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"No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place." - Zen Proverb

IDEAS FOR MOTIVATING STAFF

Every month we address a significant challenge facing early childhood programs. For February, we are addressing the challenge of motivating staff.  On our web site we share over 50 ideas shared by early childhood leaders from around the world.  Here is a sampling of their suggestions....

MaryLou Beaver, Dover Children's Center, Dover, NH, United States:
We have a "Kudos" Tree. I wrote on a 3x5 card something that I saw another staff member do, that I wanted to recognize her for. So the card went on the tree and she received a Kudos bar. She did the same thing for someone else the following week...so each week someone was given Kudos for something they had done and another staff member had noticed.

Dr Raina Jain, Witty Kids, Mumbai, India:
Every month end we have designed a "Best teacher of the month award", wherein various factors are taken into consideration viz. regularity, conduct, rapport with students and other staff members, etc.  This has kept them highly motivated as it also has a cash prize.

Judy Chosy, Smoky Row Children's Center, Powell, OH, United States:
Begin Staff meetings with a sharing of "Ideas that work." Let people know ahead what the topic is, i.e., each team share an idea to be used at small group time or share a transition activity. This helps to keep staff inspired with new ideas and motivated toward improvement and also builds camaraderie. It is especially helpful if someone takes notes of all these good ideas and then gives everyone a copy.

Kathy Sarginson, ABC's of Children Care and Education, Foxboro, ON, Canada:
Time off with pay for all meetings except staff meetings - although here we provide a meal. When staff put in extra time or effort towards special projects, supervisors were able to give time off in lieu of pay. While this may not seem so motivating - the supervisors noted additional time spent and then on occasion sent an educator home early on a low attendace day! You never knew when you were getting the time off and educators would work extra hard to vie for recognition and the chance to sleep in or go home early with pay!

Linda Lovett, Lovett's Children, Inc., Riverside, CA, United States:
Two years ago, we hired a retired ECE professional (previous director and professor) out of retirement to become our 3/4 time staff developer and curriculum coordinator. Her primary role is to coach them to be the best they can be, and this is important because we have a lot of high program standards and mandates from the state department of education. Lucy Bell is like our "Yoda" and she plans with each classroom staff, observes, and provides technical assistance and support regularly. We also use her insight (along with the director, mentor teacher, and feedback from staff) to shape our staff development trainings and other efforts. This model empowers staff toward professional development.

To see what resources on staff motivation Exchange has to offer, click here.

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