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2016 GOALS AND PLANS

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Happy New Year, friends 🙂 This month, our #2getherwearebetter series is going to give us all the chance to talk about our plans and goals for the new year ahead.  We are so glad to be able to share those goals with you as well as to hear about YOUR plans and goals, too.  We hope that you’ll share your plans to tackle your goals on social media, as we will, so we’ll all be able to watch each other strive to achieve those goals one by one!

 

Just incase you’ve missed any of our previous posts, you can get caught up on the juicy topics and content that we’ve brought your way since April by clicking the links below! 🙂
Now, let’s dive into the new year together, shall we?
I’m going to keep this post FOCUSED on how my “one little word”, FOCUS will be my word of the year in EVERYTHING I do in 2016 in my classroom, in my business, and in my personal life.
There are a few things that I am going to FOCUS on improving at school this year.
I want to FOCUS on having even HIGHER expectations for my kiddos academically and behaviorally.  I plan to tackle that goal by being as CLEAR as I possible can with my kiddos about what EXACTLY it is I expect from them.
Good thing our expectations anchor charts are cute, because there is going to be a crazy amount of referencing them come Monday! Get ready, kids! #help #me

 

Another goal that I am going to FOCUS on is my writing instruction.  I feel like if there’s one thing that I’ve never quite found my grove to teach, it’s writing! So as I hunt for opportunities to better myself as a teacher, my FOCUS will be on writing instruction for sure! I have a few blog posts and blog series in mind that I want to sit down to read/note bi-weekly as a place to START with this goal!
Lastly, I want to FOCUS on SPREADING THE WORD in my building about our incredible online teaching community, because there is GOLD for teachers to be found and discovered online, on social media, etc., and I want to share that GOLD with my staff to help them continue to grow as educators as I strive to do each and every day.  I’m going to start by sharing a link with them to the iteachtvnetwork 🙂 And in case you’re just hearing about it, too, click {HERE} to check out the awesome professional development available for FREE by some amazing, passionate, knowledgable, and talented teachers.

 

I have QUITE a few business goals this year as my shop has really continued to grow in 2015.  I’m going to share a FEW of those goals and new directions that my business is going to be taking in the new year!
My first FOCUS is going to be continuing to BE ME and to grow my brand and business by doing what I love and what I’m good at.  In 2015, I’ve learned that video is my jam! I LOVE LOVE LOVE video! I fell in love with it completely this summer when PERISCOPE took off, and I haven’t turned back! I’m going to FOCUS on continuing to build my brand via video including a short video at the end of this post! 🙂 I just LOVE the authenticity that video brings to my business and to my brand, and I’m going to keep on doing just that with video in 2016!
For my videos be sure you join:
Confession: the next thing I am going to FOCUS on makes me sad that I have to make it a goal…. it’s CREATING!!   When my little shop took off in 2013, creating new products was a WEEKLY occurrence!  Now, as my business has grown, I’ve added more to my teacher and entrepreneur plates, and as I’ve broadened my to-dos way beyond the TPT world, creating gets a back seat! However RIGHT NOW – in front of all of you,
I’m going to DECIDE AND DO!
I’ve DECIDED that more creating MUST be on my list in 2016 and that’s what I’m going to DO!!
Additionally, Two HUGE and NEW focuses for my business in 2016 are my brand new NEWSLETTER! {be sure you don’t miss out on a THING and sign up here!} and my fancy schmancy wordpress website that is well underway. {thank you Alexis!}  As I plan out each month, I am going to promise myself to work in study time for EACH of these new pieces of my journey so I can maximize and use them both to benefit my business in every way that I can possibly learn how!

 

Lastly  – I have to focus on me this year.  I have to.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my teacher entrepreneur life.  I love every minute of it all.  But this year, more so than last, Ashley {that’s me} has taken the back seat to the back seat.  So here are some things I plan to FOCUS on for ME in 2016.
Y’all.  I used to work out 7 days a week.  I’m not sure I even know where my gym shoes are right this minute.  Good gravy.   The GYM/zumba WILL be a focus in 2016.  It has to.  It just HAS to.  I KNOW when I get back into a healthy routine of working out slash not eating christmas cookies for three meals a day {oops}, I KNOW it will help give me more FOCUSED energy that I need to tackle the challenges that come along with having a full time teaching job AND a full time teacher entrepreneur life on the side! The gym is goal number one that I MUST focus on finding the swing of again in the first month of 2016.  Period.  I’ll keep y’all updated 🙂
Ok, so I love my friends.  But they’re all over the country.  Literally.  Which makes me feel less guilty about the fact that my macbook/phone usually become my best friends to whom I turn for everything.  It’s true.  So when I tell you that my FOCUS is going to be set a plan to do SOMETHING with my friends once a month, you can’t think that sounds like a terrible effort, okay? That’s MUCH more of an effort than I’ve made in the last year so yes – once a month, into the schedule/planner, down time with friends. 🙂 🙂
And lastly – I want to FOCUS on something {else} that I do just for me.  TPT/blogging/social media are ALL things that I LOVE and that I do for me, but they’re also work! {I’m a workaholic, so it works out as a win win but still…}
So what am I going to do for me, you ask? I’m going to learn how to use my new camera!!
 I got a Canon Rebel t6i a few weeks ago, and I’ve signed up for a 12 week long photography class.  It starts this Wednesday!! It’s every Wednesday night from 7:30-10 and if you know ANYTHING about me at all, you know that this is WAY past my bed time, but STILL I’m so pumped.  BONUS: My sweet teacher friend, Kayla, and I are doing it together!! We are going to use the hashtag #lensesandlattes {and double up on the espresso} for our Wednesday field trips to our photography classes!  I can’t wait to be able to use what I learn about photography in my business side of life, too!! See? Win win, I say!
And because VIDEO tops my list of things to focus on incorporating more of in 2016 – I’ll leave you with a video of a bit more behind my FOCUS of 2016!
Ok – yikes – I’ve got a LOT to FOCUS on!! I better go dig out my 2016 planner and get started ASAP! I hope y’all have had a happy new year!
You can join us by linking up below.  I would also love to hear from you in the comments! What’s your goal(s) for 2016?! Comment below! Let’s tackle these goals together!

 

Comments

  1. 1

    JJ says

    Love your energy! Quick question about the font on the posters,where can I get it? I've fallen in love with it.

  6. 9

    Running Things with Runnels says

    Ashley, I love everything about this post!!! You are dynamite and I can't wait to see what 2016 brings for you!! I think we definitely all struggle with balance. I also so appreciate your tip in the Periscope this morning about mapping out a focus for our word!

  9. 12

    M Whitt says

    I don't think you even understand HOW inspiring you are 🙂 Your energy and your way!! I already know that 2016 is going to amazing for you! Keep rocking it girl!!

    Wishing you all the best in 2016!
    Melanie

  10. 13

    C Hath says

    You are AMAZING friend!! I LOVE that you are going to focus on such great things this year! I am so excited to see where you go this year and to watch your journey continue to be amazing! I LOVE your videos, and just subscribed to your YouTube channel too!! <3

    Mrs. 3rd Grade 

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