This podcast emphasizes the need for administrators to provide teachers with specific positive feedback. It discusses the pressures teachers face and the power of compliments in supporting their professional growth. The importance of recognizing teachers' strengths and the impact of genuine praise is highlighted.
Administrators should provide specific positive feedback to teachers to boost morale, motivation, and confidence.
Generic praise is not as effective as detailed compliments focused on areas like relationships with students and lesson planning.
Deep dives
Administrators, Give Teachers a Win
Teachers often feel overwhelmed and like they are not doing enough due to the constant influx of professional development, books, articles, and media catering to teachers. This overload can drain motivation and make them feel inadequate. Administrators have a crucial role in providing specific positive feedback to teachers to counteract this. By choosing 10 teachers on their staff and giving each one specific compliments based on areas such as relationships with students, decision-making, clarity in delivery, classroom management and logistics, lesson planning, and design, administrators can boost teacher morale, motivation, and confidence. The process is simple, free, and takes little time, but the impact can be significant.
The Power of Specific Positive Feedback
Generic praise does not have the same impact as specific positive feedback. Teachers need to hear about the things they are doing right and receive feedback on specific areas of their teaching. Compliments should be detailed and focused on areas like relationships and rapport with students, decision-making, clarity and delivery of instruction, classroom management and logistics, lesson planning, and design. A small amount of specific praise can provide teachers with the confidence and motivation to continue working hard, even in challenging situations. By prioritizing specific positive feedback, administrators can create a supportive and encouraging environment for teachers.
Everyone Benefits from Genuine Compliments
The power of compliments extends beyond teachers and administrators. Genuine specific compliments can be a valuable tool in various relationships, including those with students, colleagues, family members, and friends. Compliments provide a boost of motivation and confidence to both the recipient and the giver. The Compliments Project, where students write compliments for each other and read them aloud, highlights the emotional impact of receiving genuine praise. By spreading genuine compliments, individuals can contribute to creating a positive and affirming atmosphere in their personal and professional lives.
I have no new strategies or tools or books to share with you this week. Nothing new to implement. Just a simple call to action for administrators to start giving your teachers more specific, genuine positive feedback. They need it.