Connetquot Central School District

Slocum fourth graders in Ms. Pinelli’s class welcomed the new year by reflecting on how 2025 went for them. They shared moments and experiences that were challenging and worked together to brainstorm ways to approach those situations differently in the future. During the discussion, students explored why traditional New Year’s resolutions can sometimes feel frustrating, especially when breaking one early in the year can feel discouraging.

Instead of setting a resolution focused on doing or avoiding one specific behavior, students selected a single “overarching word” to guide them throughout 2026. Each student then used the boxes and bullet graphic organizer to think intentionally about how that word could be incorporated into different areas of daily life. To wrap up the activity, students expressed their word for 2026 by writing essays, creating posters and making bookmarks that reflected their personal goals and intentions.