Micro-habits that Multiply Impact and Shift Teaching

January often feels like a second August. Teachers return hopeful and exhausted, with renewed optimism and the hope that this semester will be smoother or more joyful than the one before, while still carrying the weight of the fall. Coaches return with the same mix of optimism and realism. The demands don't slow down. The initiatives don't stop. The To-do list never gets shorter, and the work continues at full speed.

That's why the transition from December to January matters so much, and precisely why small coaching moves can make a significant difference.

In my previous article, “A Coaching Calendar of Hope” (Spangler, 2025), we focused on small acts of encouragement, such as handwritten notes, quiet affirmations, hallway check-ins and gentle pauses, that helped teachers feel seen during a busy month of the year. Our focus was on a clear truth: small actions do not just lift spirits; they shift culture. They restore energy. They rebuild trust. They soften the hard edges of the year.

Please select this link to read the complete article from SmartBrief.