Edutopia: New Years Teaching Resolution

I just read the article written by Elena Aguilar (Teachers: What Are Your Intentions for the New Year?).  It reminds me that we are only a couple months into the new year, and I am already starting to stray from my goals.  My main goal was to improve students studying techniques and improve their writing.  I believe that the seventh grade students that I teach do not have proper studying techniques.  Their writing skills are really poor, and I really believe in writing across the curriculum.  On the first day back from break I incorporated a writing assignment into my social studies class, but since then I have been back to my old ways of teaching.  I think that I get stressed out because I am constantly worrying about teaching the standards.  They can be overwhelming at times.  I strongly believe that students need to effectively communicate their thoughts in a clear and concise manner through writing.  The students are growing up in a digital world, and I believe that students writing skills are diminishing because of this.  It is up to teachers to motivate students to learn.  Ms. Aguilar's writing piece reminds me to stay focused on my goals and to create small short term goals.  This will help me reach my ultimate goal one step at a time.