Appreciations during Covid-19 closures

So, I am in a mood.  I am winey, grumpy, tried of some people, want to be around people, and all over the map.  I choose to work in education because I like kids and people.  This “working from home” sucks and, to be honest, I am terrible at it.

One of the things I miss is showing appreciation for my staff.  I can’t leave little notes int he staff room for them.  I can’t surprise them with bubble water in the staff refrigerator randomly.  I can’t put supplies with a cheesy saying on them in their boxes.  I love that stuff.  It allows me to say “thank you” and be creative.

So, I have been trying to do things in the mail and emails to them.  For the emails:  I have found cute, inspiring memes to send with words of encouragement about 2 times a week.  I get feedback that they come at the right moment or it says what they need to hear.  This makes me feel like it is working.

I have also mailed 2 items so far to their homes.  The first was a magnet.  I had ordered them in February from Stickermule and I “lost” them in my office.  While packing up my office (another story for a different day) I “found” them in a very safe place…I am getting old.   I received lots of positive feedback about putting it on their home refrigerators.  The second mailing was flower seeds (ordered from Amazon) and a cute little piece of paper.  I figured they were working in the garden and that this would help.  I also got lots of positive responses.  

Now, I am working on hand written postcards to each person.  It takes a while, but I want it to be heartfelt.  I found the template on TPT and ordered postcard paper from amazon.  Tip: order the stamps at the same time.  Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!!

Thank you Twitter!!!

In this day and age where we are learning our new “normal” of education, I have found myself going to Twitter more and more for help.  Searching for "how tos","support for teachers" and "easy curriculum ideas."  It has renewed by love.  However, the story below has cemented the #Twitterlove!

My district has decided to do a virtual promotion from 6th to 7th grade.  The other principals and myself were brainstorming how to do this.  I was thinking "How am I going to show all of their faces???"  

I reached out, via twitter, to @slidemaniaSM this:

Within minutes, I go this:

Then, over the weekend I get this:

 And respond with this:

In the middle of this storm, it was so great how everyone help and I could get support so quickly.  Educators has built a beautiful platform on Twitter and this is just one example of how powerful it is.  Thank you Twitter!!!