How Principals and District Leaders Are Trying to Boost Lagging Teacher Morale During COVID-19, San Francisco Sues Its Own School District to Reopen Classes, DATA: State Dashboards on COVID-19 in Schools and Instructional Models. ET. LEON. Whether it’s via Slack or on your HR solution’s news feed, you can throw virtual company-wide contests to boost your employees’ morale. 11 ways to boost morale in a COVID world IT leaders are shaking up IT strategies and altering their approaching to leading their teams, introducing new … “I don’t know if I can handle this for months.”. You have to remain transparent to boost staff morale. As the uncertainties caused by COVID-19 continue to disrupt work environments, business leaders must be mindful of how they can improve employees’ mental health and morale. After two academic years thrown off course, school leaders around the country are planning for the possibility of more distance learning. So, you can take a quick pause from your workday to do a virtual yoga or workout class with your team. Print version: page 32. Get up and move at least 15 minutes every two hours, doctors advise, even if it’s a walk up and down the stairs. Now is a good time to put your sense of humor and empathy on display.” said Hodges. Thu., February 18, 2021, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Twitter. But just as doing exercise improves physical health, you and your child can do activities to boost their mental health. Jan 12, 2019 - Teachers and other staff members often need a little booster to make it through the year. “Those would be things we’d normally do, and it’s really nice that we’re still doing them,” Brown said. Be Transparent. Catherine Gewertz is a writer for Education Week who covers national news and features. Join this Education Week webinar as we explore how districts can provide better continuity of support for students with disabilities. ET. 1. Surveys by the EdWeek Research Center document the decline in teachers’ spirits. Kate Brown decided to prioritize reopening schools. Here are nine morale-boosting employee engagement activities during COVID-19. Putting some of these ideas to work can help keep employee morale high, even during the most difficult times. 2. Being overly communicative is critical in times like these. But morale is no back-burner issue, especially during this time. Communicate Often. ... teachers and students across the country to take part in the annual Math Games. We've compiled the latest news, policies and guides on vaccines and the workplace. Star said ‘all that baking and exercising that other people are doing can make one feel inadequate’, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Here, we examine fifty different strategies that administrators can use in boosting teacher morale. Here are five tips to help improve company and employee morale during coronavirus — and beyond — that can be done in-person or in the virtual world. 7 Ways to Boost Your Loved One's Morale During the Coronavirus Epidemic With visits to senior communities halted, out of sight doesn't have to be out of mind. The principal of Napier’s school, Sergio Garcia, tries in every way he can to keep his teachers’ spirits up. How Principals and District Leaders Are Trying to Boost Lagging Teacher Morale During COVID-19 By Catherine Gewertz — May 08, 2020 7 min read Kari Munoz and other teachers from Zavala and … Pinterest. Shifts in school meal distribution also boosted staff morale and confidence . Hundreds of teachers in London have been able to book Covid vaccine slots despite not being in the top priority groups, after they were forwarded messages intended for NHS workers. A strategy that works well in one school may not work well for another. 5 ways to boost employee morale during a crisis Mar 13, 2020 Whether it’s an abrupt reversal of fortune, a natural disaster or a national emergency, your business is likely to face some kind of crisis during its existence. Your team members can take turns running a class, or you can collectively join an online workout class run … Most importantly, adults need breaks and exercise just like kids, which can help boost mood, improve mental clarity, and relieve stress. by Linda Dono, AARP, March 17, 2020 | Comments: 0. “Get creative, and be vulnerable. Read 5 Grateful Ways to Encourage Teachers during COVID-19 by Hope Bolinger and more articles, devotionals and current events stories on Coronavirus They need coaching support to teach their students, but they also need explicit messages from administrators about taking care of themselves. On May 7, 71 percent of teachers reported that morale was worse than before the pandemic. ... 1 /1 Stephen Fry sends morale-boosting email to … It is not feasible for an administrator to try to implement every strategy on this list. A company held a virtual "silent disco" to help boost morale among workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Teachers have been sharing wish lists and exchanging gifts with peers across the country in an effort to boost morale amid the coronavirus crisis. Linkedin. A Principal’s Reflections: Reflections on teaching, learning, and leadership. When someone notices and appreciates your hard work, it’s a great boost for morale. A kindergarten teacher tweeted about a few of her restorative activities: reading, trying new tea, and cooking lasagna. After seeing two academic years thrown off course by the pandemic, school leaders around the country are planning for the possibility of more distance learning next fall at the start of yet another school year.
. Now we want to know how you've relied on Education Week to push for a better tomorrow. Read 5 Grateful Ways to Encourage Teachers during COVID-19 by Hope Bolinger and more articles, devotionals and current events stories on Coronavirus What Does That Mean for Schools and Kids? She hasn’t finished World War I with her 7th graders, or the Roman Empire with her 6th graders. Find publicly reported state data on COVID-19 cases in schools and information on the types of instructional models in use. 7 Ways to Boost Your Loved One's Morale During the Coronavirus Epidemic With visits to senior communities halted, out of sight doesn't have to be out of mind . San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera listens to questions during a press conference at City Hall in San Francisco on Aug. 14, 2017. Fri., February 19, 2021, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. On this board I'm pinning ideas for sweet treats, crafty gifts, appreciation dinner, spirit days, games, activities and bulletin boards that can help spread a little love. Added to a solid base of instructional leadership, experts say they could provide important sustenance while teachers aren’t together in their school buildings. Strong morale is never a luxury item; it’s always an essential. Recognition is key. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. Going off the last tip to boost … “I just feel like I’m not doing a good job, and I worry about them,” said Brown, who’s in her 30th year of teaching. Coronavirus: Italians sing from their windows to boost morale A countrywide lockdown due to coronavirus has not stopped Italians from bursting into morale-boosting song in … 1. Distance-learning has taken a steep toll on teacher morale, EdWeek Research Center data shows. Samantha Barnes, a former middle school teacher and the founder of Raddish Kids, a subscription box service focused on academics through cooking, is making sure that time is well spent during … Do a Quick Pulse Check. Some students haven’t turned in any work at all. This can have an even bigger impact when you’re working remotely, as when you’re not there to receive a simple thanks in person, it can feel like your efforts have gone unnoticed. It can make all the difference in the world. Covid closure savings help boost trust surpluses by £25k, study finds. Fostering employee productivity and morale through COVID-19. The schools said the star’s words had been “really inspiring for staff”. It’s been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. 4 ways meal service improved quickly during COVID. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. There are several things leaders can do to help safeguard employees’ mental health in these challenging times. Multi-academy trusts have posted additional savings of £25,000 on average due to Covid closures – although experts are warning any “Covid bounce” cash will be swallowed up this year. They’ve dropped off Chromebooks and tracked down errant students, posted encouraging messages on Twitter, and even driven by teachers’ homes to wish them a happy birthday (from a safe distance). Apr 4, ... Small doses of team bonding throughout the week can also boost your employees’ morale… While everyone is busy trying to figure out the logistics of teaching in a virtual world, please don’t forget to make the social and emotional well being of your staff a top priority. They’ve set up training sessions on technology platforms that are new to many teachers, like Zoom and Google Classroom, and dropped into virtual class sessions to offer instructional guidance. “It makes us feel like we’re still connected to each other.”. 11. “All of these things matter.”. “It’s really hard if they don’t have the sense that they can do the work they came to do,” she said. “It’s not just one thing,” Ebbe said. Join experts to learn how to address teacher morale, identify students with low engagement, and share what is working in remote learning. Portmann Werner) Embedded Air Force mental health professionals play a critical role in keeping Airmen mission ready, and during the COVID-19 pandemic they are even more important to maintaining readiness. Tony Sinanis, an assistant superintendent in the Chappaqua, N.Y., school district, uses Twitter to model wellness for teachers. These activities are based on our Skills for Life programmes. If employees feel unmoored and unsupported, they are not likely to be productive. Many celebrities have taken action to help cheer people up during lockdown and contribute to Covid-19 relief efforts. Find answers to your COVID-19 vaccine questions here. “It can be off-putting submitting oneself to the window of social media through which other people's lives can seem so healthy, happy and efficient.”, He added: “All that baking and exercising that other people are doing – it can make one feel inadequate.”. To make the contests more competitive, you can offer the top winners prizes, such as Amazon gift … 3. The agency has finally started to take action, hosting employee morale-boosting events like after … Facebook. Kari Munoz and other teachers from Zavala and Travis Elementary Schools in Odessa, Texas, used noisemakers last month to greet their students, who are learning from home because of the coronavirus. Whether they … Track how 75 of the largest school districts are providing learning to students in the COVID-19 pandemic. 3 Ways to Keep Employee Morale Up During COVID-19. Read more - Coronavirus: Stephen Fry urges people to ‘end feuds’ and ‘bury hatchets’ amid outbreak. The city of San Francisco is suing its own school district in an attempt to force a return to classrooms amid the coronavirus pandemic. At the end of the day, taking steps to boost employee morale will help all of your workers feel happier and more engaged with their work. Survey Tracker: Monitoring How K-12 Educators Are Responding to Coronavirus, Exhausted and Grieving: Teaching During the Coronavirus Crisis, Rebuilding Special Education Supports in the Pandemic, Keeping Students and Teachers Motivated and Engaged, Examining the Evidence: Supporting Immigrant-Origin Students and English-Learners, Field Marketing Coordinator (Contract Role through June 2021), Marketing Operations Coordinator (Contract Role through June 2021), In-Person or Remote Learning: How the Biggest City School Districts Are Operating, Schools Plan for Potential of Remote Learning Into the Fall, How One Principal Keeps His School Safe From COVID-19 During In-Person Schooling, COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics: A Blueprint for Schools. Then, ask your employees what they’d like to see implemented. December 2010, Vol 41, No. Pfizer Inc. has announced early results that the COVID-19 vaccine it’s developing with German company BioNTech is 90 percent effective. The challenges posed to business by the novel coronavirus are unprecedented, but CEOs can help keep spirits up with the following tips. “It’s worrisome, and there’s no simple answer for schools.”. Fry urged people to “let oneself have those bad days without feeling guilty and letting self-annoyance make them worse”. When someone notices and appreciates your hard work, it’s a great boost for morale. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman, meanwhile, launched the Theatre Community Fund to help financially support the UK’s theatre sector amid the pandemic. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, Stephen Fry sends morale-boosting email to Norfolk school staff. In Education Week interviews with principals and district leaders, key themes emerged about the kinds of support strategies that have gotten appreciative feedback from teachers. 17 Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 That Aren’t Happy Hours. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we're all feeling less secure and missing our usual routines. He revealed he was spending lockdown reading historical novels, watching Agatha Christie dramas and listening to jazz and classical music. Brown says her morale is waning because she’s worried she won’t be able to convey all the material her students need to start next year in good shape. By Amy Novotney. How schools can get a handle on sexting. Will Napier, a special education teacher at Artesia High School, southeast of Los Angeles, appreciates the things his school has done to boost teachers' morale, like passing out these lawn signs. Boosting family participation. Last year, Dolly Parton donated $1 million (£756,000) to scientists working on the Moderna vaccine. But he is still struggling to feel good about teaching remotely. With schools on lockdown due to coronavirus, we’re seeing how this possible ‘future of teaching’ would only benefit some children, says Lizzie Winter, a teacher in Tuscany 11 Ways to Boost Employee Morale . Buccaneers score ‘morale boosting’ first victory of 2021 basketball season ... given the uncertainty of playing sports during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Inform them about company updates, new protocols, customer feedback, and more. They need a dedicated virtual space for “shout-outs” that recognize their hard work, but they also need a good shared-leadership structure so they can collaborate to plan instruction. Amy Pollington, a kindergarten teacher in Seattle, was so exhausted and stressed after four days of distance-teaching that she was on the verge of a panic attack. ©2021 Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. Never miss an opportunity to recognise your staff when they’ve done a good job. Job burnout has been a significant occupational hazard in recent years—most recently among Gen-Z workers in tech.The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated it. In our March 25 survey, 63 percent of teachers reported that teacher morale was lower than before the pandemic. Follow. Is your school or district taking part? What teachers need most now, Ebbe said, is a multi-layered approach to support. Many celebrities have taken action to help cheer people up during lockdown and contribute to Covid-19 relief efforts. Written by Catherine Gewertz | Education Week. From submitting creative ideas for things to do during quarantine to designing company-related Memes, you can host a variety of contests to keep your employees engaged. For 40 years, we've been committed to empowering our readers to drive change. Jess Staufenberg. Plus, the more good news you share, the more you'll raise your staff's morale. Here are ways psychologists are working to promote employee health. The 693rd ISR Group Airmen Resiliency Team set up the event to boost moral during the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked HR practitioners, via the SHRM Connect online community and LinkedIn, to share their ideas for easy, affordable ways to boost morale in the work environment. by Linda Dono, AARP, March 17, 2020 | Comments: 0 Posted by Eric Sheninger. Ask yourself: what could I do today to boost my employees’ morale? “They could master the technology, but for many teachers, that kind of instruction is artificial and isolating, especially in the early grades,” Johnson said. Many of the “intrinsic rewards that drew teachers to teaching”—working closely with children, being part of a collaborative, service-minded community of colleagues, conveying content they care about—have become more difficult to experience when they must work from a distance, she said. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Virtual Yoga or Workout Classes Getting a little blood pumping goes a lot way in elevating your mood. ET. “The draw and reinforcement teachers get from working in a social context is really compromised by a modular, asynchronous system,” she said. According to an August 2020 survey of 1,500 employees by FlexJobs and Mental Health America, 75% say they are experiencing burnout brought on by the pandemic.