8 Staff Attendance Incentives that Build Belonging
Options to turn consistent attendance into a shared moment of team recognition.
Ongoing
Greatness Nextdoor: A Peer Observation Activity
A peer classroom observation activity for teacher growth and connection
Alissa Christensen
Teachers draw a colleague's name, schedule a 10-minute classroom visit, and leave a written note about what they noticed. It's a simple peer observation rotation that sparks professional growth and puts great teaching on display across your school.
Why try it
Peer observation doesn't have to be formal, time-consuming, or tied to evaluation. This activity keeps it lightweight: a 10-minute visit, a handwritten note, and a bulletin board that fills up over time. Teachers get genuine recognition from a colleague who was actually in the room, and your staff starts to learn from each other in a way no PD session can replicate. It works across grade levels, supports professional learning, and gives you an easy way to publicly celebrate what's already happening in your classrooms.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Draw a name
Each teacher randomly draws a colleague's name at the start of the semester. Random draws are key here since they push teachers outside their usual circles and open the door to new ideas.
2
Schedule a 10-minute visit
Teachers schedule a 10-minute visit during the school day. To make it happen, you (the principal) cover a duty like recess or lunch so teachers aren't pulled away from something else.
3
Fill out the "I Noticed..." card
After the visit, the observing teacher fills out a printable "I Noticed..." card for the teacher they just visited. Ask them to write down one thing they saw during their observation and why it stood out.
4
Celebrate it publicly
Take a photo of the note and send it to both teachers. Then post the original on a hallway bulletin board where the whole staff can see it. Over the semester, that board becomes a running highlight reel of what's happening across your school.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Tie it to your school theme
Match the observation cards or bulletin board design to a theme your staff already knows. One principal used a TEAM acronym (Together Everyone Achieves More) and die-cut the note cards to match. The activity felt like a natural extension of something already in place.
Add a newsletter spotlight
Include two or three quick highlights from the observation notes in your monthly staff newsletter. A "Cool Things from Your Colleagues" section takes five minutes to put together and extends the recognition beyond the bulletin board.
Turn it into mini-PD
After a full round of observations, invite two or three teachers to share what they saw with the whole staff during a PD session. What started as a simple visit becomes a peer-led learning moment.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Cover the logistics
Have your admin team step in for a duty so teachers aren't scrambling to find coverage. Read a book to the class, bring in a fun game, or take them for an extra recess.
Leader Tip #2
Aim for once a semester
This works best as a consistent practice, not a one-time event. Twice a year is plenty; consistency matters more than frequency.
Leader Tip #3
Display the notes prominently
Place the notes on a hallway bulletin board to showcase the great things happening across classrooms.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
Shoutouts
A teacher recognition program that runs itself.
Give teachers an opportunity to recognize their colleagues and collect them in your dashboard automatically. Easily print and share these encouraging words with your team.
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