Happy New Year!
The holidays have ended and the winter break is finished, even though winter itself has only really just begun. Students and faculty have returned to school and have settled in for the second semester. While it is only the middle of the school year, the start of a new semester and a new calendar year offers a chance for new beginnings for everyone.
For students, it is a chance to reassess the personal goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the year to see how they are progressing and to readjust and/or recommit to achieving those goals. It is also a time for students to renew their relationships with both peers and their teachers to set a positive tone for the new semester. The beginning of the new semester also provides students with the opportunity to more fully apply the strategies and knowledge they learned in the first semester to the new content and tasks they will encounter as their classes resume. At home, students, with the help of parents, can set up a new routine for homework and study and evaluate how they manage their out-of-school time to balance their school responsibilities, their family/home responsibilities, and their hobbies and personal interests. If their first semester went well, then they can continue to build on their strong start; if it did not, now is an ideal opportunity to make changes to finish the school year strong.
For teachers, it is also a chance to reassess professional goals to determine if their plans and methods are assisting each of their students in reaching their potential. It is also provides an opportunity for teachers to assess their own personal and professional strengths and challenges are in order to build on those strengths and explore professional development options to build more confidence and competence in their craft. Like the students, the beginning of a new semester offers a chance for faculty to renew their professional connections with their colleagues through collaborative and supportive activities. The second semester also gives teachers the opportunity to assess how they manage their time both in and out of the classroom to maintain balance in both their personal and professional lives.
New beginnings, new starts, new opportunities—2018 really is a happy new year!
