I'm not usually one for resolutions. I find that despite good intentions, I typically
revise or abandon one, if not most, of my resolutions by the end of January. Even
when I was young and had to write resolutions as a school assignment, I had a
tough time coming up with ideas. I typically stuck with clichés like “be nicer
to my brother”, “clean my room” and “listen to my parents”.
Maybe this is because, as a Jew, New Year’s feels a little
redundant. We’ve already welcomed our new year, and the celebration of Rosh
Hashanah follows a month
of reflection and introspection.
Nonetheless, when something significant comes to an end there
is a valuable opportunity to think deeply about what was accomplished while
looking ahead with renewed commitment and optimism. So, I’m leaving the past in
the past and giving it a shot.
Here are my Resolutions to Promote Meaningful Inclusion:
- Practice what I preach:
We each must lead
by example. Talking the talk of inclusion is good, and those of us who blog are
particularly adept at it, but if we don’t also walk the walk, our great
intentions are for naught.
- Keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible:
Inclusion is most
successful when committed advocates push the boundaries of what others think is
possible. I will continue to speak out, make waves and create new
opportunities.
- Expand my network, continue my learning:
It is widely
accepted that the best educators are the ones who are actively engaged in
advancing their own learning. I've discovered the rich potential of becoming a
connected educator and growing my Personal Learning Network (PLN) on Twitter (Learn
more about this concept
and follow me: @JewishSpecialEd).
- Seek and embrace new opportunities:
I am grateful for
the many opportunities that have come my way since starting this blog. I’ve
been published in a variety of places,
been invited to speak at conferences and have even been interviewed on a
popular inclusion
podcast! I am looking forward to more in the coming year.
Ben Azzai taught: “Despise no one and call nothing useless. For there is no thing that does not have its place and no person whose hour does not come.” Pirkei Avot 4:3
Be sure you never miss a post from Removing the Stumbling Block:
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