We hear the usual voices, we use the same words or phrases, we do some things the same way every day, and we so often overlook the obvious. For example, I placed an ugly broom in the corner of my office one day, forgetting to put it away when I was done with it. Throughout my day I didn't have time to get back to the broom. Day after day the broom just stood in the corner - a rather unpleasing sight to visitors, yet eventually it became just a part of the office and I never noticed it. One day a staff member was looking for a broom and I answered her request with, "I have no idea where one is, I haven't seen one around here." There the broom stood, in plain view, yet I didn't see it.

The following ideas were developed to be used as motivators to your staff and to enhance their understanding of their role as teachers. The ideas are meant to be helpful in heightening awareness of each staff's personal daily behaviors. Use them to encourage your staff to take a close look at their daily routines and verbal interactions with children and co-workers. They're fun activities that will hopefully make your staff's daily routines not so routine any longer.

1. Name Tags. Place art materials in the middle of the floor and ask staff to make name tags that tell something about themselves without using their names. Give them a chance to explain their tags to the group and have them wear the tags the rest of the day. When children ask about the tag, it gives the teacher a chance to talk about herself and promotes a positive self-image.

2. Treasure Hunt. Have staff collect items from around the school that reveal something about themselves. They need to say where the item came from and how it relates to them. This helps them to pay close attention to their surroundings and aids in observation skills.

3. Personal Recordings. Have staff tape record themselves during the day. Ask them to take the tape home and listen to it. They should jot down things that were said in a negative way and write a positive way they could have said it. This helps teachers to become aware of what they say and how they say it.

4. Don't Say NO. For one entire day staff members may not say the word "NO." They are to say it in another way. If "NO" is said, a piece of masking tape is to be put on the "NO" sayer's shirt. People are amazed at how much tape they are wearing by the end of the day!

5. Observe a Candle. Give a small unlit candle to each small group. Each group is to write down as many observations about that candle as they can. Then do the same for a burning candle. Ask the groups to discuss their observations. Say to the group, "You have many of the same observations yet many that are different. It is the same way with observing young children. We all see some things that are the same and some things that are different. Study a child in the same way."

6. Back-to-Back Observations. About halfway through the meeting, ask each staff member to sit back to back with the person next to them. Have them write the answers to these or other questions.
_ What is she wearing?
_ What type of shoes is she wearing?
_ What is something she said during the meeting?
_ What color eyes does she have?
_ What is her full name?
_ How old is she?
_ Write 10 things you observed about her today.

7. "A Teacher Is . . . ." Have staff give one word adjectives to finish this sentence. This will be silly, fun, and yet very serious. You'll get an idea of how staff are feeling.

8. Skills and Talents. To foster staff awareness of other's skills and talents, have staff stand in a line according to their feelings about their ability in music (towards the front of the line represents they feel they have a strong ability in the area). Follow the line idea for abilities in art, science, circle time ideas, etc. This allows the staff to know who to go to for support knowledge.

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