School Sparks with Dr. Desi Cameron

In this episode, I talk about ways to celebrate professional milestones as a way of recognizing people’s hard work, commitment, and contributions to a school. Research shows that celebrating professional milestones helps improve retention and builds a sense of belonging.

Birthdays are a great way to recognize students, families/guardians, staff, teachers, board members, donors, etc! I share different ideas of what I’ve seen work well! How can you ensure birthdays are being celebrated in a special and thoughtful way and ensure everyone is included? What other ideas do you have to celebrate birthdays?

In this episode, I talk about how important it is to write a thank you note especially in the job search process. Thank you notes are always appreciated. They will not determine whether or not you receive a job but it says a lot about you and your character. You will stand out as many people do not write thank you notes.

In this episode, I share tips to keep in mind as you design and set up a space (whether it’s a classroom, office, or other area of your school): purpose, energy, comfort/flexibility, openness & flow!

In this episode, I share 4 tips on how to best prepare for a teaching demo lesson! Whether you’re new to teaching or are applying for a teaching role at another school, the tips still apply!

In this episode, I share ways to implement “do now” activities in classrooms and in meetings to help provide routine, set the tone, and prime the learning.

For teachers and staff who utilize rubrics in their classes or evaluations: In this episode, I share some tips of how to approach rubric creation, from focusing on why you are using a rubric in the first place to questioning the use of 0s in rubrics.

In this episode, I share how to focus on building positive connections with others, especially with those who may drive us crazy or hit a nerve!

In this episode, I share four tips to include in the content of your presentation and four tips on delivery for your presentation. Regardless of the length of your presentation or who your audience is, these tips matter!

In this episode, I share three things to get you started to focus on building inclusive language at your school. This is a start and not a definitive list! Hope it’s helpful!