During the summer months, school leaders strategically plan to ensure a smooth and successful upcoming school year. While their primary focus is on academic planning, student engagement, and administrative tasks, school leaders also need to recognize the importance of planning fun and engaging activities for the teachers.

With this in mind, let's talk about dice!

If you are planning activities where you want teachers to give input or share their thoughts on various things create a point sheet. After they share with their group, they roll the dice to see how many points they get, and record their points on their point sheet. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but as competitive as we tend to be, this will quickly turn into fun.

I did this during a book study. I had centers set up and the teachers rotated through the centers. Four centers had a reflection component based on something they read in the book. After they shared their reflection with their group they rolled the dice to see how many points they got and recorded them on their point sheet. Two centers were set up with carnival type games. The teachers would play the game and the winner of the game rolled the dice to see how many points they got and recorded them on their point sheet. The person with the most points after all of the centers was declared the winner.

• If you won a million dollars, what is the first thing you would buy?
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
• If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be?
• If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
• What is your favorite aspect of your job?
• What is the most adventurous thing you have done?
• What is something you have accomplished in your life that you are most proud of?
• What is your favorite way to relax and recharge?
• If you could choose your own personal theme song, what would it be?
• What is something you use to get in trouble for as a child?

I am available to work with district and campus leaders on teacher appreciation and teacher retention. If you would like me to come work with you and/or your district let me know. You can find more information about presentations and workshops on my webpage.

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I am always looking for teacher appreciation ideas. If you have any you would like to share email me at Kathleen.Eckert@iCloud.com

Thank you for loving teachers,

Kathleen Eckert

Follow me on Twitter @EckertKathleen