“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
That is right, and the educators are those warriors who are skilled in using this weapon and shaping young minds to change the world and transform it into a better place.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions and it calls for patience, perseverance, and dedication to teach little minds, guide them, and mold them into their best version. However, teaching can be challenging too. Frustration, burnout, and pressure can leave teachers overwhelmed.
In that case, boosting teacher’s morale and keeping them emotionally and psychologically energized is important. A teacher’s uplifted morale and intrinsic motivation are directly linked to a student’s high achievement rates and success. A happy and motivated teacher will not only bring the best out of the little kids but will also be creative and unique in their approach to teaching and helping little kids.
Therefore, if you are an administrator or a school leader, it’s important to have some morale boosters in place for your educators to promote a positive environment and keep the teacher productive. In this post, we have highlighted some amazing morale boosters for teachers that are easy to implement and highly effective.
Amazing morale boosters for teachers
Appreciating teachers and boosting their morale is not limited to teacher appreciation day activities or ideas, rather it is a round-year process to show respect and value educators’ efforts. Some amazing morale boosters for teachers are-
1. Weekly Gratitude
Acknowledging educator’s efforts and showing them gratitude for their hard work will surely make them feel valued and appreciated. Showing gratitude goes a long way in fostering happiness and laughter in teachers and it’s a great way to thank them for all their efforts and dedication.
As a principal or a school leader, you can ensure to be grateful to teachers through little gratitude activities that matter. For instance, a weekly email of gratitude for their efforts or simply a personalized gratitude note can help uplift a teacher’s morale. Alternatively, you can send a monthly gratitude newsletter to teachers to remind them they are important and their efforts matter.
2. Appreciate the teacher’s efforts
Everyone likes to be appreciated for their efforts. Educators, no doubt, work hard and deserve all the appreciation for their work. Appreciating teachers’ efforts will enhance their confidence in their work and skills and it will motivate them to keep shining and transforming children’s lives in a positive direction.
Promote a habit of randomly complimenting teachers for their work and efforts. It can be done among colleagues or school leaders. Additionally, appreciating remarks from students is just a perfect morale booster for teachers. It will serve a two-fold purpose, first to make teachers feel appreciated and second, it will foster gratitude in little kids.
3. After-class fun sessions
Sometimes teaching can be hectic. Back-to-back classes, meetings, grading students’ copies, preparing tests, etc., can leave teachers exhausted and out of element. In that case, a little fun session can save the day and bring back the educator’s charm. These fun sessions can be planned once every month on a slightly large scale or daily on a small scale as a stress booster session.
These sessions could be simple and will work wonders to boost a teacher’s morale. It can involve providing a safe space for educators to talk or share anything they feel like. Educators can have simple coffee time or treats just to elevate their moods. These sessions can be made more fun by playing board games or simply chitchat.
4. Respect teacher’s time
Educators work round the clock to ensure student’s success and holistic growth. They even work overtime just to provide the little minds with a healthy and stimulating learning environment. Since educators invest a large portion of their time in teaching and related activities, it is important to respect their time and not waste it.
It will result in educators better focusing on important tasks and contributing more effectively to student’s achievements. Respecting a teacher’s efforts and time is a great way to boost an educator’s morale and show appreciation to them.
For instance, instead of planning daily meetings, an elaborative email will work. Spare meetings for important tasks or goals. Further, plan the educator’s schedule in a way that they are less exhausted and their time is better utilized.
5. Make Them Heard
Educators are active members in the teaching-learning process. They can only contribute effectively if their feedback is heard and acted upon. Additionally, involving educators in important academic decisions, meetings, curricular formations, etc., and seeking their opinions on important matters is a great way to engage them in internal matters and boost their morale.
It can be done in many ways including collecting anonymous feedback from educators. Otherwise, a systematic monthly meeting can be arranged where teachers can present their inputs and actively engage and collaborate in important decisions and activities.
6. Fun activity sessions
Cooperative work environments and effective teamwork are highly useful in boosting the morale of educators and keeping their spirits uplifted. A healthy workspace provides a safe space to grow both personally and professionally, resulting in better work outcomes. To promote cooperation and teamwork spirit among educators, various fun outdoor activities can be arranged.
Activities can include yoga, field games, picnic day, scavenger hunt, staff dinners/ lunches, etc. It is a great way to keep educators physically fit and appreciate their presence and efforts.
7. Promote mental health and psychological well-being
Boosting an educator’s morale is not supposed to be necessarily external, rather it could be internal also. As a school leader, you can ensure the promotion of the mental health and psychological well-being of the educators and provide them with a stress-free and growing environment. Constant pressure and frustration can lead to burnout and teachers will soon lose their motivation to work. Hence, ensure the promotion of a healthy and positive environment for educators.
Providing educators with external support, peer support, or arranging professional help if required will ensure the well-being of the educators.
8. Surprise kindness notes from students
Another amazing way to boost educators’ morale is by facilitating activities like leaving surprise kindness notes for educators and appreciating them for their hard work, thanking them for their efforts, or just telling them the lesson was amazing or they enjoyed a certain activity. These little achievements or compliments are a great morale booster for teachers and will surely bring a smile to their faces.
Children can leave these notes on school boards or the teacher’s desk. Or, schools can arrange a box, where students can drop their notes for teachers to find. Alternatively, students can leave anonymous kindness notes to teachers in their cabins or on boards.
9. Mid-classes breaks
Mid-class breaks are perfect to help teachers take a little break and collect themselves for the next lesson. It will help educators better prepare themselves and keep themselves motivated. A little break will be the right refreshment on a busy day for teachers to bring their strength and zeal back.
Schools can arrange an escape room or staff-only area for educators. Additionally, teachers can take a coffee or tea break or have a quick snack before beginning their lectures.
10. Once-a-month meet-up
Another great way to boost educator’s morale is by providing them with a healthy environment outside of their regular schedules to connect with their colleagues. Connecting and communicating with colleagues and knowing them both professionally and personally will foster healthy work relationships and mutual support.
Arranging once-a-month meet-ups outside the school is a great way to implement this strategy and keep the educators happy and motivated.
Why is boosting a teacher’s morale important?
It takes complete focus, perseverance, and resilience to be an exceptional teacher. However, at times, educators can feel detached and perplexed. Implementing morale boosters, in that case, is a highly relevant choice. Morale boosters for educators are important, because-
1. Professional growth
Boosting teachers’ morale and encouraging them for their hard work will result in professional enhancement of teachers. It will help them grow professionally and adopt an open attitude towards teaching and student success.
2. Personal development
Morale boosters are not only important for professional growth but it is also necessary for the personal development of educators. It helps them grow as a person, efficiently analyze challenges from different perspectives, and be a role model for their students.
3. High student success rates
Confident and motivated teachers effectively contribute to their students’ success and achievements. If educators are motivated and full of passion, they will better uplift their students and help them achieve their goals and reach heights. Hence, morale boosters for teachers are important for student’s success.
4. High teacher retention/ Job Satisfaction
If educators are motivated and satisfied with their roles and working environment, they are more likely to retain their jobs. Morale boosters help ensure educators remain satisfied with their jobs and reduce the chances of dropping out.
Concluding thoughts
Teachers are the real heroes of life. They work hard just to build other’s futures and help them shine bright. To keep their spirits high and passion burning, it’s important to appreciate their efforts and keep their morale high. The discussed morale boosters are a sound way to keep educators motivated and satisfied with their jobs. These are great strategies to lighten the pressure on educators’ shoulders and make the process of teaching fun and light-hearted for them.
I am Sehjal Goel, a psychology student, and a writer. I am currently pursuing my Masters’s from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Child psychology has always fascinated me and I have a deep interest in learning about disabilities in children and spreading awareness regarding the same. My other areas of interest are neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. Connect me on Linkedin