The Problem: School is back in session but you feel a disconnect between you, your students, and the learning. You want a renewed sense of purpose.

A Solution: Returning from break is tricky. Everyone’s tired from waking up early again. Routines are rusty. Brains are a bit cobwebby. But there’s also a latent energy, a hopefulness, that as the days get longer, new things become possible.

Nudge your students to envision how they can be the hero of their own story this year.

Start by following The Daring English Teacher’s suggestion and invite students to write letters to their future selves. As shared in the blog post, “instruct your students to write about where they are in life and about their goals, hopes, and dreams.” Articulate a dream -> fulfill the dream.

This activity helps students name, remember, or even manifest their purpose as a scholar. It allows them to connect their day-to-day activities with their hopes and dreams.

Change the logistics of this activity to meet the needs of your class. Plan to hand the letters back on the last day of school instead of mailing them, if that’s more realistic. Invite younger students to draw their hopes and dreams. Share your own letter to your future self—it’ll be a great mentor text and your students will appreciate you being real with them.

As students share their goals and start to believe they're achievable, provide continued encouragement. I like The Daring English Teacher's ideas—try an escape room one day, a vision board another. Use bell ringer activities to keep these goals and dreams front of mind.

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For your classroom library: What are your goals, hopes, and dreams? As you map out how you want to improve in service of your students, read Atomic Habits by James Clear. As Clear says, "you do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

A resource to check out: Use these (free) Student Business Cards to tighten up your classroom management while also cultivating a joyful and trusting classroom culture. Win-win, I promise.

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Have a good one and learn everything you can,

Hannah

PS: Does your teacher bestie know about this newsletter yet? If you've found these solutions helpful, would you consider passing along this sign up page?

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