New School Year Resolutions for Teachers
The first day of a new school year is almost as magical as the moment the ball drops at midnight on December 31 in that there’s so much to look forward to—new learners, a new classroom, and new Pinterest decorations covering the walls of your space. Take advantage of this time by setting a few goals or resolutions for yourself.
Write them down, tell your educator friends, whatever it takes to make sure you stick with each one. Whether you’re learning how to use a new classroom tool or giving yourself an hour of “me-time” every day, you’ll be glad you did.
Start a Teacher Blog
You can use a classroom or teacher blog to display student work, communicate with parents, or share classroom tips and stories with fellow educators. However, if creating and implementing a blog in your classroom seems daunting, focus on taking the first step: Sign up on WordPress or Edublogs and write your first post—you might get hooked!
Make Time for YOU
As an educator, it’s so hard to make time for yourself. It seems like a never-ending loop of work and more work between grading papers and prepping for lessons. Resolve to make more time for yourself this year, even if it’s just one hour after you get home to have a relaxing dinner before diving back into work.
Try a New Classroom Tool
Challenge yourself to try at least one new classroom tool this year. With so many budget-friendly options to choose from, it’s easier than ever to find one you love without breaking the bank. Try one of these new tools that will help you to engage learners better while broadening your skillset:
Try Blended Teaching
If you’re not ready to dive headfirst into technology, try a blended approach, where you combine traditional and modern techniques to engage your learners better. Start your lesson with a traditional lecture method, followed by blogging, watching a YouTube video, or something more fitting for the lesson.
For example, take learners to Ancient Rome with Google Maps after a lesson about the history of this once prosperous society—you can literally walk the cobbled streets of modern-day Rome, giving learners a cultural and geographical lesson that is exciting and engaging.
Get More Organized With Technology
Something is satisfying about writing your to-do list and crossing each item off by hand. However, this isn’t always practical, especially when you’re trying to remember what you need to do tomorrow while driving from school to the grocery store, your lone sticky note sitting on your desk at work.
Use tools like Evernote, TeuxDeux, or Vitalist to keep everything in one easy-to-access place while still having the satisfaction of crossing off or removing an item from the ever-expanding list.
The new school year is a chance to improve yourself and your teaching. Use it as an opportunity to try something new, make time to focus on yourself, try a blended learning approach, and more. You never know what you can accomplish with so much ahead of you.
