We're at the halfway point, now what?
We’re close to the halfway point in the school year. And with COVID-19 yet again, what a school year it has been. Now what? How do we continue to work at a high level to provide our students with the best learning outcomes possible?
Here are some things we’ve found that helps teachers.
Take personal time for yourself. It’s easy to give your all to teaching students. You worry about them both day and night. We suggest taking the weekends off. No grading. No calling home. Treat yourself to a nice dinner with friends and family or do whatever you need to relax. Doing so will recharge your batteries making you a better teacher when you return on Monday.
Reflect on the first half of the year. Now is a great time to ask yourself what worked and what didn’t.
Establish a plan of action for the rest of the year. Now that you’ve determined your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges, what are you going to do for the second semester?
Look at the rest of the year in bite-size pieces and plan accordingly. It may be helpful to layout your calendar and make note of days that are school holidays and important events like testing. When you can see that there’s a chunk of time between MLK Jr. Day and President’s Day, it may make the rest of the year not seem so stressful.
Remember, your role as a teacher is one of the most important professions in the world. It’s easy to become bogged down by the minutia of small everyday tasks. Always know that your kids, their parents, and the overall community are counting on you! They need your impact and guidance! And they appreciate you more than you know. Thank you for all you do.
What are other ways we can get through to the end of the year? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.