Hello dear readers! Hope you had a wonderful season filled with all the people and things that bring you joy. Yes, I know we still have a big celebration ahead of us: saying goodbye to 2023, and welcoming in 2024.

 

‘Same old, same old’...we may mutter, and as the saying goes, ‘The more things change, the more they stay the same.’ We might even look at the scientific data that suggests few people keep their New Year’s resolutions. Still, it never hurts to have some plans for the future, right?

 

I’m not suggesting anything huge; I mean, if you want to go huge (apply for your Master’s Degree, Dip. Ed, Doctorate), by all means, go full steam ahead. But being someone who doesn’t deal well with change, I’m not going to preach something I don’t practice. I actually had to be forced to do my Dip. Ed, so I am NOT the best example of ‘going big’.

 

I need time to assimilate “the new” AND  “revert” to past routines. Why do I mention it? Because in the new term, my school is finally going back to its pre-Covid schedule and 40 minute periods. I haven’t taught like that in about 4 years, so there will have to be some adjustment/ re-adjustment to waking up earlier. Being a ‘decompressor’, I’m not affected by the later afternoons so at least, that will be the same. See what I mean? One change at a time for me !🙂

 

Still, I now have to adjust lesson plans of 30 mins (1 period) or 1 hour (a double)  to 40 mins/ 80 minutes respectively. I’m thankful for the extra teaching time so I can finish my syllabus, but I had to sit down and think about how I’m going to maximize that time. 

 

I have and I did: I’m not pleased with my classes’ knowledge of the French sound system, so I’m going to add a focused 10/15 minutes on practice exercises with native speaker audio. My point is, I sat down and made a plan. “From Jan 2024, in all my classes, I am going to….”

 

And that’s basically what I’m asking you to do. Take some time and make some plans as a 21st Century Educator. Mind you, they don’t all have to be related to the classroom; some can be related, specifically to you. Yes, that’s right….YOU.

 

Let me explain. You’re not a machine and that’s what makes you the wonderful educator you are. But this is a stressful profession and it becomes painfully more apparent, every day, that tomorrow isn’t promised. Maybe where you falter as an educator, is in setting a boundary to protect your energy and your health.

 

I’m starting with Educator WELLNESS goals, because I had a meltdown in December. I was simply doing too much. I broke down in tears while eating lunch that I had asked a friend to buy for me, because I was so busy trying to supervise exams/ teach and have meetings ALL ON THE SAME DAY. I spent most of the term on antibiotics either for respiratory infections or (TMI alert), UTI’s (I did warn you). I had a cough that wouldn’t go, as did almost every teacher in the staffroom.  I was tired, knackered, brain-fogged and plain….SICK.

 

So I’m perfectly fine with you setting simple, yet crucial wellness resolutions for 2024. Here are some examples:

 

  • I will take a bathroom break if I have to, and not just clench till the end of the period/ class.
  • I will say ‘No’ if asked to be part of YET another committee/project/ fundraiser, when my plate is already full.
  • I will start taking my vitamins regularly (probably put them on your desk in plain sight).
  • I will pay more attention to myself, so that I can pay less to my doctor.
  • I will exercise at least 10 minutes a day/ 3 times a week for 30 mins (download a free app on your phone that reminds you it’s time to exercise).
  • When I’m tired, I will rest. (lose the guilt and get under the covers).
  • I will drink more water and wear cooler clothes. (since many of us are subjected to working in ridiculously hot conditions).

 

Once you’ve thought about your wellbeing, then, and only then, do I recommend that you turn your attention to your profession. Or as I prefer to call it, your vocation:

 

  • I will introduce at least ONE form of Gamification in my classes.
  • I will learn to use ONE tech tool that supports my teaching and my students’ learning.
  • I will try to be more approachable (this is one for me, because many of my students see me as ‘strict’, so they don’t always feel comfortable telling me if there’s an issue). Hey, I’m being transparent with you. Resolutions are meant for me too.
  • I will correct assessments/ assignments within the same week of administering them. (Okay, same-day test markers, this one isn’t on your list … picture me rolling my eyes at you).
  • I will catch up with the latest research in Education (I am personally enjoying the new findings on how to design lessons to promote Optimal Cognitive Retention. But you don’t have to focus here, choose what interests you and run with it). 
  • I will become familiar with terms like Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, Generation Alpha. (Because you have to know what category your students AND you fall in). 
  • I will investigate how AI can help me as an educator (stop thinking that it’s coming and realize, it’s already here.

 

I’m sure you have your own set of resolutions for 2024 and here at 21st Century Educators, we’d love to hear what some of them are. We understand if some are personal and you want to keep those to yourself, but we encourage you to share those that you can, because who knows? You might just inspire someone who wasn’t thinking about setting any resolutions at all. 

 

Can’t wait to hear from you all and on behalf of the team at 21st, we wish you all the best for the New Year! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support through the years. 2024 is going to be bigger and better, so stay tuned!