrecArtsMiddle1
If it comes from staff it’s better than if it comes from admin. Doesn’t always pass the “smell test” with staff. Of corse, it depends on your culture and your admin. #bfc530
I had a student top the state exam one year and my Principal called me in and discreetly congratulated me but said that I could not be congratulate din front of staff as they would get jealous #bfc530
Oh yes! We have surprise Coffee Cart Days. Admin walk around while we are teaching with a cart filled with treats. They watch our class while we fill our cup - figuratively and literally! #bfc530
As long as the admin is delivering praise fairly, a small word of praise in front of your peers is a great motivation for a teacher to continue to push the limits for the sake of their students #bfc530
It may not be T appreciation week, but know you are appreciated every day! Have an amazing Thursday all! #BFC530 😊 thank your colleagues, they help us keep on keepin on!
Wait! They do so much and I didn’t connect when I first read the Q. We are given surprise jeans passes and early-out/late-in passes when we are seen doing sthg special, or as a reward (covering a class, working the job fair, etc). Also we have duty-free lunch on occasion #bfc530
There is always some backlash ... heck ... some people are just bitter people who can't handle others' success ... excessive celebration will create a rift even among good people. #bfc530
And there is always the teacher who is perceived as the "hard teacher" that students dont appreciate until they move to their next level of education & realize how well prepared that teacher made them #bfc530
I teach Middle School ... that respect is tough ... they are trying to find their identity as humans ... struggling ... lashing out ... shielding ... not thinking before speaking #fledchat
I’m not always a fan of this process and wish it had started with peers in the beginning. Admin turned it over to us after years of it being their recognition tool b/c they ran out of the folks they liked...I think I died because there was no staff buy in. #bfc530
Our staff nominates through a vote, then the top 3 (one each from Arts/Elementary/Middle) moves through to actual voting. Hard to not make it into a popularity contest, but it is the best method available. #bfc530
In our break room we have Shout-Out Slips, little halfsheets of paper that have a space for who and why you appreciate someone. Anyone can write one and put it in that person's mailbox, anonymous or not. #BFC530
“You Rock” award was passed from T to T recognizing their strengths and sacrifices. We hear the “Good News” during each faculty meeting of successes Ts have involving Ss. T Appreciation Week: our Stu Co gets messages from Ss and put them on Ts doors. #bfc530
Today join @ShiftParadigm and me for #whatisschool “Dealing with Treachery, Villainy, Jealousy and other Bad Things at School.” 7pm EDT Please note time change. #bfc530
If you apply for recognition outside the school you'll be recognized, but there are so many ppl I work w/who quietly do a great job day in & out who dont seek those opportunities out, so its their reputation among the students that is their recognition #bfc530
I love that feeling. Tomorrow our social committee is celebrating is with green bagels to remind us how lucky we are to have reach other. #bfc530#tgmsjags
Morning, #bfc530. Notes, actual & virtual, are the currency of the complimentary realm where I teach. Shout-outs in email digests, handwritten thank-yous. Admin↔teacher, teacher↔teacher, teacher↔student.
