New Beginnings

It always amazes me that very close to, or this year coinciding with, the time when the leaves change color, our Jewish calendar starts a new year. Beginnings are good – a clean slate and a new start. A new year offers us an opportunity for changing, for setting priorities, for trying to do things better this time around.

The problem is that we often revert right back to our old ways – over/under-eating, over/under-exercising, watching too much tv, ignoring our promise to ourselves to better balance work, family/friends, and fun. Still, even though we know it will be difficult, we tell ourselves this time will be different and we’ll be more successful!

It’s something we should remember about our students. They, too, want a new start – to shed their old labels, to begin anew and try to do better. This time they will hand in their homework; they will complete projects on time; they will pay attention in class. Even though it’s hard to change, they will attempt to live up to their own promises.

Teachers and students may not have difficulty with the same behaviors. Usually, teachers had positive experiences in school – otherwise why would they choose to spend their working days in schools? So teachers tend to be good readers. We like to learn. We are at least fairly well organized. But these are important school behaviors that many students, especially those with special needs, find difficult. Disorganization is a common issue for students with learning disabilities, AD/HD, or executive functioning issues.

As teachers, we must remember how difficult it is to change one’s behavior. Then we should give our students the positive reinforcement and encouragement they need to change their own behavior. No matter how small a change, it could be first step towards school success.