Showing Your "School Family" Some Love

It's February and love is all around us. You might be thinking, "Really? Where?" That's because it's so easy to get down in the dumps during the winter months and only focus on all of the problems you face in the classroom. Just remember that Valentine's Day is when we're supposed to show our love to family and friends.

And what about our "school family"?

We sometimes forget about how much the students and staff need a good pick-me-up once in awhile. Why not do something today to make their day just a little bit better? So, while the little kids are passing around their Ninja Turtle and Barbie Valentine's Day cards, I have some suggestions on how you can show the love to all those wonderful people in your building.

1. Buy a bunch of those silly cartoon Valentine's Day cards and leave them in the staff mailboxes. You can write notes on them or not. Just give each person the card that's most likely to show how important he or she is.

2. Treat your mentor or mentee to some chocolate or their favorite snack. Those little comfort foods can be a huge difference-maker when it comes to having an awesome day or an terrible day.

3. Send a simple email to some teachers that have been very helpful to you this year. Just being acknowledged can be the best feeling in the entire world.

4. Do something nice for the kids. We forget that this day can be really hard for some of our students. By doing something kind for the entire class, you can ensure that nobody goes home empty-handed on Valentine's Day.

These are just a few ideas on how you can spread the love in your school building. There are many more great ideas, and I would love to hear how you show students and staff how much they matter to you -- whether on Valentine's Day or any other day of the school year. Leave your tips in the comment section below so that everyone can enjoy them.

Have a great Valentine's Day!