Time for change?

New year is always associated with 'new you', resolutions and for a lot of people that means making changes.  For one person that might mean taking part in RED January, for another trying to go Vegan for a month and it is well known that January is the time that gym prices are lowest and attendance to classes is highest. But this year I have noticed discussion around new year's resolutions to be based on wider topics than just health and fitness and it has got me thinking about the things I had intended to change this year.

For me, change is about positivity- when I am teaching a new skill I always give feedback on what students should do rather than what they shouldn't- if you have a clear notion of what it is you should be doing it is far easier to achieve. So for this year, my aims are to write more and read more (academic literature, rather than the endless murder mysteries I tend to consume). It helps that my PhD is also on change, albeit large scale organisation change however the more I read (already doing well on my resolution!) the more I learn the importance of the individual in the process of change.

A few key things I have learned so far:

- Change is usually quite slow
- Individuals must adapt mentally in order for change to be successful
- Those around you need to be on the same page, or support the change you are aiming to make
- Emotion is an important, and often overlooked, factor in the change process

This got me thinking about how I have changed my practice over my career, and how I have encouraged or supported my students to change- did I fully appreciate all of those things in the list above at the time? Probably not!

So, if you are heading into the new term trying to change something about your own practice remember that your energy levels, colleagues, friends and students will all impact on it's success; communicating your intentions to those around you, as well as giving yourself the luxury of some time and space will help this to happen.
If you are working with a challenging student, in whatever guise this may take remember that not only are they still growing and maturing (something I often have to remind student teachers) so they may not be able to regulate and rationalise their emotions as well as you- some days I am still not particularly good at this! But also that their friends and family will also have an impact on their ability to make changes to their views and behaviour- you can't do it on your own!

Above all, I like to keep in mind this image:

Progress will be slow, and there will be setbacks but eventually we will get there if we keep on going and give ourselves permission to have a break now and then.  With that in mind.... only 6 weeks til half term!