5 New Year’s resolutions for English teachers

30 December 2020 Guest posts

The year 2020 was a tricky one for the entire world. Governments advised people to practice self-isolation and social distancing. At the same time, most businesses took a break or moved to digital forms. Likewise, most schools closed and continued with online classes.

Nevertheless, it’s the holiday season. Christmas and New Year are jolly festivities meant to brighten the winter and set new high hopes for the next year. Holidays are fantastic opportunities to regroup and figure out the best strategies for an efficient education. Especially since 2021 may resume distance learning.

In this article, we prepared five New Year’s resolutions that could inspire you to teach better in the upcoming year.

1.Start With A Holiday Cleanout

Teachers have the terrible habit of hoarding loads of papers and books from lessons and tests. You’re always running against the time, and you might put things where they shouldn’t be. The result is a disorganized desk and more stress because you can’t find the things you’re looking for. So, the best way to start the year is to have a clean and organized space.

The first thing you may want to tackle is the papers, books, and notes you have piled up or scattered around. Separate the books, then the essays, notes, and all the rest. Next, organize in categories in binders by class and subject.

Don’t forget to pick the right spot in the house for office work. Preferably where’s less noise and a better internet connection. Also, consider adding some new pieces of furniture to store your materials better. Having a designated space for work where your materials are easily accessible promotes productivity and helps you become more motivated.

Lastly, organize your PC to help it run smoothly and have all the apps that you need at hand. For example, if you have a part-time job as a fashion blogger, a freelancer at write my essay UK, or an editor, consider having separate PC accounts.

2.Collaborate More And Ask For Feedback

There isn’t a formula for perfect teaching. Sometimes, even if you’re following all the rules and guidelines, you might still feel like something’s missing. If you’re not used to asking for help and feedback, you might get stuck in your point of view, thus unconsciously making the same mistakes over and over again.

So, your New Year’s resolutions could include talking to your colleagues more and figuring out solutions together. Also, asking for feedback from your students can be a remarkable idea.

For instance, your colleagues may point out that your grading system is not thorough enough, while your students may ask you to add more sources to your lessons. Frequently talking to your students, superiors, and co-workers can help you organize better and teach effectively. So, try to be open to constructive criticism and develop your work relationships more.

3.Look Out For Yourself

Whether you’ll be sitting in your office at home or in class, the second part of the school year is the most stressful. The schedule is packed with lessons, meetings, and more work. This, however, doesn’t mean you should neglect yourself.

The past year taught us a lesson: slow down and practice self-care. So, try to prep your meals for the week, avoid vending machine snacks, and drink lots of water. Additionally, plan a couple of workouts during the week and try to be as active as possible.

If you work part-time for a successful online store, best essay writing service, or a renowned blog, you can use a planner to balance all of your duties. Last but not least, take the time to unwind. Friday afternoons are perfect for tea, meditation, and yoga.

Feeling like your timetable is too busy happens to the best of us. Consider working more on weekends to have some spare time during the week.

4.Experiment

Efficient teaching includes testing unconventional methods, and this year is the ideal candidate for new approaches. For example, you could have a “Reverse Teaching Day” every week or month: a couple of students gather information about a specific topic that they present. This way, your pupils will remember the subject better because they’ll hear it from a peer. Moreover, the kids will be more engaged and involved in the matter instead of passively attending.

Watching movies is a wonderful way to encourage students to become more interested in a topic while forming a friendly bond. For instance, watching “Star Wars” can be an interesting way to teach kids English while having fun.

5.Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself

Even though New Year’s resolutions should be followed seriously, don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t complete all the goals you set for 2021.

Times are always changing, and you’re continually learning, so your priorities might shift too. Just take it easy, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

Conclusion

Here are five New Year’s resolutions for English teachers:

1. Start with a holiday cleanout;
2. Collaborate more and ask for feedback;
3. Look out for yourself;
4. Experiment;
5. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Justin Osborne is a writer at write my essay UK, he loves to share his thoughts and opinions about education, writing and blogging with other people on different blogs and forums. Currently, he is working as a content marketer at best essay writing service.

Sources:

https://www.teachervision.com/blog/morning-announcements/5-new-years-resolutions-just-for-teachers