One Little Word for the New School Year

September 2, 2019 Links to Literacy My Professional Learning, One Little Word, Setting Goals 2019-2020, New School Year, One Little Word

Over the last few years, I have been choosing “one little word” as a guide for my calendar year on January 1st. But, I have always felt a connection to September as a “new year,” as well. The beginning of the school year has always been a time for a fresh start. I love the opportunity to “begin again” in September. This year, I decided to choose one little word for the new school year. This word will guide my professional life this year.

The word I chose for the 2019-2020 school year is: purpose.

I am going to use the following guiding questions to help me as the school year progresses:

What is my purpose for my work?
How can I use my purpose to effect change?

To remind me of my one little word, I created this sign to post in my office. It will remind me daily that I have a purpose and that I can use my purpose to effect change.

Oh, Happy Day and a Mid-Year Review

July 2, 2019July 4, 2019 Links to Literacy 19 for 2019, One Little Word, Reflections in Life, Setting Goals 19 for 2019, Mid-year reflections, One Little Word

Yesterday, Harell and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. 19 years. We have accomplished a lot in those 19 years. We built a family, he built an IT company, and I built my career in education. We both celebrated our birthdays last week as well. We began dating when I was 22. We have now officially been together for half of my life. And yesterday/today is the official mid-year mark of 2019. Day 182/183 of 365. So I thought it appropriate to take some time to reflect on the goals I set for myself at the beginning of this year.

Too many times, we set goals, or make resolutions, only to not return to them. I want to be a little more purposeful this year. These were my 19 for 2019 in January. As of July 1, 2019, I have crossed out the goals I have attained.

Minimize sugar intake
Increase weight when strength training
~~At least 2 weekend trips with Meg (my college BFF)~~
Plan family trip to Philly
Journal daily (both personally and professionally)
~~Organize home library~~
~~Submit proposals for 5 or more conferences (I always submit to ILA and SoMLA annually, I’d like to add a few more)~~
Write EVERY day
~~Plan a weekend at Hershey Park with my nieces and nephew (it was part of their Christmas present)~~
~~Connect with family and friends~~
Complete several MasterClass classes
Begin a daily visual gratitude journal
Plan family weekend trips
Read 119 books (my 2017 AND 2018 reading seasons weren’t pretty!)
Plan a weekend at the Spa at Hershey with my mom and Chloe
Clean out my email inbox (EEEK!!)
~~Plan monthly adult evenings out (either date nights or with other couples)~~
Lose 23 pounds (I’m putting a specific number out there, because I need to hold myself accountable!)
Plan family trip to Niagara Falls

You can see I have about 3/4 of my goals to work on still. Some of them, I won’t be able to assess until the end of the year. A few of them (specifically the health related items) I will put a laser focus on beginning this month. And a few of them, I started out strong and fizzled early in the year (journal daily, write every day, daily visual gratitude journal). This is the time to renew my commitment to my goals and to finish this year off on a strong note!

Coincidentally, I noted in my January 2, 2019 post, that I read Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis over winter break. I connected (my “One Little Word” for 2019) with many of the lies women tell themselves. Interestingly enough, I am reading her follow up, Girl, Stop Apologizing while on vacation this week, mid-way through the year. In her latest book, she challenges women to stop defining themselves in light of other people and to stop talking themselves out of their dreams. I’ve spent a lot of time this week reflecting on the excuses I need to let go of and the behaviors I need to adopt on my path for growth. I’m thinking about how I can finish the last half of 2019 strong and go into 2020 dreaming big!

Looking Back to Move Forward in the New Year: 19 for 2019

December 31, 2018December 31, 2018 Links to Literacy 18 for 2018, 19 for 2019, Reflections in Life, Setting Goals 19 for 2019, Reflections, Setting Goals

I’m a goal setter and last year, after learning about 18 for 2018, I set 18 goals for 2018. Now, while I pride myself on setting goals, I’m not the best at reaching all of my goals. . . yet! Today, I reflect on the goals I met, the goals I haven’t met. . .yet, and the goals I’m setting for myself for 2019.

18 for 2018

monitor sugar intake – During a challenge at the gym in September, I was able to successfully monitor my sugar intake for about 3 weeks. Within those 3 weeks, I lost about 8 pounds, but more importantly, I was able to quit soda! I have not had a soda since September 18, 2018!
get back in touch with creative side (craft, paint, re-purpose, etc.) I enjoyed many crafty activities in 2018, including beginning Pinterest Parties in which the participants create a craft based on a theme.
weekend at Hotel Hershey (particularly the spa!) I was not able to schedule this in for 2018, so it’s on my list for 2019.
create accent wall in basement We did create an accent wall out of reclaimed wood in the basement.
say “yes” to my kids more I tried this, but I’m not sure I was incredibly successful!
Family Fun Friday Night once a month This, unfortunately, fizzled out pretty quickly in early 2018.
finish 3 puzzles and frame them Never even took the puzzles out of their boxes.
bi-monthly adult evenings out We were fairly successful at this. I forgot to keep count, but there were several times that we went out with other couples in 2018
plan family weekend trip to Philadelphia I wasn’t able to schedule this for 2018, so it’s on my list for 2019.
date night once a month We were able to get several date nights in during 2018, but I don’t think they were monthly.
clean out email in-box (this is a doozy!!) I did not get to this, so it is on my 2019 list.
be in touch with long-time friends I did an OK job with this, but I want to do an even better job in 2019
read every day (2017 was not my best reading season) I did not read every day and 2018 wasn’t my best reading season either. I’ve set a new reading goal for 2019.
increase weight when strength training I started increasing the weight, but I stopped weight training regularly. I hope to get back to it in 2019.
watch Big, Little Lies I binge watched the first season and hope to be able to binge watch the 2nd season when it comes out in 2019.
write EVERY day I was unsuccessful at this, but hope to find, no make, more time for writing in 2019.
create family photo albums I created one family photo album. ONE!
organize home library I was unsuccessful at this in 2018, so have added it to my 2019 goals.

And here are my 19 for 2019

I hope that you are able to take some time to reflect on your 2018 and project what you would like to see in 2019. As the ball drops tonight on another year lived, I am hopeful that you find exactly what you are looking for in the new year!

“Goal” Getter in 2015

January 2, 2015January 2, 2015 Links to Literacy Setting Goals Setting Goals

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed learning. I love to grow in various facets, both personally and professionally. “My Learning Life” is my opportunity to reflect on my learning as a reader, writer, and teacher.

I am a firm believer that the effort we put into something directly correlates to how much we get out of it. Lately though, I feel that I have been spinning in circles. I have been putting forth effort in a lot of different areas, but haven’t been able to really see the benefits in any one area. I think I’m burning the candle at both ends.

So for 2015, I’m going to be a “goal” getter. I have always worked better with set goals because I tend to challenge myself to meet those goals. My hope is that making my goals public will help me hold myself accountable, but will also help me to narrow my foci for 2015 and allow me to put forth effort into a few areas instead of a lot of areas.

Work out 5-6 times a week My ultimate goal is to make this a habit by my birthday (it is one of my 40 Things to do Before 40).
Write every day — my goal is to post 3/4 times a week to daily on this blog in addition to the other writing I do.
Read more — I read every day, but I need to build up my stamina in reading again. I’d like to finish a book a week during the school year and a book a day during breaks and the summer.

That’s it. Three goals. These are three areas that I have tried to work on over the last couple of years, but they always seemed to take a back burner when other things arose. This year, I’m going to make these front and center.