TEA-riffic Teachers
A simple, yet effective staff appreciation activity.
Ongoing
A Collection of Little Wins
An activity to notice the people, moments, and memories that make your school special.
Alissa Christensen
A simple staff reflection activity that gives educators a few quiet minutes to notice the people, moments, and memories that make their school special. Staff build their own list of "good things," then share pieces of it with the group.
Why try it
Reconnect staff with the parts of their work that bring them joy by giving them space to notice and name it. Sharing a few items out loud as a group also strengthens connection across the team and gives you material to celebrate throughout the year.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Set the stage
Introduce the activity by explaining that today's focus is on noticing the people, moments, and memories that make your school a great place to work.
2
Make the list
Give staff 5-10 minutes to write their own list of "good things" at your school, from meaningful milestones to small moments that brighten their day. Examples: a student finally understanding a lesson, morning greetings from coworkers, coffee with a teammate before school, a handwritten note from a family, laughter down the hallway.
3
Share as a group
Invite volunteers or small groups to share a few items from their lists.
4
Keep it going
Set up a shared bulletin board, poster, or digital document where staff can keep adding "good things" throughout the year.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Staff meeting opener
Invite everyone to share one "good thing" before starting the agenda.
Monthly tradition
Set aside five minutes each month for staff to add new items to their lists.
Write your own team letter
Before the activity, write a short letter to staff sharing some of the good things you've noticed around the school, then invite them to create their own lists.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Model it first
Share one of your own "good things" before asking staff to share, so the activity has an example to follow.
Leader Tip #2
Keep responses specific
Encourage staff to name specific people or moments rather than general statements, so the list feels personal.
Leader Tip #3
Use it as an icebreaker
Use it as an icebreaker or exit ticket at your next staff meeting.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
Shoutouts
A teacher recognition program that runs itself.
Give teachers an opportunity to recognize their colleagues and collect them in your dashboard automatically. Easily print and share these encouraging words with your team.
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