Morning Mantras
A low-prep habit for school leaders: share a positive quote or phrase during morning or weekly announcements.
1-2 min
Positive Postcards
Send handwritten postcards to staff as a quick, personal appreciation activity.
Alissa Christensen
A simple recognition habit: set aside a few minutes each week to write a handwritten note to a staff member. Use the included printable postcards to celebrate something specific and personal.
Why try it
Handwritten notes stand out because they take time, and staff notice that. This activity gives you a low-prep structure to make individual recognition a regular part of your week, not just something that happens around the holidays.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Print your postcards
Print and cut the included postcards so they are ready to grab throughout the week.
2
Write the note
Choose one staff member and think of something specific you observed recently: a moment in the classroom, a conversation, or how they showed up for a colleague. Name what you saw and why it mattered, then drop the note in their mailbox or on their desk.
3
Make it a weekly habit
Set a recurring reminder to write one postcard per week. Over the course of a school year, you will reach a significant portion of your staff.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep a running list
Track who has received a postcard so you can make sure you are reaching different staff members over time.
Leader Tip #2
Staff-to-staff version
Leave a stack of blank postcards in the lounge and invite staff to write one to a colleague. Provide a simple prompt to get them started.
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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