2022 was not the year most people were expecting.
Meant to be our return to normal, it turns out that the year was anything but normal.
Even though the lockdown restrictions were lifted, we still didn’t return to pre-pandemic ways. Many people finished the year feeling tired, burned out and ready for change.
But, that is the great thing about a new year. It always brings the potential for change.
So, if you have promised yourself that you are going to do better and create new habits for your provisional teaching (and beyond), then you need to read this article!
Here we go…
New Year, New Habits For Provisional Teaching In 2023
Why Good Habits Are Important In Teaching
Habits are the things we do again and again. They are our routines and the things that we do automatically throughout the day. Creating good habits can be beneficial in heaps of different ways.
For teaching in particular, good habits can help you to balance your time and energy sources. But more importantly, they can help to create a productive and positive learning environment for the children and for yourself.
Some of the good habits that can help you for the year ahead are:
- Be organised: have a clear plan for what you are going to focus on each day and have the resources on hand to carry out the planned tasks and activities.
- Be prepared: just like a good Girl Guide, being prepared can make the Centre run smoother. Make sure you prepare for each day in advance so that you can be more confident and effective when supporting and extending the children.
- Be consistent: consistent rules, routines and expectations can create better learning outcomes as the children will be comfortable in a positive and supportive environment.
As you can see, forming good habits can help you to be a more effective and efficient teacher and also creates an environment of better learning outcomes for the children.
How To Form New Habits
So, how do you form those new habits? Just because you have decided to modify the way you do things, it’s unlikely that you’ll wake up tomorrow with a brand new routine! Habits take time to form, and you may have to retrain yourself slightly.
The best way to get started on those new habits is to start small, be consistent, and make them a part of your daily routine. Choose small things to incorporate into your routine so that they gradually evolve into the habits you want to have.
For example, you could choose to do all your planning for the week on a Sunday afternoon so that you are ready to start the week organised. List which resources you’ll need for the activities you have planned and make a note of anything else you need to gather.
Once you have this small change integrated into your routine, look for something else that you can add to help you achieve your goals. It’s helpful to track your progress and find a way to hold yourself accountable. Also, reflect on making sure the new practices you’ve added actually fit in with the way you like them to work and if they will be sustainable in the long term.
Lastly, be patient with yourself, but persistent. Forming new habits can take time and effort, but with consistent work, you will be able to achieve it.
Why We Must Look Back To Go Forward
As the new year has arrived, you might be thinking about setting goals and intentions to align with those new habits. If you are just beginning or are in the midst of your provisional teaching journey, some of your goals will no doubt be centred around that process.
Before you lock in those intentions, it’s important to look back on what has happened in the last year. Reflection is an important step in the habit-forming process because it allows you to evaluate your past actions and experiences. By reflecting on what has worked in the last year (and what hasn’t), you can adjust your goals and strategies to be more effective this year.
Reflecting back has one other vital benefit. It can help you to identify and overcome obstacles that have prevented you from reaching goals in the past. By knowing what those obstacles are, you can develop a more realistic and achievable plan for the future.
Reflection plays a critical role in helping you identify your strengths and areas to further enhance so that you can make more informed decisions about how you can reach your goals.
How To Set Good Intentions For The Year Ahead
Right, now it’s time to set those 2023 intentions! We’re going to ensure you have the best chance of success by taking into account last year’s successes and modifying last year’s downfalls. Here’s how to do that:
1. Reflect on the past year: Take some time to think about what worked well for you last year, and what didn’t. Write down your successes and challenges, and consider what you learned from them.
2. Identify patterns: Look for patterns in your successes and challenges. What did you do differently when you were successful? What were the common factors that led to your challenges?
3. Set specific, measurable, and achievable goals: Use the insights you gained from reflecting on the past year to set specific, measurable, and achievable goals for the year ahead. Be sure to make your goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. https://steppingforwardtosuccess.co.nz/setting-smart-goals-can-help/
4. Create a plan of action: Once you have your goals set, develop a plan of action that includes specific steps you’ll take to achieve them.
5. Track your progress: Keep track of your progress throughout the year, and adjust your plan as needed. Reflect on what’s working and what isn’t, and make adjustments as needed. Chatting with your mentor will be a good way to monitor your progress.
6. Celebrate your successes: A big part of achievement is celebrating your successes along the way. This will help to keep you motivated.
Not sure how to set the right intentions for your provisional teaching plan? So the first person to have a chat with would be your mentor. However, if you feel you’d like additional support or a different perspective, then book a free discovery call with me now.
If you’d like some extra support as you move through your certification journey, I have resources and packages available.
Find out more about the Roadmap to Certification resource here: https://steppingforwardtosuccess.co.nz/roadmap-navigating-ece-provisional-teaching/ – No waitlist required, it is available now!
Click here to read more about the Roadmap or click here to purchase the Roadmap to Certification ebook for Provisional Certified Teachers. Alternatively, if you are wanting to learn more about my packages, reach out today.