I love starting a New Year, new beginnings! I love decorating for the New Year and making it a special time, because it’s also half time in the classroom. This is the perfect time for a reset. A time to set new goals and make commitments for the rest of the year.  One way I get my students reflecting about their goals is to review what we have done the first semester. I use photos I have taken the first half of the year to make a video that reviews all of our previous activities. This helps them remember their top 10 activities for the first of the year. My New Year’s Banner is printable and makes a colorful bright display. 

What’s Your Word for the New Year? After reading several books about words and watching the video 212 degrees, we brainstorm a list of important words that will inspire us to finish the year strong.  Students then design their word bracelets!