Recognition and awards should be a recurring act for any group of people to really feel appreciated and valued. Time is always set aside to address issues and concerns that a business or company may have. Yet, recognition, awards, and thank you moments are often put off as a culminating activity such as graduation, promotion, or even retirement. So many more positive feelings and relationships could be nurtured if we made more time for recognition and awards
Such times of praise don’t need a lot of extra funds or borrowed time from the schedule. I have always provided a short time for my students to do a “God bless you…” for their fellow students. It only takes a few minutes per person, and thus can easily be done before class transition gets started. A child blesses another person and shares with the class why they want to bless that student. After receiving the blessing, that student blesses another student for a reason he/she shares with the class. The delight on each child’s face speaks of the positive self-esteem boost he/she just received.
It seems that people are always willing to share frustrations, anger, impatience, etc. with those who bother them. Yet, seldom do people share a thanks or a compliment with people they interact with each day. I hate the commercial on TV where the wise advisor is teaching people how “not to become like their parents.” The statement he makes that “you don’t need to know your waiter’s name!” really bothers me. My husband and I have made many fine contacts with wait staff, and through that recognition, we have been able to share positive experiences, to guide them to solutions they have requested, and once in a while, to befriend a new resident in the area.
One of my favorite books about schools was “The Third Side of the Desk.” (I believe that was the title.) The author was able to really appreciate the educational process because she had experienced the desk as a student, a teacher, and then as a parent. Because of the various views of the process, she learned to appreciate each person in that trio. We’ve just completed a week of Thanksgiving vacation in our school. I love it because parents get to be with their children a whole week. It is thus possible for them to see the types of interactions we have daily…both good and trying. Of course, they must multiply those interactions by 18 to really see what a classroom of student interactions can be! We usually get a lot of notes of appreciation after such a break!
I am most happy to report that we have many fine people who show acts of kindness to our staff and to our students throughout the year. Without them, such an education as LAAS offers wouldn’t be possible. My family prays for God’s blessings on each of them daily. Just writing this blog today refreshed my memory of more thanks I need to give to people around me. Think of the possibilities we could awaken in this world if more time were given to such recognition to those around us.
Kay