2016 New Year's Resolutions

Welcome 2016!  A new year, a blank slate.

One of my favorite New Year's traditions is creating some new resolutions!  I love looking back at the previous year, reminiscing about what worked well and what I could improve, and setting some new goals.

This year, rather than setting specific goals, as I have often done in the past, I have made my resolutions a little more vague.

My first resolution is to live healthier.  Having Type 1 Diabetes, this is a major goal of mine.  I've kind of, shall I say, let myself go after having Natalie.  It's time to treat my body with the respect that it deserves so that I can have more energy and a happier spirit.

 My second resolution is to live happier.  Rather than focus on what I want in the future (last year's goals included a shorter drive to work, teaching at a new school, purchasing a new house) I want to sit back and enjoy what I already have.  I want my focus to be on making and developing connections with family and friends and experiencing new things, rather than focusing on tangible items.

I want to show my thankfulness for those around me, slow down, and enjoy the little things.  I want to look away from my cellphone and into daughter's shinning eyes and share her adventurous and joyous spirit.  I want to put down the computer and enjoy a nice conversation with my husband after dinner.  I want to hold off on cleaning more and play with my dogs.

My third resolution is to Create, Connect, and Collaborate more with educators, families, and experts around the world.  During the school year I plan on setting aside a little time each weekend to work on transitioning products that I have created for my classroom to be polished and ready to be posted on TPT.  I plan on scheduling posts and comments for my blog and Facebook at this time.  I plan on prioritizing my projects so that i can focus on the ones that are most meaningful to me and my classroom, and then sharing them with teachers all over the globe.

I am truly excited to be attending the 2nd Northeast Regional TPT Meet-Up in Rochester, NY this April.  I can't wait to share what I've created so far, connect with new friends, and collaborate on some new projects with teacher educators from all over NY and beyond!

My final resolution is a big one: to find BALANCE!!!  This is a goal I continually find myself returning to.  Sure, I've balance out my time pretty well over the last few years....but it still never feels like I have enough.  I want more time to sleep, more time to spend with family and friends, more time to create.....but I can't create more time.  At the age of 30 I've finally come to the realization that maybe my issue isn't that I don't have enough time.  Maybe the issue is how I am managing it.  Maybe my to-do list is too long?  Maybe it is ok to not check off every item on it.  Maybe I need to prioritize what needs to get done.  

I plan on spending my time by focusing on bettering myself, my family & friends, and society in hopes for a better future.  

Have you thought about your New Year's Resolutions for 2016?

Happy New Year!

Setting Goals for a Productive School Year

Each year I have my fourth graders set goals.  We revisit and revise them frequently throughout the year.  This year, after inspiration from a Pinterest Pic from Teaching Idea Factory I decided to have students post their goals in the hallway.

I took photographs of each child making a thoughtful face.

They cut them out and pasted them to some colorful paper.  They wrote their goal for the school year on a thought bubble and glued that onto the paper as well.

This made a cute display for open house.  Do you have students set goals for the school year?

Back to School Goals for the 2013-2014 School Year

This week I've spent some time thinking about what I'd like to do differently this school year.  With my first baby on the way, and due in November, this year is going to be a whirl wind of crazy.

Today I'm linking up with iHeartRecess for her Back to School Goals linky party.

This school year my biggest personal focus will be on learning how to balance school with my home life.  I've always let my school work consume me.  Teaching is not just a job for me, it's a hobby....it's my life.  I've worked hard to balance being a wife and a teacher over the last few years.  At times it's been hard to balance also being a good friend, daughter, sister, blogger, and well...the list goes on and on. 

Our daughter is scheduled to be born this November which is sure to add lots of excitement (and I'm sure a little anxiety) to the first part of the school year.

I am planning to keep my desk clean and organized this year.  Each afternoon, before I leave school, I plan to lay out my plans for the next day along with all the photocopies and necessary materials.  Who knows when my last day of school (for maternity leave) will be.  I also plan on trying to have my lesson plans typed out and ready to go 3 weeks in advance.  So, if baby makes a surprise early entry into the world, whom ever they have selected to be my sub will be all set for at least the next few weeks.  I am also in the process of creating a long term sub binder for whom ever they hire with a flash drive containing all my important files for the school year.

As far as my goal for students, I would like every child to come to school each day feeling that it is a safe and comfortable learning environment.  I will strive to make each lesson meaningful and engaging in order to motivate and challenge students.  Integrating technology will again be a huge priority in the classroom along with making lessons that are hands-on and meet multiple learning styles.

I love these 2 mottos:  Anything worth having is worth fighting for.  There are no shortcuts to greatness.  This year will probably be one of the most challenging for me.  Being pregnant while having diabetes is not an easy task.  Living almost an hour away from your work makes commuting long and tiring (and I'm sure worse when you have a young baby staying at a stranger's house for daycare).  But I'm determined to make it work!  I'm sure everything will fall into place, but it won't be easy.  I love my classroom, my students, my husband, my growing family, blogging, creating on Teachers Pay Teachers...I will find a way to balance it all!

What tips and tricks do you have to manage a family, classroom, blogging, etc....????  Please share!!!