Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide. Grab yourself a treat and soak up some life-changing content!

This week we’re thinking about how important it is for teachers to reward themselves, why rewards work and what the best kind of rewards might be!

Let’s jump in…

Why Teachers Forget To Reward Themselves & Why Rewards Are Vital

Now, you’re going to think I’m a bit strange, but I’ve only recently come to understand the value of rewards.

Not for my students - I totally get that rewards can be motivational, engagement-building presents of positivity - but for me.

The idea that I could and should reward myself for doing what I was supposed to be doing came as a bit of a shock.

I think that’s got a lot to do with the attitude I used to hold, which was that brilliant should be a default. The high levels of expectations I held for myself meant that I felt like achieving the goal WAS the reward.

The problem there was that I never stopped to reflect on my achievements or praise myself. I never learned to use rewards as a personal or professional motivator.

And I never really felt proud of or happy with what I’d achieved.

It was only when I started researching teacher wellbeing and working with educators who prioritised teacher wellness that I realised these important truths…

So, if you’re the kind of teacher who never rewards themselves (or only rewards themselves with a glass of wine), here are five tips for using rewards to transform your teaching…

5 Ways To Use Rewards To Transform Your Teaching

So, we know that rewarding ourselves motivates us to achieve our goals, creates positive learning loops, breaks down tasks and allows us to celebrate our achievements. But what kinds of rewards are there, and how can we use them?

5 Types of Rewards Teachers Should Consider:

• Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic: You should always aim for a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards tap into your internal satisfaction, like the joy of achievement or progress. Examples include acknowledging your effort, celebrating milestones, or learning something new. Extrinsic rewards are external motivators, like treats, experiences, or material possessions. Use them cautiously, as overreliance can diminish intrinsic motivation.

• Immediate vs. Delayed: For short-term tasks, immediate rewards can be effective. Enjoy a coffee break after finishing some marking or boogie to your favourite song when another batch of reports is done. However, for long-term goals, delayed rewards create anticipation and sustained motivation. Imagine relaxing on holiday at the end of term or (something I often do) booking a little treat into the calendar, like an experience or a get-together with friends. As teachers, sometimes connections and experiences can be really powerful motivators.

• Experiences vs. Possessions: Prioritise experiences over possessions. They often create stronger memories and boost overall well-being. Choose a concert over a gadget, or a cooking class over a new shirt.

• Personalised vs. Generic: Tailor rewards to your individual preferences. What truly excites you? A new hiking gear might be more motivating than a fancy dinner if you're an outdoor enthusiast. A new piece of equipment for your arts and crafts hobby might be more motivating than a trip away. Maybe it’s time on your own? Your reward is yours. It doesn’t matter if someone else doesn’t see it that way.

• Positive vs. Negative: This is a big one for me. I often fall into the trap of rewarding myself with something negative, even if it feels positive in the short-term. A sweet every time I finish a report. A glass of wine at the end of each batch of marking. Cake for making it to Friday. Netflix on a Saturday. I’m not saying those rewards aren’t valid, but just don’t use them all the time. Ultimately, it’s much better for you if your rewards are active and healthy, not passive and bad for you!

5 Effective Strategies For Making The Most Of Your Rewards:

1. Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals provide clear targets for rewards. Celebrate completing each step, not just the final achievement. I’d much rather have 10 small rewards throughout a process than wait all term for a bigger one.

2. Track your progress: Visualise your journey with charts, stickers, or apps. Seeing progress reinforces your efforts and fuels motivation for the next reward. We love a good sticker here at Marigold Towers, and you could even share your reward chart in your classroom, alongside those of your learners. It’s great for accountability too.

3. Make it timely: Reward yourself soon after achieving a goal to solidify the connection between action and reward. Don't wait weeks or months. That’s where some planning comes in handy, along with a real sense of self-knowledge. Listen to yourself and adjust your reward system as needed. Some days might call for bigger rewards, while others might require just a moment of self-appreciation.

4. Variety is key: Don't stick to the same reward every time. This can help prevent habituation and keep you engaged. The whole idea here is to bring excitement, interest and variety into what can sometimes be mundane and repetitive tasks. Don’t let your rewards become the same!

5. Focus on progress, not perfection: Reward yourself for effort and improvement, not just achieving flawless results. This fosters resilience and a growth mindset. Although it was a tough pill to swallow, I did realise that I would never be able to achieve something to a level of perfection. Good enough is good enough. And that’s worthy of a reward.

You can also check out a more detailed study of the value of rewards at verywellmind.com or read this useful article from betterup.com.

Just remember that you do a brilliant job. You’re a dedicated, transformative teacher.

But there’s nothing wrong with building a reward structure into your work - you deserve it!

What Are You Waiting For?

We believe that teachers achieve extraordinary things under challenging circumstances and that we all deserve to be valued, supported and celebrated.

That’s what this newsletter is all about.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, why not join the Marigold community? You’ll get weekly strategies for sustaining your wellbeing, avoiding burnout and flourishing as a person, not just a teacher.

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We’re Making A Course

To offer even more support to teachers around the world, we’re in the process of building a course.

I know, who’d have thought that, as teachers, we’d be writing another scheme of work?!

The goal is for this to be a free course for any teacher who wants to reset and revitalise the way they work - and we’re in the early stages.

So… what would you like us to focus on?

We’d love to get some suggestions about the really important challenges you face and the aspects of teaching you’d like some support with.

Whether it’s mindset, productivity or resilience, we aim to have you covered, but we can’t do it without you, so get in touch…

Drop us an email at [email protected] or hit the link below:

In the meantime, our podcasts are thriving. From affirmations to catching enough z’s, each entertaining episode is packed full of great strategies for teaching (and living) success.

Thank You For Everything

Honestly, one of the greatest rewards we receive is knowing that we make a difference in so many lives, so thank you for reading and supporting our work.

We know you’re busy, and we don’t take your support lightly - it’s a genuine privilege to be building such a wonderful marigold community.

As a reminder, here are the takeaways from today…

In next week’s issue, we’ll be looking at how the things we believe about the world, ourselves and our careers can play a massive role in our wellbeing.

Prepare to have your belief system boosted!

Until then, remember, you’re more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

You’re you. And that’s all you need to be.