As a New Year is on the horizon, it’s time to think about making some New Year’s Resolutions for your classroom. Resolutions for your classroom are goals you make for yourself as an educator. I’d like to keep it simple, and choose just three.

1: Take Time for Self-Care

You will be in the best position to provide care for your students if you first take care of yourself. Make a commitment to decrease your workload through more efficient planning, by taking a moment each day or at least each week to appreciate what is going well, and strive to find a better balance between your work life and your personal life.

2: Increase Efforts to Reach Out to Students

Increasing your efforts to reach out to students should be on the list of goals for any educator, not only for New Year’s, but every day you walk into your classroom. Take time to remember that relationships are at the heart of any teaching program. You’ll be richly rewarded for any effort you make to connect with students.

3: Try Something New

Trying something new, creative, and innovative periodically is very stimulating. It’s important to avoid getting stuck in a rut. If you haven’t tried anything new for a while, now is the perfect time. Create a new lesson for a concept you have taught many times before, or integrate a new technology tool into your curriculum. Read a book about pedagogy for your subject area, do some research, or take a free online course. Whatever you choose, always strive to better yourself and your instruction.

Incorporating these three strategies into your New Year’s instructional practicers will very likely result in a more productive and rewarding year for yourself, and for your students. Give them a try!

Ever wonder what strategies Annie Sullivan, often called the Miracle Worker, used to teach her deaf and blind student, Helen Keller? Watch this 5-minute video below for insights from author Terry Marzell.

Today, all throughout the American Southwest and elsewhere, our Mexican American students are celebrating the Die de Los Muertos. Day of the Dead. Photo credit: 9news.com

On this day, all throughout the American Southwest and elsewhere, our Mexican American students are celebrating the Dia de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead. This annual observance is a special day set aside to remember and honor the memory of beloved relatives who have passed away.

Here is a wonderful article that explains in detail the origins and practices of the Dia de Los Muertos. To see more photos, visit the School Arts Room, an art education blog for K-12 art teachers. Enjoy!

There are so many talented educators out there that, by myself, I cannot possibly find out about them all. How about some help?

Do you know a remarkable teacher? Someone everyone looks up to: students, parents, and administrators alike? Someone who serves as a model for the profession? A true Chalkboard Champion? This teacher could be someone currently in the classroom, someone who is already retired, or even someone from history that you admire.

You can nominate that educator to be the subject of a blog post on this web site. Simply use the contact form on this website to send me the name and email information for the teacher you would like to nominate. Please be sure to include where this teacher works or worked, and what it is about this teacher that is so remarkable. Be sure to include their contact information so I can get in touch with him or her for an interview.  I’ll do the rest!

Hope to hear from you soon!