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Principal Ideas
Volume #43

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Just think of Principal Ideas as a virtual show-and-tell for principals. Each week in the coming school year we'll present four or five new principal-tested ideas. Send in your idea today! See the sidebar to learn how to be part of Principal Ideas.


Join the Fun --
Share an Idea!

The ideas presented in this article come from the Education World archive and from principals just like you. Since these principals have been kind enough to "show and tell" an idea, now it's your turn! Share an idea you've used to
- Celebrate Students
- Plan a Special Event
- Welcome Students Back to School
- Make Graduation Day Special
- Liven Up Your A.M. Announcements
- Motivate Teachers
- Involve Parents
- Raise Money
- Plan an Effective Staff Meeting
- Get Some Good PR for Your School
or any other topic of interest to principals.

Send your idea today to principalideas@
educationworld.com
Be sure to include your name, your school name, and your school address because if we post your idea in Principal Ideas, we'll send you an Education World mug!

Building Scavenger Hunt

I begin each staff meeting with a team-building game. One example is a Building Scavenger Hunt. Each grade-level team hunts for the same ten things. The first team to return to the meeting with all ten items earns a special prize or extra planning time. I make all prizes good, and practical. Be sure to include special teachers; assign each one to a team. Set the rules in advance. For example, will team members have to stick together and plan their course, or will you allow them to create an action plan that has them all going off in different directions in search of specific items?
Thanks for this idea go to Nkenge A. Bergan, Lakeview Middle School, Battle Creek, Michigan

Staff Showcase

A display case in our front hallway showcases two or three different staff members every eight days. The display includes short articles written from questions asked of staff members as well as photos of the staff members and/or families, their weddings, pets, hobbies Objects and artifacts are included too. A teaching assistant is in charge of the display; it was she who suggested the idea to one of our school committees. All staff are included -- bus drivers, cafeteria ladies, custodians as well as teachers and assistants.
Thanks for this idea go to Nancy Moga, Callaghan Elementary School, Covington, Virginia

The Morning After

The morning after an evening family event at school, I make a special point during morning announcements to thank all staff members who attended and made the event so successful. Teachers appreciate the special recognition of their extra effort, and the announcements can also serve as a little bit of peer pressure for staff members who might not have attended.
Thanks for this idea go to Renee N. Selix, Lathers Elementary School, Garden City, Michigan

Principals Word of the Week

In my weekly email to the staff, I send a Vocabulary Word of the Week. I provide a brief definition of the word, its pronunciation, and two sentences with the word in it. Teachers share the Word of the Week with students and ask them to illustrate one of the two sentences. Teachers turn in to me the students vocabulary illustrations, which are posted on a Principals Word of the Week bulletin board outside my office.
Thanks for this idea go to Lisa B. Lucius, North Pontotoc Elementary School, Ecru, Mississippi

Education World® Editor-in-Chief
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