Peer Praise

Let's face - we all like to be liked. Well I guess I can't speak for everyone in the world but I like to be liked. In fact I have this fear of being unliked. I know, I have a fear of many things beyond my control, yada yada, yada. It is a bit ironic that I occasionally dislike people and don't seem to have a problem with that ;-) (you can all keep your sarcastic quips to yourselves).

Anyway - the point of that is to tell you that I received two extremely nice compliments last week that had a huge impact on me and the way I view the other teachers at my school. The literacy coach at my school told me that I was doing an awesome job and I should stop worrying about making making mistakes. She said she was telling everyone about the awesome job I was doing with my classes. As good as this made me feel, it also gave me some insight into the way I was being treated by some tenured staff in my department who have been a little, shall we say cool. I have not been welcomed into that group. But I am working on it.

That other fabulous compliment came very unexpectedly. I was starting class when a math teacher came in, escorting a student. If we have the time sometimes we will do that instead of writing a pass to give the student a couple minutes of one on one time. He interrupted to tell my class ho lucky they were to have me because the teacher who had the room before me was a bore and didn't do anything fun like sing or do projects (OK, I only sang once and it was very brief). The kids clapped for me and he left.

At lunch I sought this teacher out and thanked hm for the compliment. He said that the kids he had last year come back and report about the teachers they have this year. Apparently I am among the favorites for seventh grade magnet. I told him the newness would wear off eventually :-)

For all of you with busy, stressful careers, you know the time it takes to point out improvements that a colleague can make or to ask a favor, let alone give them credit or a compliment. I truly appreciate the kindness I experienced last week. I am going to make it a priority to make more of those observations to my peers. I challenge you to as well. We all know what a smile can do, imagine what a kind word will do!