In January Dan Gridley and I were chatting about all the leftover chocolate chips I had (I over budgeted for the Christmas peppermint bark). I told him I was thinking about making cookies (20 weeks worth – yes I bought 20 bags too many!) and randomly showering staff with them. He took it up a notch and said, “What if you passed them out AND recognized them for something specific.”
#KUDOSKOOKIES was born
Each week I bake a batch of cookies and each morning I reflect on the day before and write a short note about something positive or something I am thankful for about the recipient. It has only been a month but it has transformed my mornings by allowing me to start the day with a grateful heart and focus on brightening someone else’s day!
The best part of all of this is that Bill Ferriter, The Tempered Radical, is doing it daily for his kids and in his words, “Starting the day with students in mind has changed everything for me.”
Imagine if we all started our day like this? How different would our schools be if we intentionally and thoughtfully recognized the young people in the building each and everyday? I am sure many of your schools do some type of celebration (quarterly, semester, end of the year) where kids get a printed certificate but how much more would it mean if they got a handwritten note for something specific – written just for them.
Here is your challenge: Take FIVE minutes a day for ONE week to recognize someone with a written note and a cookie – I guarantee it will change them and YOU for the better!
What a collaborative way to brainstorm giving kudos to the staff. Love it!! Can’t wait to hear more about this initiative – sounds like a true win/win for receiver and giver. KOKO -Brendan
LikeLike
Chris wrote:
I am sure many of your schools do some type of celebration (quarterly, semester, end of the year) where kids get a printed certificate but how much more would it mean if they got a handwritten note for something specific – written just for them.
—————–
This, Chris. Totally this.
We find the time to make printed certificates. We find the time to nominate students of the week and to give them coupons for the school store. We find the time to recruit local businesses to donate free games of bowling or free ice cream sundaes for our kids.
But none of that means as much as a handwritten note from a teacher.
What I’ve loved since kicking my cookies into gear has been the unexpected visit with a student on the way to electives who stops in to say, “Thanks for my letter, Mr. Ferriter!” It’s happened WAY more than I thought it would — and it hits me in the feels every single time.
I’ve gotten through all of my students once already. Took me just under a month of about 15 minutes of writing a day.
And I’m PRETTY sure that I’m going to do it again. Mostly because I don’t want to lose the centering that I get from starting my day that way!
Thanks for the nudge.
Bill
LikeLiked by 1 person