Dear Leadership,
We love our job as teachers, but as you know, it isn’t always rainbows and sunshine and sometimes our well-being suffers!
It is tough out there in the wild…
We want to keep going, keep showing up for our students, keep making a difference in young lives…
But we need positive energy, motivation and recognition to keep going.
Sound familiar?
Classroom teaching is all-consuming. We don’t become a teacher for the money or fame (no one can argue that). However, a little thank you from time to time does help fill the tank.
If you are looking for ways to show colleagues that you support staff well-being and appreciate the exceptional job they’re doing, here are a few ideas on how.
How can I support staff well-being?
1. Celebrate as a team
Celebrate success, goals or staff milestones as a team with something out of the ordinary. For example: Organise a coffee van, have a cocktail/mocktail hour after school, or get a corporate massage team in for a day.
2. Create a staff book library
This a place where you can share and exchange books (it makes for great discussion around the staff room table as well).
3. Recognise hard work
Surprise staff and sending an email instead of running a staff meeting. A perfect time to do this is when semester reports are due!
4. Offer to take someone’s class
Just an hour so the teacher can go and view another colleague teach (this one is for leadership).
5. Block in a well-being week every term
This is a community event which means no staff meetings, no parent meetings, no staying back late and no homework! You don’t have to host MORE events during this week, just keep it simple and do less!
6. Give a Gift
Gift staff a self-care journal, gratitude journal or pay for a self-care app they can add to their phone. These two apps are free for teachers + schools:
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Calm – https://www.calm.com/schools
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Head space – https://www.headspace.com/educators
7. Throw a surprise morning tea
Teachers always enjoy a sweet or savoury treat! You could schedule a morning team each month to celebrate everyone’s birthdays. Just knowing this is on the calendar can lift the team’s spirits.
8. Set up some staff compliment jars
This is a great way to show a bit of extra love for each other. You can makepaper versions (see below) or use actual jars with names on them. Everybody loves receiving acompliment!
9. Create a staff shout-out wall
This is a place to celebrate staff wins, acts of kindness or even achievements outside of work.
10. Drop random notes
Leave notes on desks or in pigeon holes, so your colleagues know that they are supported.
11. Create little report survival packages
This will help your colleagues know you are with them in the trenches during report time. You can find these little cars for free here.
12. Make a staff bingo board
Hang it up in the staff room for everyone to contribute towards. You could include things like: Didn’t jam the photocopier today, drank a HOT coffee, a lesson went off without a hitch etc (anything that celebrates the small wins!)
Building a school culture that values each other and teacher wellbeing is a key to success. Not only will teachers feel supported and valued but the culture rubs off on the students in our care as well.
Save this list to read later by pinning the image below:
If you are a time-poor teacher but want to implement some of these ideas. Check out our ready-to-print resource to promote staff wellbeing at your school.
One more thing before you go… get your hands on one of our most popular freebies.
Kids love playing this game and you are going to love it too because it involves little prep for maximum engagement. Get your copy here.
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