Make your start to the year exciting and organised! Education Perfect (EP) has put together a list of 2024 tips to help you kick off your planning and stay ahead of classroom chaos.
New beginnings, new opportunities, new resources!
Without the right resources, the start of a new year can also be a time of great anxiety for teachers and school leaders. If your heart skips a beat, we want it to be because you’re excited – not daunted.
With new demands placed on teachers’ shoulders every year, it’s easier than ever to burn out. It’s important to take steps to manage stress and make the transition back to school as smooth as possible.
Let’s dive into EP’s top tips for starting the new school year!
Reflect and reset
Before leaping into the new year, it’s useful to reflect on what did and didn’t work in the classroom in 2023. What could be improved? What helped you to deepen student relationships? Use this reflection time to set clear goals and intentions for the upcoming year. EP’s downloadable calendar is the perfect tool to help you chart out your objectives and stay organised throughout the year. Click below for exclusive access to your new calendar!
Set realistic resolutions
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and buzz of a new year. Setting realistic resolutions is key to identifying new aspirations and accepting your limits. Consider what you can realistically achieve in your classroom and school environments by taking inspiration from new places. EP’s recent Impact Study provides valuable insights into successful strategies adopted by other schools, including a reflection on 2022’s Australian NAPLAN results. This kind of objective data can help you tailor your goals for maximum student impact. Click below to read our 2022 Impact Report.
Engage students with real-world connections
Bring real-world relevance into your lessons to engage your students in practical, well-rounded ways. Whether it’s through practical case studies, virtual field trips, or bringing industry guests into the classroom, there are almost limitless ways to inspire your students. EP has a range of case studies from across Australia and New Zealand available for you to read through and garner insight from. The schools in each case study discuss relevant topics – from the power of formative assessments to how to enable differentiated learning approaches.
Cultivate a positive classroom culture
Create a classroom environment that fosters positivity, inclusivity and individualism! Start the year with team-building activities, icebreakers, and open discussions to gain an understanding of your students’ personalities and capabilities. Check out our blog for more ideas on how to build a supportive learning community within your classrooms.
Plan with precision
The best way to ensure confidence in a classroom is through organisation. Utilise our new downloadable teacher planner to meticulously plan your lessons, activities, assessments and ideas for the new year! Having a clearly visualised roadmap for the future will not only reduce stress, but also create a positive, structured learning environment for your students.
As we embark on a new academic year together, EP is prepared to equip you with the tools needed to make 2024 your best year yet. Explore our linked resources to craft your own colourful blueprints for success, and make the most of the digital tools ready and waiting for you.
Here’s to a fantastic and fulfilling 2024!