The start of the new year isn’t technically a fresh start for dedicated K-12 teachers; rather, the fresh start is usually seen as the beginning of a new school year in the fall.
However, constantly refreshing and setting new goals is a huge component of being a successful teacher, and the start of the new year can certainly be a checkpoint for teachers to reevaluate and reassess goals for the remainder of the school year. Education World has compiled some examples of new year resolutions for the remainder of the school year.
Sure, it’s important to make specific goals for important classroom practices like integrating technology and personalizing learning. But as a teacher, you know you’re work doesn’t end when you leave the classroom. Oftentimes, you’ll work late into the night grading papers and finalizing lesson plans.
One of the top new years resolutions for educators, for this reason, is making better use of personal time by actually keeping it personal.
One of the ways to better use personal time and still keep up on the large quantity of work you have to get done is by learning how to manage time better.
Psychology Today urges those looking to make better use of their time to consider the 80/20 rule, which states “that 80 percent of the importance of what we do in any given day lies in only twenty percent of the activities. Therefore, if you focus on accomplishing the top twenty percent of the most important tasks, you will feel more productive and satisfied at the end of the day.”
In other words, know how to utilize your time to get the most important tasks done. This means that you should let go of trying to make a dent of all of the tasks on your agenda and instead narrow down your focus better.
Making a bulleted or numbered list and prioritizing the items at the start of each day can help you to do this.
Last year, a majority of teachers reported that they wanted more say in edtech decisions from their administration, primarily in helping to select the edtech devices they will use. But those same teachers also reported having little training on edtech devices from the district, leaving them in the dark about their options and how they work.
This year, make an effort to receive more say in your school’s edtech decisions by educating yourself on this year’s edtech trends. You can stay up on edtech trends by consistently researching the subject, which constantly is featured in education news, and by looking at EdTech’s article “5 Tech Trends that Could Supercharge Education in 2016.”
You always say it, but actually make an effort this year to take advantage of ample professional development opportunities over the summer.
Many educators express intentions to do so, but many also say they end up spending the summer doing a whole lot of nothing and then wondering come the end of August where all the time went. Don’t let that be you.
Start compiling lists of books you want to read in the professional development category but won’t have time to get through them all till the relaxing beach days of summer. Check out this awesome page to refer as a starting point.
Start thinking about hosting get-togethers with members of your PLN who you find difficult do anything besides quickly chat with during the busy weeks of the bustling school year.
Make a bucket list of things you’d like to do but never could get around to. On the We Are Teacher’s summer bucket list suggestions, it recommends taking the downtime to maker a “feel-good file,” or a file that includes "thank-you notes from students, inspirational quotes, that mantra from your favorite teaching professor—whatever makes you think 'Yes. This is why I teach.’” You’ll thank yourself for this during the more trying moments of the following school year.
Managing a class is just as important as teaching to it. Better keep your students on track this year by taking an online course in classroom management. The Cult of Pedagogy has two suggestions of courses that’ll help.
"Two affordable online courses you can take are the Pro-Active Behavior Management Webinar, created by Angela Watson of the Cornerstone for Teachers, which is designed for elementary-school teachers, or Classroom Management 101, offered by Linda Kardamis of Teach 4 the Heart, which would be ideal for teachers in grades 4-12,” the site says.
Stay up-to-date on national and local education issues, as the news from other educators across the country might be relevant to what’s going on in your classroom.
Look into the new guiding education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Find out why ten teachers in California are suing teacher unions over First Amendment violations.
See the results from the latest education surveys in your state or others that reveal how teachers are feeling.
Doing this might not have a direct effect on your classroom, but it’ll help you feel like you have a basic understanding on what’s going on in education and how you’re contributing.
Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor
1/11/2016