Celebrate Wins and Create Goals With Your Students for the New Year!
It’s that time of year…time to reflect and create goals for the New Year!
This time of year, I usually find myself with a mix of feelings. I’m excited about the holidays, boggled by behavior in the classroom, and have an ominous feeling about being about half-way through the year.
I often find myself in conversations with my teacher friends that have a lot of this:
“I’m so far behind!”
“I’m only on chapter 3 in math!”
“How am I going to finish?!”
“Why does it feel like every night this month has a full moon?!!”
This, of course, doesn’t help. So, we started switching it around and naming things for each other that have improved since the beginning of the year.
Take Some Moments to Reflect:
Instead of giving in to the panicked feelings, pause and take some time to reflect from the beginning of the year until now and pick out at least 3 improvements:
Think about the behavior in your classroom at the beginning of the year. Now, yes, of course it is a constant focus throughout the year. Still, pick out some aspects, or students, that have shown improvement from then until now.
Maybe some of your students aren’t calling out as much or have started taking turns more than just pushing their way into a situation.
Maybe you are seeing more kindness and respect between students. Or students are completing more of their work.
Sure, you might only be on Chapter 3 in math, but did taking things a little slower help their understanding? Then celebrate!
Whatever you find, take some time to appreciate all the hard work you and your students have put into this year so far! Psst! Having a hard time? Ask your teacher bestie to help you, and you do the same for him/her!
Students’ Reflections:
This is a great time for students to reflect on the year as well. Ask your students to choose 1-3 ways they think they have improved from the beginning of the year. Then ask them to either continue to improve in that area next semester, or create 1-3 new goals for the second half of the year.
Pair or group students and ask them to help each other think of ways they have improved so far this year. Focus on what students are doing rather than just results. For instance:
Students are trying 3 problems before asking for help instead of immediately saying, “I don’t get this!’
Students are offering to help another student when something falls off the desk or a locker gets stuck. (Remind them that little kindnesses are important to a classroom community.)
A student has started asking for help when he/she needs it, either from you, the teacher, or a classmate, instead of suffering in silence.
Give Yourself and Your Students a Break:
Celebrate how far everyone has come this year! Throw in some extra class games or an extra 5 minutes of recess. Take the time to think about how good it feels to focus on positive improvement this year!
Goal Journal!
Celebrate your wins and create goals for this year!