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Looking Forward to Monday Morning
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Looking Forward to Monday Morning
Ideas for Recognition and Appreciation Activities and Fun Things to Do at Work for Educators



February 2005 | 216 pages | Corwin
` Diane Hodges' work is for those amongst us who need to show appreciation but need a helping hand with the practicalities.

It has dozens of ideas for activities and rewards and covers a range of settings from formal and informal to days out and celebrations. There is something for everyone from teachers and bosses to friends and lovers - although you will have to use your imagination to make it applicable to your own circumstances.

Just don't get carried away and remember that rewards must be of value to the recipient - not what you think the recipient wants! And above all, they must be sincere - nothing devalues any reward system faster than cynicism.

And the easiest tip from the book is to remember that one of the most powerful ways of showing appreciation is promptly and sincerely saying so! And by being specific about what it is that you like so much' - Nurturing Potential

Empower your staff members with a fresh appreciation for their work by nurturing their growth and success!

Has Monday morning become a less-than-exciting event for your staff members? Do you wish that you could help them look forward to the new week; that you could provide them with a more tangible appreciation for their efforts? In Looking Forward to Monday Morning, Diane Hodges, a former human resources director and school administrator, shares numerous staff appreciation and recognition activities that can be implemented to promote a positive environment and inspire staff members to look forward to the beginning of each new week.

In this insightful text, you will find low-cost, fun ideas that will help staff members:

- Experience concrete recognition for hard work and accomplishments

- Increase productivity and job longevity

- Exercise creativity during meetings, holidays, and lunchtime

- Participate in their own success while encouraging the growth and success of others

Empower your staff members with a fresh appreciation for their work and transform each day of the week into an opportunity for creativity and fun.

 
Dedication
 
Introduction
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
About the Illustrator
 
I. Appreciation & Recognition
 
1. Group Recognition - Formal Activities
Years of Service Awards

 
Attendance Awards

 
Recognition From the Boss

 
Appreciation Events & Awards

 
End-of-the-Year Appreciation

 
Teacher Recognition

 
Above & Beyond the Call of Duty

 
Non-Employee Awards

 
Team Awards

 
Staff Appreciation Day or Week

 
Staff Newsletter

 
 
2. Group Recognition - Informal Activities
General Recognition

 
Gifts of Time

 
Special People Recognition

 
Name Recognition

 
Food Rewards - Yum!

 
Symbols of Recognition

 
Words of Thanks & Praise

 
Rewards for Meeting Goals

 
 
3. Individual Recognition
General Recognition

 
Special Recognition

 
Written Praises

 
Trying New Things...Good & Bad

 
 
II. Fun Ways to Spend Work Days
 
4. From the Beginning
New Year Starters

 
Get-Acquainted Activities

 
Staff Meetings

 
 
5. Through the Day
Professional Development Fun

 
Food & Fun

 
"Lunch Bunch" Activities

 
Your Attitude Is Showing!

 
No Special Reason...Just for Fun

 
Dress-Up Events

 
Counting the Days

 
 
6. To the End & Beyond
"Fun-Raisers" & Community Service

 
Label It Generous

 
End-of-the-Year Activities

 
Other Group Activities

 
After-Hours Network

 
 
III. Celebrating With Coworkers
 
7. Caring & Sharing
Welcoming a New Staff Member or Boss

 
Administrative Professionals Week

 
Get-Well Activities

 
Birthdays

 
Resignation or Retirement

 
Farewell Gifts

 
Think Spring!

 
 
8. Celebrating Holidays
Holiday Calendar

 
Valentine's Day

 
Easter

 
Halloween

 
Christmas

 
Holiday Gifts & Exchanges

 
"White Elephant" Events

 
Staff Gifts

 
Holiday Communications

 
Holiday Events

 
 
IV. Celebrate Yourself
 
9. Appreciate Yourself
Self-Affirmations

 
"The Best Thing About Today Was" Journal

 
Self-Affirmations Corner

 
Professional Portfolios

 
Your Office Environment

 
Daily Schedule

 
 
Index

"This book is well thought out, well written, and thorough. It contains page after page of examples and is a one point source for ways to make Monday mornings less tedious and more fun. Want to make your employees look forward to the workweek? This is the 'must have' book for you."

William Warren, Instructional Manager/Teacher
Van Buren Technology Center

"Every administrator needs a copy of this book . . . and should keep it on the top of the 'To Do Pile'."

Nelda Howton, Principal
Shoemaker High School, Killeen, TX

"The timing of this book is invaluable as our district addresses staff recruitment and retention goals."

Stephen Kleinsmith, Superintendent
Nixa-RII School District, Nixa, MO

"This book is for every well-intended administrator or frustrated staff member! It shows the power of positive reinforcement and the importance of recognition and appreciation in our schools today."

Bob Nelson, President
Nelson Motivation, Inc.

"As a professional trainer, Looking Forward to Monday Morning is a marvelous addition to my collection of icebreakers and team building exercises. Organizations that implement even a few of the ideas in this book will find they have happier, more productive employees who enjoy coming to work."

Allen Dietz
Independent Consultant

"Through the use of subtle humor, Hodges gives us extensive ideas and examples of ways we can improve our individual workplace environments. This book was truly enhanced by the inclusion of personal experiences by the author."

Shawna Mahaffey, Professor of Business
Delta College

"In the spirit of the holiday season we gave all faculty, board members, administrators, and counselors copies of the book."

Susan Symons, Director
Pottawatomie Consortium

"Diane Hodges reminds us that there is a vast difference between compensation (the money) and recognition...many talented people leave good jobs and good money simply because they do not feel appreciated or valued as people.  Buy the book, read the examples, but even more important, follow through.  Go on, show someone you appreciate them!"

Nurturing Potential, Issue 18

"If you ever wanted to thank your staff but didn’t know how, this is the book for you. Hodges notes that surveys show that recognition for a job well done ranks higher as a motivational factor than wages and job security. Principals and managers who actively show how much they value their employees build a positive climate that filters down to students. The ideas contained in this book are sure to tickle your staff and build morale."

Principal Magazine
NAESP, Nov/Dec 2005

The user-friendliness of the text and the world of ideas that can be implemented by administration and even teachers themselves!

Professor Bonnie E Walker
Education , Fresno Pacific University
May 24, 2016