“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.”

Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

Despite the fact that we are provided with an amazing amount of resources to communicate, the school staff is finding it harder and harder to connect with each other. Location in the building, courseload, coaching load, and deadlines work against connecting the teachers to each other outside their professional learning community (PLC). What can we do to help? Sometimes school librarians or instructional coaches can provide a bridge to help everyone.

Proving once again that I steal ideas from others (don’t we all??), I created a simple form that asked three questions:

• What is your name (or type Anonymous)
• Who are you giving a compliment to?
• Type the compliment

I gave everyone a week to write compliments – with a couple of reminders during the week. Then I downloaded the Excel sheet with the results. Next, I opened Word and search for a card template. Finding one, I modified the card, then I did a Mail Merge and used the Excel sheet as the recipient list. I printed on pastel-colored paper (but in black and white – I don’t have a lot of color cartridges!). Last, I grabbed student volunteers to help me fold, sort, and deliver the cards.

What kind of compliments were sent and received? Here’s a short list:

• You are great at keeping order in the halls between classes. Thanks!
• For having my back and consistently supporting me.
• An awesome teacher !!!
• You are a dependable and hard-working teacher. I like how you handle difficult students and their parents.
• I can’t get enough of your dry sarcasm. Keepin’ it real.
• THANK YOU for showing up EEEEERYDAY!  🙂
• You’re an awesome person.

Thank you for being a member of my PLN!