- Jan 6
Refresh. Reset. Re-Engage.
- Sara Martinez
- Strategy Tips
How to make the most of your January reset - the GLAD® way
Back from winter break.
New year.
New energy… or at least new potential energy. 😉
The days after winter vacation are a sweet spot for teachers.
Students are rested (mostly).
Routines are rusty.
And everyone is ready for a reset.
This is the perfect moment to refresh key Project GLAD strategies—without overhauling everything.
Small shifts.
Big payoff.
Let’s walk through a few high-impact resets that work beautifully in January.
1. Reset the Seating = Reset the Energy
January is an ideal time to reconfigure teams.
New seating communicates, “we’re starting fresh.”
Try something different:
Instead of teams of four, experiment with groups of six.
Here’s how:
Two teams per grouping of six
Three students on each side
Still heterogeneous
Still purposeful
Students notice the change immediately—and lean in.
2. Fresh Team Names (Tied to Content!)
New teams deserve new names.
YES - continue to associate a color with each team, but give the teams academic names.
Examples by content area:
Math: Hexagon, Quadrilateral, Pentagon, Rhombus, Parallelogram
Science: Skeletal, Integumentary, Muscular, Endocrine, Respiratory
ELA: Biography, Fantasy, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Memoir
Social Studies: Tundra, Grassland, Aquatic, Forest, Arctic
This subtle move:
Builds academic language
Reinforces vocabulary
Bonus?
You can reference team names during instruction all day long.
3. Refresh the T-Graph for Social Skills
Your initial T-Graph may still be up from September.
That’s okay.
January is a great time to reintroduce it intentionally.
Easy refresh ideas:
New social skill promoting teamwork
New team points (posted right beside the TGraph)
Update the background color
If you’ve been using yellow, consider switching to a light blue or another soft color.
Why?
It signals “new phase”
It catches attention again
Students need reminders—especially after a long break.
This is support, not backtracking.
4. Re-Launch Numbered Heads (Yes—Again!)
If Numbered Heads has faded… bring it back strong.
January is ideal for a re-orientation:
-
Explain the why again
First ask STUDENTS why using heads together and pulling numbered heads is important. THEN augment their responses with a basic explanation how Numbered Heads provides a way for everyone to have the chance to share ideas and then get an equal chance to report out for their team.
Ask your students - "Why don't we just raise hands and call on students with their hands raised instead?"
Whole class question - "heads together" - draw a number and select a team. Remember, only 4 numbers rather than individual popsicle sticks for every students' name.
The reporter is the mouthpiece of the TEAM'S brain
"I don't know..." "Heads back together."
Why Numbered Heads matters (from a teacher's perspective):
Increases engagement
Boosts language production
Supports with scaffolding
Builds accountability
Practices the TGraph social skill
And let’s be honest—
It keeps everyone on their toes (students and teachers alike).
5. Start the Year Strong with Strong Foundations
If January feels bumpy, it’s not a failure.
It’s feedback.
That’s exactly why we created the Setting the Stage resource.
Setting the Stage Resource:
On-demand
One-time purchase
Watch when you need it, as often as you need it
Includes setting up teams, using the TGraph for Social Skills, reestablishing a Zero Noise Signal, Literacy Awards and more management strategies.
Think of it as your:
“Reset button for classroom systems.”
Simple.
Practical.
Immediately usable.
Final Thought
January doesn’t need brand-new systems, GLAD® already has that for you.
It needs a reorientation to clear expectations, intentional structures, and a fresh start.
Small resets matter.
Students feel them.
You feel them.
And they opens the door to learning.
Here’s to a strong, focused, and re-energized second half of the year. ✨
Sara S. Martinez, DIS
Jody Bader, M.Ed.