Things I Won't Change!

As I start my journey as a 5th grade teacher in a new district I am faced with ALOT of changes. They really do things differently than I'm use to and nothing gets you thinking more than when something in your life changes. I can't help but think about the old ways of doing things but I know I need to be open to change. While I'm thinking about the differences I will be faced with, there are a few things I know I will not change in my classroom even though some may not do them in my new district.
1. Morning Meeting: My new district is not a Responsive Classroom district and most don't do a morning meeting. When I heard this I was shocked because it seems to natural for me. I made the decision to fit it in because I have seen how important it is for kids. Morning meeting is a nice transition into the school day and a great way to build community.
2. Brain Breaks: As I get all my new teacher's manuals for curriculum I feel a little over loaded with how much we have to teach. Especially since the curriculum is intense I know I need to fit in brain breaks for my students (and myself). I know they give the kids a chance to relax and it will help them stay focused when we get back to work.
3. Giving something new time: When I usually implement something newI tend to over think it and am quick to change it if it doesn't work right away. I know giving something time will let me see the big picture and really allow me to reflect on if it is working after giving it multiple tries.
4. Teaching with the end in mind: I know this will be hard to do this year since I am learning a whole new curriculum in about 2 weeks but I need to remember the goal of each lesson and unit. I know taking the time to plan a path and vision for where I want my students to end up will allow me to teach with focus and give the kids more of what they need to get to the goal.
5. Collaboration: I am the kind of person who likes to talk things through with people so teacher collaboration is a must for me. Thankfully I have found someone who has a similar style to mine and we have already been bouncing ideas off of each other. I think we grow more and get more ideas when we talk to teachers who have done similar things.