Term 4 Week 6: End of year & starting a new year

This blog post will focus on some end of year advice and reflection ideas for teachers, as well as some readings to look at over the holidays around setting up for the beginning of a new year. I hope you all have had a rewarding year and that you have a restful holiday, ensuring that you make time for whoever/ whatever matters most in your life.

Ending the school year
There are many good strategies shared at these websites/ on these blog posts. I am sorry that some of these ideas are too late for you to implement this year but there are many that may be helpful.

• Ending the Year on a Positive Note by Mary Beth Hertz
• Finishing the School Year Strong by Larry Ferlazzo
• How to Stay Charged During the Final Weeks of School by Elena Aguilar
• Measuring a Teacher’s Effectiveness Goes Beyond Test Scores by Elena Aguilar
• Previous PD Bite on reflection and thinking about next year

Holiday Reading - refilling our reservoirs

• Term 4's Good Teacher Magazine
• To Teachers: How to Stay Hopeful and Inspired by Elena Aguilar
• Balancing Work and Life: The On-Going Challenge for Educators by Elena Aguilar
• Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts. Innovative teacher Vicki Davis leverages wikis, blogs, podcasts, virtual worlds, and other new media tools to connect students in rural Georgia to the world. http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/
• Teaching the iGeneration by Larry D. Rosen. Our children and youth are immersed in technologies that give them opportunities no previous generation has enjoyed. How will schools respond?

Starting the school year

Secondary students talk about what characteristics of a teacher have the most positive effect on their learning.

• Start the Year Off Right: Ideas for Creating a Happy Classroom by Ken Messersmith
• Setting a Positive Tone: Advice for a New School Year by Karen Rasmussen
• Ten Takeaway Tips for Teaching Critical Thinking: Suggestions from educators at KIPP King Collegiate High School on how to help develop and assess critical thinking skills in your students by Mariko Nobori
• Previous PD Bite on setting up for the beginning of the year