Red Tree Blog

With 2025 approaching, many teachers are thinking about the first day back and how it will feel like the first day of school again. It will be exciting, fresh, and full of potential. Just before everything speeds up, some teachers attempt a classroom “reset”. There’s just enough time to make changes before assessments begin and then -poof- it’s Summer. With the first week of break to decompress and catch up at home and the second to work UNPAID to prepare for their return, winter “break” can feel like a sneeze that never came- gone before it started.

My unwarranted advice? Prep for the first day and stop. By working over your break, you will return just as burnt as you left. I know the time away can feel motivating and allow you to think of all the ideas and changes or fun things you can bring to the classroom. No amount of preparation can heal a burnt teacher; only rest can.

Take YOUR break to spend time with yourself and your family. Pick up an old hobby or something new. Even if you only have time to do it during breaks, it will be your holiday hobby and that’s okay. 

Don’t Let the Hype Steal Your Break

Don’t allow the hype of the New Year to steal your much earned break. Resolutions are founded on consumerism that preys on the motivationally driven. They hope to get you excited to see how much better your life will be if you do this thing, buy this course, wear these clothes, and their feeding you a lie. 

The lie is this: you can purchase a new version of yourself, you can’t. That requires time and effort. You can build change into your life without spending a cent.

“Watch your thoughts for they become words,

watch your words for they become actions,

watch your actions, for they become habits,

watch your habits for they become your character,

watch your character for it becomes your destiny.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Start Slower

This New Year I challenge you to not start so aggressively. Start with your mindset and practice it. Using my template below, come up with a list of affirmations that you want to believe about yourself. Tell yourself every day, throughout the day. 

• “I’m taking care of myself.” 
• “I am setting boundaries with ___.” 
• “This is within my control.” 
• “I can do new and hard things.”

Choose your own words, but understand my message- teach yourself to think and speak the change you want to see. Starting with actions will have you bored or burnt in no time, it is rarely a successful tool to long term change. Start with your mind, then move to action.

Don’t Uproot Everything

When you get to action, don’t uproot everything, you will most likely not sustain it. Start with something realistic, like three major changes you want to see in your classroom, and be prepared to make a change to your plan a few times before settling into a routine. Outline it on my template at the bottom with details and have a plan for if your class is having a rough day.

When Self-Doubt Creeps In

When you inevitably doubt yourself or question if your plan is working, as yourself a few questions: 

• If this feels exhausting, how can I get the kids more involved? 
• What can I change to make this more manageable? 
• Is this just an adjustment issue or a structural issue? 

And when you get a routine rolling, DO NOT STOP. Consistency is key. Push through and keep making small adjustments as needed.

Food for thought:

“Start with the end in mind.” — Stephen R. Covey

Write your long-term goals clearly, come up with short-term goals if needed to reach your long-term goal.

Allow yourself to accept that your path may look different than your plan and prepare to be patient and flexible with yourself.

Burn into your brain: Change comes from discipline, not motivation. “Motivation gets you started but discipline keeps you growing.” — John C. Maxwell

Accept that you will still be you at the end of this, you will not become a different person, you are a great teacher and even better for encouraging yourself to continue growing.

Celebrate your wins and share struggles on hard days. Human connection is a powerful tool to growth, having a friend that will listen and not judge or gossip will may surprisingly catapult your growth.

Final Thoughts:

You’ve got this. The best version of yourself doesn’t come from rushing; it comes from consistency, discipline and positive self-talk.

Download my 2025 January reset template here!