Winter break is a great time to take a few moments to reflect on the first half of the school year. What worked? What didn’t go exactly as planned? What would you like to try differently next year? Remember that you have the freedom to make big, purposeful change any day.
- Need to change a room set-up? Surprise your students when they return.
- Time for some new classroom expectations? There’s no time like the present to clarify expectations!
- Homework policy not getting the results you’d hoped? Change it! Clearly express this change to students and clarify questions.
Think of yourself as a gardener with an extensive flowerbed. Just like the attentive gardener makes changes daily as flowers grow, unbind yourself from the weight of “what’s been done before” and allow yourself the flexibility to make necessary changes.
Today, take a look at your “flower bed”. Which students are flourishing? Which students might need a little extra sun and water when they return? Write down these students’ names and, over break, think about what you can do to help them grow!
