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Making New Years Resolutions with students can be a wonderful thing to do in the New Year and a great way to learn what your students with special needs and without special needs are prioritizing. So when it’s time to go back to school after the holidays, see what your third and fourth graders want to do in the new year!
Every year I like to make the same new years resolution. Use my planner the way it’s intended, and every year my planner asks me to make a list of what is most important to me in less than five minutes.
I learn a lot about myself in those five minutes.
Then I wind up basing my goals for the year off, and it’s very helpful.
If you want to learn about your students, making new years resolutions is a great way to get to know your kiddos and give them input on their goals for the year!
Keep reading to learn tips and tricks and ways to cut back on prep time!
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Benefits of Making New Years Resolutions with Students
Making goals is a good life skill to have and one that a lot of adults struggle with.
That’s why it’s good for students to make goals when they’re still under the guidance of a teacher, so they can learn what works for them and what doesn’t.
Also, students who are involved in their goal-making will pick something they care about that motivates them.
This can improve their performance and keep them more involved in school while they’re working towards their goal.
Plus, it’s a fun way to get back in the swing of things after the break that doesn’t require too much prep!
How to Make New Years Resolutions with Students
When making new years resolutions with you’re students, you’re going to want to make sure they know what a resolution is and what elements go into making a good resolution.
I like to give a little lesson to them before they make their goals so that their goals turn out more meaningful.
Now I know what you’re thinking.
I just said this is a low-prep activity, which it is! Because once you’ve made it, you can use it again and again.
Or if you’re looking for a true no-prep activity, you can always purchase my premade version and cut out all the prep time completely!
It’s an interactive slide show that your students can do from their computers. You can guide them through it as a class or have them do it on their own, depending on their ability level.
Plus, kiddos love interactive slide shows with cute clip art and clickable buttons. Super adorable.
Click here to purchase and save tons of time!
What about after?
And after making new years resolutions with students, what should you do with them?
Well, a personal favorite of mine is to use them for my bulletin board. That way, everyone can see what goals my students picked.
If goals are publicly declared, and people know about them, then kids are more likely to stick to them.
Luckily the last page of the slide show is adorable. I recommend printing it out in color after the kids have filled it out, so you’ll have something pretty to put on the board with an adorable picture of them!
Click here to purchase and get a no-prep lesson and a cute bulletin board, all for the price of one!
Final Thoughts
Making New Years Resolutions with students can be a super fun way to get back into the swing of things after a long break.
The benefits are numerous.
- Learn about your students
- Improve motivation
- Teach Goal Setting
Plus, if you purchase my interactive slide show, you can cut way back on prep before break!