Happy New Year!  

It's 2016 and time to think about resolutions.  Some of us will promise to lose weight or to save more money.  Others may decide to pick up or finish a home improvement project.  Whatever the resolution is, it generally focuses on making our lives better in some way during the new year.  I thought about what this might look like if we made a list of "Teacher Resolutions" for 2016.                

 What can we do now to resolve to do better by our students?

I found some teachers that posted such resolutions online:

“More one on one time during intervention, relax more, and enjoy every day with my students.”
Becky Charlton, Lebanon, Ohio

“Taking the time to enjoy my students. Time goes by so quickly and they are just an awesome bunch of kids!”                  Katie Dietterle, Oceanside, California

“Leave time and energy in the day to take care of me, physically, mentally, and spiritually.”     Carol L. Byrnes, San Diego, California

“To continue gaining expertise in technology, and learn fresh ways to incorporate it in my daily teaching. This is my 34th year, and there's still so much to learn!”
Karen Atterberry, Yakima, Washington

“I have a really awesome class of second graders. I resolve to take more of a facilitator role at times and not jump in at the first sign of a struggle to give my students more opportunities to ‘think.’ I want my students to be more actively engaged in their learning.”
Dawn Mixon, Winterville, Georgia

“To clean my room up and pretend it’s the first day of school again…fresh start and new attitude!”
Melinda Lantelme, Eagle Lake, Texas

As we return from our much-needed break, it’s time to resolve to make your classroom a happy place for you and your students in the long stretch to summer.   Remember to take care of yourself so you can take care of your students.  

Just a note about last months post:  A link to a short video that reminds us how much a small gesture or token of appreciation can impact a life.  If you haven't seen the video, you can check it out at:  http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership?language=en        If you have not discovered TED Talks...This site if full of great topics and speakers.