my 2026/2027 school year syllabus

 

Happy Thursday, friends! I thought I'd talk about something a little different today instead of doing the usual weekly happies post I've been doing on Thursdays. This post idea was inspired by the one and only Amy, also known as my personal stylist, dear friend and confidante, color specialist, and blog influencer. Here is my "syllabus" for the new school year...I hope you enjoy reading this and that you're inspired in your own life to make this own kind of list or plan for your year. (August really is like a second new year!) 

I will set my alarm to go off at my favorite time of day: five a.m. and I will try to be out of bed promptly, but when that doesn't always happen, I will give myself grace to sleep in a bit longer.

I will go about my normal morning routine each morning of the week; I will drink my favorite and only cup of hot coffee first thing and I will make the time to do something I love to do each morning, which having a devotional time of reading and prayer, and reading blogs. I need to have enough time to leave my kitchen and home clean before I leave. 

I will dress in outfits that I love and feel confident in; I will only wear things that I know are comfortable enough for me to move around all day, and I will wear only the shoes that never hurt my feet. I will do my best to look put together and cute, while not sacrificing the comfort that is important to me.

I will remember to have ibuprofen in my lunch bag for the times when I am aching from all the walking.

I will be better at food this school year! I will be better about packing healthy lunches and for having a plan for dinner each night of the week by Sunday afternoon. My current Sunday schedule will help me with this: it's church, grocery shopping for anything I forgot to order, meal prep for both dinner that night and for the nights to follow, family dinner at five p.m. each week, then packing up for Monday as I clean the kitchen when my sons leave.  

I will keep saying "yes" to after work events with my work family!

I will have plenty of things to do for the times when I am bored as my student does her independent work. I will keep notebook paper, pens, blank copy paper, a journal, and a book with me at all times. I will keep extras in my work bag and I will keep a few things in the bag that I take with me everywhere she goes. 

I will do my best to assist her teacher in fourth grade this year! I've gotten to see her teacher Robyn this week at work; one day when I got home, I went to Facebook to see how old Robyn is, and y'all. She is a year older than Jonah and Noah; she will literally be like one of my kids, not that I expect to mother her at all. I look forward to getting to know her better and I will try to develop a sweet friendship with her since we'll be together nonstop. I love younger people, and I consider her that. I am really excited about this part of the job! She's precious and I already love her. 

I will communicate with my student's mom by sending her pictures from time to time. I wondered how I would feel if it were my child at school for most of the day, knowing of her illness...and I had the thought to just start communicating with her. I know if it were me in her shoes, I would love an occasional update and maybe a picture of her smiling and having fun. That being said, I will not let this get the better of me, and I will give myself grace for when I'm busy or forget. My focus is the student herself, after all. 

I will try my best to display all the fruits of the Spirit each day as I work and go about the day: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I will remind myself of this constantly as I'm with some students who have annoying tendencies. 

I will be prompt each day, and I will not succumb to the complaining that I hear a lot.

I will not speak of students in a way that is anything less than respectful and loving to them.

I will enjoy my thirty minute break each day to the very best of my ability; I will find a quiet place to unwind or I will see if a friend is available for me to eat with. If a friend isn't available, I'll find somewhere to hide that is quiet and I'll read my book while I eat. 

I will use my free early leaves this school year! This is something I didn't know about last year until late in the year, but essentially I can leave by three one afternoon every month (or every other month) and get paid for the full day.

I will use my personal days as mental health days! This just takes planning beforehand. Mine are already reserved for the days when I'll be traveling. 

I will do my best at everything I do, working as if for the Lord and not for men; I will also have fun and laugh a lot when I mess up, which will be all the time. I will be excited to see my kiddos each and everyday and I will happily hug them when they run up to me and I will encourage them. I will have a smile on my face and I will thoroughly enjoy being back in fourth grade with M for the school year. I won't judge anyone, and I will try to put myself in their shoes when it's something I don't quite understand.

These are the things I want to accomplish for the 2026/2027 school year. (I'm sure I'll add to this at some point as the days progress, so stay tuned for more of this kind of thing.) 

Thanks for reading my blog today, friends! I'll see you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites. Love to all!

Jen 🖤🖤