11 ways to keep teachers motivated...

While I was teaching at Red Cross Girls' High School, on some days I was overwhelmed with frustration over a whole lot of things…the lifeless atmosphere, lack of important facilities, most of all, the persistence of a monotonous routine for the teachers. I was there only as a volunteer teacher but my heart goes out for the other teachers who have been teaching for years in spite of so much inconveniences! I came up with lil ideas as I walked to the school and back but couldn’t implement them as I had to take a break for some other work. However, apart from friends, students, teachers I have school administrators as readers of this blog and therefore I’m putting the ideas here. I hope it's useful :)

*These ideas have come out of sheer passion to instill enthusiasm among teachers and are not the result of experience as an administrator.

Some of the ideas are borrowed from my Mom, herself a teacher who shares with me some of the reasons why she wants to continue teaching despite the resistance from my Dad (he has retired wants her to retire too!) of course apart from the money and the passion.

So here goes the list...

1. Organize a lunch party—pot luck way is the easiest and most convenient way. Make sure there is music going on in the background and fresh flowers on the table!
   
   
2. Go for a teachers’ tour once a year to nearby resorts or any holiday spot. Plan at the beginning of the year so that you get to raise some funds too. Have a meeting and ask the teachers to come up with ideas. Get everyone involved in the fund raising activity.
   
   
3. Organize a ‘Talent Show’ exclusively for teachers…you will be amazed as they unwrap their hidden talents. During one such program, my Mom didn’t know what to do (she doesn’t sing, cannot act, doesn’t play any instruments or paint or draw-- so she decided to walk the ramp in our traditional attire! So you see there is something everyone can do.
   
   
4. Present them with little awards on teachers’ day—ensure that all teachers get an award each. For this, leave out the “best teacher award” but have something like “teacher with the best smile” “best dressed teacher” “innovative teacher” “most cheerful” etc.
   
   
5. Recognize their efforts by announcing their achievements during the morning assembly however small they might be. For instance, “100% attendance in teacher Michael's class for the past one month! *applause” etc
   
   
6. Most schools have sports week every year, dedicate one day for teachers. The best way is to divide them into houses so that the competition gets stronger and merrier.
   
   
7. Every Once in a while, have a “costume day”. Nothing fancy and over the top (to make it convenient for everyone) ask them to wear something pink, blue or red and mention in bold “wearing smile is mandatory” (This is my Mom’s favorite) and see for yourself how colorful and lively the whole atmosphere looks.
   
   
8. Plan for a movie outing on a weekday! Send the students home an hour earlier than usual…makes both the parties happy :)
   
   
9. Have a “breakfast in office” morning and order in something special. Be casual and make sure there is enough room for interaction.
   
   
10. Celebrate birthdays together or send a ‘welcome back” card when a teacher gets back after an illness or after a paternity/maternity leave.
    
    
11. In your weekly school bulletin, have short interviews of teachers…again be sure to include everyone. This is a good way to make them feel important. Also run a column, something like "we are watching you” and fill it in with funny incidents and snippets about teachers. It’s after all a human right to be funny in life :)

Cheers!