Happy New Year! I can’t even believe it—where has half the school year gone? Hopefully, you have just enjoyed a restful holiday and are gearing up for the second semester. Resolutions seem to be a thing of the past these days, and focusing on a single word is now the way to go. It’s less pressure, but still gives you something to work toward.

What better word to focus on for the new year than the word “new” itself? Webster defines new as: not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.

Here are a few ways to adopt some newness into your life in 2020:

I realize this subject might make your skin crawl—sometimes we teachers feel like all we do is test, test, test. I recently read an article from USA Today stating that despite all our efforts with Common Core and standardized testing, the US is still lagging behind in test scores. However, I think what’s missing is how to use that data to guide our instruction and how to involve our students with the process.

As the winter testing window begins to open, here are a few tips for your classroom practice:

Happy back to school! I have no idea where summer went and why it keeps getting shorter every year. Yet, here we are—back to another school year and ready to change the world one student at a time. But before we can successfully do this, we’ve got to get organized!

I recently read a great quote by Christina Scalise. She said, “Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life.” The start of the school year can be stressful and overwhelming, so here are a few tips to help you ease into your year and improve your quality of life.

Who doesn’t love the arts? We listen to music during our free time, go dancing, and watch live performances, among other things! This past week, I went to an arts symposium, where I learned a lot about integrating the arts into the classroom.

Here are several takeaways I wanted to share with my fellow educators:

In the world of education, the terms trauma informed, trauma sensitive, and trauma invested have come to the forefront. While all these terms are very similar in nature, the importance of learning and understanding trauma is key to the success of our students. Google defines trauma as a “deeply distressing or disturbing experience.” When this type of experience happens to a child, it can affect brain development, which can impede learning as well as mental and physical health.

You have no doubt let your parents know about the dreaded summer slide: That time when students can lose progress during the summer months. And I'm sure you have also let them know the importance of practicing those skills over the summer so students can start off the new school year ready and raring to go. 

But what about us teachers? What should we make sure doesn’t take the proverbial slide over the break? And are there some things we should let slide away into the summer abyss?

As we count down the final days of school, I always like to stop and reflect. Yes, I am tired and probably looking a little haggard, but I really love my job. And I’m not just saying that because June and July are right around the corner!

Teaching truly is a wonderful profession, and here’s why (in case you need reminding!): 

Diversity continues to increase in public schools nationwide. One in four school children are listed as a first- or second-generation immigrant in the US, and 350 languages are spoken in homes across our nation. It is so important to teach tolerance, empathy, and acceptance to prepare students for a diverse world.

One excellent way to do this is to expose your students to a variety of cultures. This year, I spearheaded our first Culture Night. Our school population includes many different cultures, and we really wanted to build community and appreciation with our families.

I see your eyes rolling right now as you look at this title. I know what you are thinking: Too many tests! I agree that there is too much testing in our schools, but assessments don’t have to always come in the form of paper and pencil.

As educators, we have a curriculum to teach and standards students need to master—assessments are a necessary part of the process. Depending on what grade level you teach and the district in which you work, standardized and common assessments might be a mandated part of your students’ experience. Just grin and bear it, people. It is part of the job!

I have been thinking about this question a lot lately. I’ve taught for over 20 years in seven different buildings. This includes various grade levels in the elementary setting in the inner city, in military schools, in affluent schools, and somewhere in between. Over the years, I have realized a few things about what it takes to make a school great.