Did you know that January is named for the Roman god Janus, the spirit of doorways? He is depicted with two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward. Isn't that fitting for this first month of the new year? This little mini lesson is also an opportunity for providing time for a short reflective writing at the beginning of the second half of your school year.
Carve out a few minutes at the beginning of class for Daybook writing that asks students to reflect on where they have been in the last year and to look down the road to where they are going. More than a set of resolutions, the students can envision goals for the New Year. Kind of like a mini bucket list: what do you hope to accomplish in this new beginning?
Setting goals is an important part of achievement. Without goals, students are merely wandering aimlessly down the road. Provide frequent opportunities for students to set and revise goals. For some students, this is a skill that must be learned.
How do you help your students develop their own goals?