JANUARY:
Can I Just Start Over?
Over the holiday break, after you have a chance to unwind and renew your energy, you will probably begin thinking about school and the things that are going well and not so well. You may even be thinking that you wish you could just start the year over. In a way, you can!
The space of time allows us to gain perspective and provides a wonderful opportunity to find new solutions, forgive past grievances, tie up loose ends, and forge ahead with a plan. With a brave outlook, we can set the tone for a Brave New World in our classrooms.
Reflection
- What procedures are working well? Which no longer serve you?
- Which organizational strategies are wreaking havoc on your planning time?
- Is your grading method causing major delays in returning papers to students?
- Do problems arise due to lack of communication? What could help?
- Are you doing things for your students that they could be doing for themselves?
- What do you like most about teaching? Are you satisfied with your job? Why/Why not?
- Do you enjoy all of your students, most of the time? Why/Why not?
- Are you able, most of the time, to put students' needs before your own?
Your Brave New Classroom
You DO have an opportunity to start over, and that is the week you return from break - starting the VERY FIRST DAY BACK. Here are some steps to introduce your students to your changes in attitude and/or management:
- Genuinely welcome students back to school.
- Ask about their holiday and if they have been doing any reflecting. Perhaps allow students to create digital or paper "vision boards." See resources below.
- Tell the students that even though you were enjoying your holiday, you were looking forward to seeing them again and thinking of ways to make learning better for everyone.
- Visually share, if possible, grade and attendance data. Help students set some goals for finishing the marking term strong. Revisit data and goals WEEKLY.
- Teach a RELEVANT lesson about EFFORT and its relationship to achievement. Tell students that effort matters and find ways to show them that you mean it!
- Teach new procedures, review classroom rules, and be prepared to catch students "doing the right thing." Praise them when they conform to your new demands.
- Continue to provide feedback!
Be patient and start looking for ways students are growing and changing!
The space of time allows us to gain perspective and provides a wonderful opportunity to find new solutions, forgive past grievances, tie up loose ends, and forge ahead with a plan. With a brave outlook, we can set the tone for a Brave New World in our classrooms.
Reflection
- What procedures are working well? Which no longer serve you?
- Which organizational strategies are wreaking havoc on your planning time?
- Is your grading method causing major delays in returning papers to students?
- Do problems arise due to lack of communication? What could help?
- Are you doing things for your students that they could be doing for themselves?
- What do you like most about teaching? Are you satisfied with your job? Why/Why not?
- Do you enjoy all of your students, most of the time? Why/Why not?
- Are you able, most of the time, to put students' needs before your own?
Your Brave New Classroom
You DO have an opportunity to start over, and that is the week you return from break - starting the VERY FIRST DAY BACK. Here are some steps to introduce your students to your changes in attitude and/or management:
- Genuinely welcome students back to school.
- Ask about their holiday and if they have been doing any reflecting. Perhaps allow students to create digital or paper "vision boards." See resources below.
- Tell the students that even though you were enjoying your holiday, you were looking forward to seeing them again and thinking of ways to make learning better for everyone.
- Visually share, if possible, grade and attendance data. Help students set some goals for finishing the marking term strong. Revisit data and goals WEEKLY.
- Teach a RELEVANT lesson about EFFORT and its relationship to achievement. Tell students that effort matters and find ways to show them that you mean it!
- Teach new procedures, review classroom rules, and be prepared to catch students "doing the right thing." Praise them when they conform to your new demands.
- Continue to provide feedback!
Be patient and start looking for ways students are growing and changing!
Dream or Vision Board Resources:
vision_boards.docx |
visualization_article.docx |
dream_board_ideas.docx |
dream_board_lesson.doc |