Spiral notebook with pencil clipart courtesy of ClassroomClipart.com

“We are approaching a New Year…” Ms. Applewood said. “What would you like to accomplish this year?”

All the Elementrees’s hands went up excitedly as they all wanted to tell her their goals for the future.

Tommy Tomorrow immediately said his goal: “I want to go to the Moon!”

“In your imagination, you can go anywhere,” Ms. Applewood encouraged him.

Ms. Applewood nodded at Bobby Bishop.

“I want to become a chess master,” he said.

“I am sure you are well on your way to mastery,” Ms. Applewood said.

Ms. Applewood nodded toward Cleo Redding, who was stretching up her arm to its maximum height. Normally, Cleo was much more reserved.

“I want to solve the riddle of the Sphinx and learn all the secrets of the Universe,” Cleo said. She was very interested in Egyptian mysteries; her first name was short for Cleopatra. “I think the answer is silence,” she said as she put both of her hands over her mouth and suppressed her laughter.

“It sounds like you have solved it already,” Ms. Applewood said. “Good job. Let that be a lesson to all of us.”

Cynthia Buttons was swaying in her seat and waving her arm high up in the air.

“Yes, Cynthia,” Ms. Applewood said, nodding toward her.

“I want more dolls and dresses and I want to learn more dances,” she said, as she held out her arms to one side and then to the other as if she were dancing with someone.

Abigail Abacus held up an arm as she rattled her abacus with her other hand to get more attention. “Thank you for the musical accompaniment, Abigail,” Ms. Applewood said. “What would you like to accomplish in the New Year?”

“I want to read more math books,” she said as she lifted up a math book from her desk, opened it to a random page, and stuck her nose in it. She laughed to herself at her silliness.

Brian Glass was trying to balance several marbles on his desk as he held up one hand. “Brian, what would you like to achieve?” Ms. Applewood asked him.

“I want more glass marbles,” he said as several of his marbles fell to the floor.

Amy Lockhart held up a paper on which she drew one large X in crayon. “What are you doing with that?” Ms. Applewood asked her.

“This is my buried treasure map. I want to find buried treasure and solve mysteries,” she said.

“I want to go with Amy on treasure hunts,” Trudy Jones said right after her.

“I am sure that the both of you will make many amazing discoveries,” Ms. Applewood said.

“We will with all the Elementrees!” Amy said.

“Very good,” Ms. Applewood said.

Pete Moss patiently held up his arm. “What would you like to achieve, Pete?” Ms. Applewood asked him.

“I want to meet the fairies and the gnomes,” he said.

“I am sure they would be happy to meet you as well,” Ms. Applewood said.

Brenda Books kept reading a book. She probably wanted to read even more books in the New Year.

“You all have very good goals for the New Year. I would like each one of you to add all your goals to an Achievement List. Just by writing down a goal, it is halfway accomplished,” Ms. Applewood said. “This is the power of the written word and of intention.”

Question: What is one thing you would like to achieve in 2016? You can leave a comment by clicking here.