New Years Resolutions for teachers

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10 New Year’s Resolutions for teachers.

10 New Year's Resolutions for teachers, use them as some inspiration to create your own new beginnings this year

. http://k6educators.about.com/od/professionaldevelopment

1. Get Your Classroom Organized

This is usually on the top of the list for all teachers. While teachers are known for their organizational skills, teaching is a busy job and sometime we let things run through the cracks. The best way to achieve this goal is to make a list and slowly check it off as you complete each task. If you set a small goal each week you are more apt to achieve it.

2. Create a Flexible Classroom

Flexible classrooms are all the rage right now, and you most likely have wanted to incorporate something that is flexible into your classroom, but probably couldn't find the time to do it just yet. Well, the New Year is the time to start. You can start small by getting a few alternative seats. Buy a bean bag chair or an exercise ball with the feet on the bottom of them. If you really want to get into it, then you can even purchase a stand up desk.

3. Go Paperless

With educational technology tools it's really gotten pretty easy for teachers to have a paperless classroom. Especially if you are privy to a classroom set of iPads. If you are so lucky, then you can say goodbye to textbooks and have students compete everything digitally. If you are not so lucky but really want to give the paperless route a try, then you can go on Donorschoose.org and ask for donors to purchase them for your classroom.

4. Remember Your Passion for Teaching

Sometimes the idea of a fresh new start (like the New Year) can help you remember your passion for teaching. It can get easy to forget or lose your passion when you have been at for a long time. Take the New Year to jot down some reasons why you became a teacher in the first place. And, don't ever think that you are alone because teaching is a challenging job, and you are in charge of over twenty children by yourself every single day. Remembering your drive and passion for teaching will help you keep going.

5. Re-Think Your Teaching Style

Every teacher has their own style of teaching, and what works for some may not work for others. However, the New Year may give you the opportunity to to re-think the way that you teach, and try something new that you have always wanted to try. You can start by asking yourself some questions, like "Do I want a student-centered classroom?" or "Would I like to be more of a guide or a leader?" These questions will help guide you into figuring out which teaching style you want for your classroom.

6. Get To Know Students Better

You may take this year to get to know your students on a more personal level. This means that you really take some time to get to know their passions, interests, and family outside of the classroom. The better connection that you have with each individual student, the more of a classroom community you will build.

7. Have Better Time Management Skills

There is always room for improvement, and this New Years you may choose to focus on your time management skills. Learn to prioritize your tasks and try and utilize technology to really maximum your students' learning time. Tech tools are known to keep students engaged in learning longer, so if you really want to maximize your students' learning time then you should use it daily.

8. Use More Tech Tools

Technology is amazing, and there are some great affordable educational tech tools that are on the market. This January make it your goal to try and utilize as many pieces of technology as you can. You can do this, by going to Donorschoose.org and creating a write up of all of the items that your classroom needs and why. Then, donors will read your inquiry and purchase the items for your classroom. It's that easy.

9.To Not Take Work Home with You

Your goal is to not take your work home with you so that you can spend more time with your family doing things that you love. You would think that this seems like an impossible task, but if you go to work thirty minutes early and start thirty minutes late, then you can complete everything that you do that takes you an hour to do at home. For example, if you always spend an hour searching for lessons each night, then can search for them when you are at school. Or, if you always spend an hour grading papers, do it when you go inearly or stay late. If this seems like something that will not work for you, then try doing it on your lunch hour or when students are at their specials. You can make it happen if you really sit and down and think about when you have some free time.

10. Spice Up Classroom Lesson Plans

Every now and then it's fun to spice things up. This New Year change up your lessons and see how much fun you will have. Instead of writing everything on the chalkboard, use your interactive whiteboard. If your students are used to you always using textbooks for their lessons, turn the lesson into a game. Find a few ways to change up your normal way that you do things and you will see the spark being lit in your classroom once again.

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