a.
Two of the power plays for inspirers talk about the use of incentives. What do you feel are the incentives to enter and/or stay in the educational system?
b.
How do you use incentives to increase productivity in your professional life, either for yourself or the people you work with?
Respond to 2 people.
a.You hear all about using incentives in the classroom and inspiring kids to reach their highest potential, but what inspires a teacher? My inspiration is seeing students succeed and grow. Nothing touches me more than the student who thinks he cannot achieve, who suddenly realizes he can do so much more than he thought possible. It's like a light turns on for the first time and they come out of the dark. Seeing that child gain self-confidence is so uplifting.
ReplyDeleteb. The incentive that drives me is student growth. I get so excited when I test and see improvement from the last testing point It makes all the work and effort worth while. I like to think that the work I do with my students will have an impact on how far they can go in life.
Incentives in education are difficult. I don’t believe in merit pay, at least I don’t think I do. There are too many variables (caseload and severity of caseload for example) to base merit pay on student performance. With funding limitations it is difficult to have monetary incentives. I think educators have to be self-motivated to continue as quality instructors. As with other professions, I believe we have to do a good job, to do our best, because it is the right thing to do. That said, it is nice to be recognized for doing a good job, for doing all we can for students.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure how to use incentives to increase productivity. Being allowed to keep my classroom to get to work with the students is a pretty big incentive. I cannot imagine doing any other career even though many other careers pay more. It’s not a matter of money; it is a matter of doing what you love.
I agree with dclodfelter, it is working with the students and seeing their successes that motivate me.
For some reason, I can't get the post to pop up, so I've been replying to the posts of others. I think that as individuals we each find our own incentives to continue in education. For me, it is the chance to help children and their families. Incentives that are internal are more long-lasting than external incentives, such as the big bucks we all make in education and, don't forget, the chance for what I'm sure will be a lovely retirement. I agree with Jerrie and I think preliminary research backs up the fact that merit pay does not have a great effect on the quality of teaching. Good teachers do their best with the students they have regardless. What might be motivating for some of us would be the availability of quality health care and post secondary education for our children. Wouldn't be great to think that working in the pursuit of excellence for the children of others that we didn't work ourselves to death and, in giving up the chance for truly big bucks and the rising cost of post secondary education, that we could send our own children to college without remortgaging the house.
DeleteJerrie: it seems to me too, that merit pay would have too many variables; one being the human factor of whoever is judging the "merit". I don't think any two classrooms are alike even if they both "teach second grade".
DeleteAlan: Just a thought on your quality healthcare incentive. I would like to have the districts/cooperatives give us a set amount of money ($300 or whatever) to use to purchase health insurance for us/our families. Then we would have that health insurance no matter what - if we changed jobs or if we retired before age 65. We would have longevity with the insurance company and that would be one less thing to worry about.
DeleteAlan and Karen,
DeleteI love the idea of giving us the money for health insurance or just haivng quality health care because we are in the teaching profession, plus to have it always when we change jobs or retire-great idea and a really good incentive idea. Even better, a cost reduction for our own children's secondary education!
I had two wonderful teachers that helped inspire me to become an educator. I have never regretted it for a moment. When you see eyes light up with understanding it is like the Master Card saying, “Priceless.” This is what keeps me in education. I’m sure this desire to help children still inspires students to go into education today. I think we all want to help students learn to their maximum ability.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure how I increase my productivity but it is always nice to have a workday to catch up and feel on top of IEP’s etc. for a time. If I didn’t have to change rooms every year would help motivate me, by not having to start the year out sorting through stacks of materials to find things.
Jerrie-I agree with you that Merit pay would not be a big motivator because of the many variables such as caseloads and severity of caseloads, to base merit pay on student performance.
Alan Kautz-I liked your idea of sending our own children to college without refinancing the house-now if somehow they could incorporate this into an incentive, I would have definitely bought into it.(too late now, my kids are grown)
a. I think the desire the help others is what causes people to enter and to stay in the field of education. Most all the professionals HPEC employees (teacher, SLP, OT, PT, psychologist) are careers that are focused on helping others. Even if the SLPs, OTs, and PTs, chose to work in the medical field, they would still be in a career that helps others.
ReplyDeleteb. This is a difficult one to answer. Other than praise, knowledge of a job well done, and the relief that an unfinished ETR is no longer hanging over your head, I can't think of many incentives that increase productivity in my job.
dclodfelter- I agree with you that student growth is an incentive that drives most of us in education.
Jerrie and Laura- It's amazing how the little things such as your own classroom, not being the teacher who always has to move, being invited to the district's back to school gathering, etc. can make so much difference. It seems often these things send strong messages about your worth to an organization.
a. Good administrators who support teaching staff and teamwork are a good incentive to stay in the educational system. The education profession works well with a family as your hours/days off are the same as your kids. I enjoy being able to practice my profession in a rural/small town atmosphere
ReplyDeleteb. My incentives are when kids succeed; even just a little bit. Our classroom team celebrates student successes and they bring much laughter and smiles. Those successes make it worth it for all of us.
a.) I believe the incentives for staying or entering into the educational system is the ability to make a difference in peoples lives. As an educator you help make the difference and choices in others lives. With out teachers, it would be hard to do most other jobs. To me that is incentive enough.
ReplyDeleteb.) Some incentives I try to use with my paras and students are simple rewards for being successful at a certain task or for my paras just feeling appreciated. People love to feel appreciated and acknowledge for the things they do, not only adults but children too.
Laura- I also had wonderful teachers growing up. I knew growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, and it was because of those teachers. They made a difference.
ReplyDeleteJan- I also think it is the desire to help others is what causes people to enter and to stay in the field of education. It is rewarding in itself.
a. An incentive that keeps me in education is the simple fact that I enjoy being around children and helping them. I did not get into education for the money-I just LOVE working with little children! My motivation is the smiles and hugs I get on a daily basis-that keeps me going!
ReplyDeleteb. I enjoy attending workshops, etc. that help me to learn to do my job better. Being able to attend those and learn from others helps keep me motivated.
Showing appreciation for those I work with is something I have tried to do more of since this book study. I think I did it some, but I am trying to show that appreciation more since there is little to no monetary acknowledgement for the great job they do.
ReplyDeletemy last comment was directed to Ashley and her comment about showing appreciation to paras.
ReplyDeleteSeveral have commented on merit pay-I too think there are too many variables to make it "fair" for everyone-but-life is not fair!
Dana - I agree with the comments on merit pay. After listening to Obama's state of the union address, I thought more about it. Depending upon the administrator, they may think one teacher is doing a bang up job when in reality, they are just coasting through. It would be very frustrating to watch that happen.
DeleteAlan-- I couldn't agree more about educating our own children. Mine is a senior this year and I am stressing out over how to pay college tuition etc.
ReplyDeleteI think a great incentive would be better health insurance. I don't go to the doc often, but I have medications that cost over $400 per month, and if I add all the meds for my whole family, it exceeds$700. I love my job, but if I was offered one with better insurance, I might not take it, but I would be very tempted.
ReplyDeleteChapter 9--Power Plays Due Jan. 27th
ReplyDeletea.
Two of the power plays for inspirers talk about the use of incentives. What do you feel are the incentives to enter and/or stay in the educational system?
I wanted to enter the teaching field so I could work and still be with my children. The schedule is great when you are raising a family. Incentives for staying in the field vary from time to time. When changes occur and it seems like we are finally figuring it out, that excites me to see it through. Being able to help a student or a family is such a great feeling. It can be heart wrenching to observe some of the situations that children are faced with along with their family or due to their family. If I have assisted a student by just listening to them or assisted a family by getting them heat, then seeing the happiness they feel rewards me. I think the reactions we get from student’s keeps us coming back.
b.
How do you use incentives to increase productivity in your professional life, either for yourself or the people you work with?
I really appreciate my secretary and I am very thankful to HPEC for hiring secretaries for us. She saves my life and I make sure she knows how much I appreciate her. I always tell her how much I appreciate the work she does. I also give her a little Christmas bonus from my own pocket and recognize her birthday.
In general, honey is better than vinegar. Using lots of honey with the people you work with can be a lot more effective than vinegar, I’m sure you guys have heard that before. Not demanding something, but asking with a “please” and “sugar on top”-gets responses. I don’t mean, “suck-up”, I’m just talking about being respectful and courteous to the people in our work community. Another way to increase productivity with yourself and others, is be flexible and sometimes, yes you have to compromise.
A. Like many others have said before, the incentives to stay in the educational field are the rewards you get from seeing children grow. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing progress in a child, especially if they are aware of how far they have come.
ReplyDeleteB. I need to use incentives more for my para, even if it's a simple note saying thank you or a cup of coffee. I have done this some in the past, but I should make more of an effort to do it only a more regular basis. For my own incentives, just staying on top of my work makes me feel like I am being productive and making a difference.
Jan - Many professionals from HPEC have careers which are designed to help others, in the school or medical field. Since we chose jobs such as these, it only makes sense that we would feed off of seeing others improve. It is our own built in incentive program.
Alan- I really like your idea about healthcare, this would be a wonderful incentive. I also think that if we received funding for our children's college tuition, this would ease a lot of worry. This does not apply to me though, since I do not have children. I also did not have help from my parents for college financially. I think that paying for my college tuition and living expenses has made me a more responsible adult, but if my parents had been able to help me, it would have made things a bit easier during college.
I think the incentive that inspired me to get into education and keeps me in education is also the incentive that increases my productivity and that is working with kids, making a difference in their lives no matter how big or small, and seeing them grow and blossom and gain confidence in themselves. I went into education because I had a passion to work with kids and after 3 years working on the ambulance I knew I no longer wanted to be a Pediatrician, but I wanted to work with kids and make a difference so I went with my second passion, teaching.
ReplyDeleteThe other incentive that keeps me in education is the team of people I work with. They are dependable and supportive and most of all they love what they do too and are here for the kids. Working with a team of people like that, people who have the same interests, the children and what is best for them is what keeps me loving my job even more and brings me to work every day
Amy - I totally agree with your incentive of working with a team of people. Nothing is better than knowing that the people you work with are cooperative and willing to do what is best for our students.
DeleteI agree that the people we work with are a huge incentive. Having a support system is key to staying inspired.
Deletea. My incentives to stay in the education system are similar to everyone else. I want to make a difference in the lives of my students. It is a great feeling when a student walks across that stage after four years of high school. I have eight seniors this year and it seems like I have been pulling teeth just to make sure they are getting their work done and their credits completed! I know I will feel like a proud mother when they walk across that stage. Seeing students achieve and complete milestones are the biggest incentives for me to stay in my chosen career.
ReplyDeleteb. I bribe myself sometimes to keep myself going! It also helps if I have a list of to do items. Nothing makes me feel better than crossing tasks off my list!!! lol There are years when the incentives do not work as well, but I keep plugging along knowing things will get better!
I understand the feeling like the mamma part. It is amazing the connection you feel for your students! I about started crying today (and it isn't the first time..) because I looked at one of my students and they looked older just from the day before! It is an amazing opportunity to work with them and to see them grow up.
DeleteNice idea Judy with bribing yourself. Chocolate works wonders coming out of the desk drawer when the IEP is finished on time :)
DeleteOne of the incentives that my friends who are in education and I talk about the most are the breaks! Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring, and Summer! ☺ My friends who have kids appreciate it because they get to be on their same schedule, and those of us who don’t have kids like it because… What’s not to like?! Haha! ☺
ReplyDeleteAs far as using incentives go, I think the one I utilize the most is just trying to make sure the people I work with know I truly appreciate everything they do. I try my best to leave thank you notes for my para (or just tell her on the phone or in person), and I try to send thank you emails (or again, just in person) to people who might have been involved with me during a particularly difficult staffing or other situation. I believe if people feel like what they’re doing isn’t for nothing and that it really does make a difference, they’ll be more apt to continue to do their best.
Jan~
I COMPLETELY agree about the comment you made about the relief felt after finishing an ETR!!! It’s absolutely one of the best feelings ever, and it’s so funny because when I try describing it to someone who’s unfamiliar with the whole thing, they kind of give me this look like, “Wow… You are a HUGE nerd…” HAHA!!!
Karen~
Your comment about supportive administration is SPOT ON. When looking for a cooperative to do my internship at, one of the main reasons I chose HPEC was because of the level of support that they provide. It’s amazing what a HUGE difference that can make in an employee’s productivity, and also how the organization as a whole functions overall. Thank you to everyone involved with HPEC for allowing me to have such a great 1st year experience!!!
Sending thank you notes is such a great idea! I have been thinking of different ways to express my appreciation for my paras, because a simple thank you sometimes doesn't feel like enough. They do so much, and making them feel how much I appreciate what they do is important to me. Thank you for the reminder to thank those who deserve it :)
Deletedclodfelter - I remember how motivating it was to see a child have an "ah ha" moment. I still get glimpses of it now with my own children. Don't see it as often working with adults, though.
ReplyDeleteI can relate too to the satisfaction of marking something off of a "to do" list. I definately should have put posting on that list, and would have been more timely.
I do think we need to keep "carrots" in place whenever we can though in education. Some of the things that were carrots for me, like things my kids would have access to in school, were lost in the budget cuts. You can't beat the time off with family or the value of a supportive administrator, though. I like the help with kids higher education idea too.
a. My main incentive for waking up every morning and going to work is truly the kids. They are so adorable! To see them grow up and learn, and to see what they could be is the reason I teach. I can't really explain how much they have impacted my life or how much I enjoy working with them, but they are my incentive.
ReplyDeleteb. I use the incentive of getting to work with my little ones and see them succeed by constantly thinking of different things to work on with where they are, what they find interesting, and where they need to go in mind. Listening to the ideas of those that I work with is also how I increase productivity with incentives in mind. Everyone has different strengths on which to learn from, and listening to their incite has really helped, especially as a first year teacher.
I agree with you that kids are a huge incentive. Every day is fun and different in education!
ReplyDeletea. Two of the power plays for inspirers talk about the use of incentives. What do you feel are the incentives to enter and/or stay in the educational system?
ReplyDeleteThe biggest incentive, as many have already said, is working with kids. We get to see how our efforts allow students to progress and be successful. Some days can be difficult. However, in the end children are worth it.
b. How do you use incentives to increase productivity in your professional life, either for yourself or the people you work with?
I use incentives at work like candy or positive notes. Even for kids these are incentives I utilize. At home we use encouraging words. For my kids I have also used sticker charts.
For me the biggest incentive is knowing that I have made an impact with kids. I still have kids who will see me outside of school and rush to say hi or give me hugs. To me that is the best reward I could have. I seem to have the forever to do list that invariably gets longer rather than shorter. However, it does fill good knowing that I am making a dent in the list. Other ways I use incentives for my self is through an exchange I do one hour of work at home and then I get to relax. I also use sticker charts for my kids as well.
ReplyDeleteLike many other people who have commented it is the kids which make the job well worth the effort. I also agree with the others that while a merit based approach would be great in theory it would be awfully hard to put it into practice fairly.
a.
ReplyDeleteTwo of the power plays for inspirers talk about the use of incentives. What do you feel are the incentives to enter and/or stay in the educational system? Our incentives to stay in education is to see students succeed and eventually be successful contributing members of society if we are lucky/have done our job. I would love to get paid extra if my students scored awesome on the state tests, but reality check here! If my students could do that, they wouldn't be my students. So incentive pay for that idea totally stinks!
b.
How do you use incentives to increase productivity in your professional life, either for yourself or the people you work with?
My incentives for myself includes seeing test scores either increase from the previous year or at least maintain and not drop. If they drop from 5th to 6th grade that is a huge incentive that I have to improve my teaching. With the people I work with, if I hear of something awesome outside of school that has happened to them (or even something not so awesome) I try to send an e-mail just to let them know they are not alone in this school and other people are thinking of them. I also try to surprise my paras with little gifts during the year/eating out to show how much I need and appreciate their help during the year.