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With the arrival of 2015, many Utahns are planning new diets and exercise schedules, or pledging to clean out the garage and finish that long-neglected project in the backyard.
But for some parents and educators, the new year brings an opportunity to recommit to helping children succeed in school.
Laney Benedict, a spokeswoman for the Utah PTA, said parents can make a difference by reading with their children, helping with homework and regularly checking their kids' progress through online resources offered by schools.
She also said by January, the midpoint of the academic calendar, parents should have developed a relationship with their child's teacher.
"It is very important," she said, "to keep that line of communication open."
Foxboro Elementary teacher Allison Riddle, a former Utah Teacher of the Year, said the language parents use at home can help keep children motivated. Instead of complimenting children on their intelligence when they succeed, which can lead to feelings of stupidity when they struggle, she said parents should praise their kids' productivity.
"When somebody tells them they worked hard, that's something they can repeat," she said. "You can't always be smart."
For teachers, Riddle said, a good New Year's resolution would be to get out of the classroom and learn from observing their colleagues. She said educators need to take time to reflect on their teaching, and it helps to see others in action.
"Teaching is like being in a cave," she said. "You're tied to that room and you have so many things to focus on within that room with those kids and you forget there's an outside world."
Riddle also said one of her goals is to incorporate more "project-based learning" in her classroom, in which students research parts of a lesson and present to the class rather than sit for a lecture from their teacher. She said the project-based strategy stems from the adage that lecturers learn more about a subject than pupils.
"The one doing most of the talking is the one doing most of the learning," she said.
Nathan Tanner, a University of Utah graduate student who will student-teach at Cottonwood High this spring, said his goals for the year include looking for ways to reach out to English language learners. That includes incorporating visual aids into lessons or using tests throughout the year, or "formative" assessments, to track student progress.
Testing has become a controversial subject, with many criticizing the class time spent on assessments. But Tanner said that unlike year-end summative exams, which can take several hours or even multiple days, formative tests provide a comparatively quick snapshot of whether a student is mastering concepts.
"A formative assessment can take a minute or two. It can be something as easy as taking a poll in the classroom," he said. "They're not tests, per se, but they're used to gauge progress and inform teachers how to prepare for the next day's instruction."
He agreed with Benedict's tip and said a partnership between parents and educators can boost learning.
"The more that teachers can work with families and families can work with teacher," Tanner said, "the more students will get out of the learning experiences they're having at school."
Other parents' resolutions are geared more toward policy decisions made outside the classroom. Rich County parent Jennifer Huefner said she's concerned about federal encroachment into school administration and hopes 2015 can mark a return to limited government.
She said a good resolution for parents would be to contact their state representatives or to help educate their neighbors on issues such as Common Core and local control.
"We need to let our voices be heard and let our opinions be known," Huefner said, "and influence the process for good so we can enjoy the liberties that we've always enjoyed in our country."
Parents sometimes can be apathetic about state politics, she said, or may feel intimidated by the idea of calling lawmakers on the phone. But she added that a simple email can go a long way toward participating in the democratic process.
"I've had some really good experiences," Huefner said. "Both my senator and my House [representative] are really responsive and good to talk to."