Reset the Game Plan: Turning Midyear Momentum into Measurable Wins

Midyear is not a halftime break—it’s your chance to reset, re-aim, and re-energize the work so that the spring semester becomes the strongest stretch of learning all year. The key is an intentional reset of goals and strategies, guided by a growth mindset and a clear plan for action.

January Focus Question:

What one mindset shift will most improve outcomes for your school in the next 90 days—and how will you know?

Core Ideas

1. Reassess with Purpose
   Pull your original school improvement plan and conduct a quick “RAG” review (Red/Amber/Green) on each priority. Keep what’s working, fix what’s stalled, and stop what’s not serving students. This is your reset of the game plan for the remainder of the year.

2. Set Second‑Half SMART Goals
   Translate your reset into a small set (3–5) of SMART goals for instruction, culture, and operations. Encourage teachers and students to set specific, achievable, measurable goals that ladder up to the school’s objectives.

3. Adopt the “There’s Always a Solution” Mindset
   When barriers surface, treat them as problems to be solved rather than proof that goals are unrealistic. Leaders model this with consistent problem‑solving routines..

4. Make Growth Mindset Visible
   Embed quick routines, error analyses, “my next step” reflections, and celebration boards to normalize challenge and perseverance.

5. Build Resilience Systems, Not Just Pep Talks
   Provide stress‑management and coping strategies, distribute leadership, and establish peer support. Protect planning time and promote self‑care so adults can show up at their best.

6. Showcase and Scale Success
   Use newsletters, staff shout‑outs, student features, and social posts to share success stories and celebrate growth. Small wins compound!

90‑Day Action Plan (Quick Start)

• Week 1: Run a 60‑minute RAG reset with your leadership team; publish 3–5 SMART goals to staff and families.

• Week 2: Facilitate goal‑setting mini‑workshops for departments and students; have each team produce a micro‑action plan with milestones.

• Weeks 3–4: Launch growth‑mindset routines in PLCs (error analysis, next‑step reflections) and begin resilience supports (peer circles, calendar‑protected planning time).

Ongoing: Celebrate weekly wins publicly; highlight a teacher and a student story each Friday.