The Christmas season in an elementary classroom is a chaotic time full of energy, emotion, and definitely teacher exhaustion! Gather a few tips on how to survive December in the classroom right here!
In my opinion, December is one of the hardest months of the school year. So many things are happening – open houses, concerts, special productions or visitors, parties, and, of course, holidays.
The lack of routine is a hard thing for students. Still, we really need to remember that there are kids in our classrooms for whom the holidays are NOT a happy time: children whose families are separated or divorced, children who have lost a parent, and children in abusive households. School is a happy, safe place for these little ones, and the anticipation of the holiday break can be stressful. This stress often manifests itself as behavior.
So, how can we as educators help? Besides being AWARE of the issues our students are dealing with, I have 5 suggestions:
Stick to the Regular Routine
Let’s face it: as important as we all know this is, it becomes increasingly difficult to stick to the classroom schedule and maintain daily routines as the holidays creep closer.
But… kids thrive on routine, and it is smart for us to try our utmost to keep things consistent and predictable for them. If you cannot stick to the daily schedule in your classroom, at least consider posting an agenda so that your students are aware of what is coming up each day.
Don’t Stop Working
I know this sounds silly, but in some classrooms, learning stops and is replaced with “craftivities” and coloring.
Not in my classroom.
While introducing new concepts may be next to impossible at this time of year, I keep my students working on quality practice activities related to the content I’ve covered in previous lessons.
Putting this review into a fun format will keep things fresh for your students. I especially love to get my kiddos moving around instead of sitting at their desks.
Spend Some Extra Time on The Arts
This is the perfect time of the year to spend some extra time on the arts. Whether you’re practicing for the holiday concert at your school or simply decorating the halls, music, drama, and visual arts are a perfect fit for the season.
One of my favorite art projects to do at this time of year is creating simple stained-glass pictures with my students.
All you need are coloring pages in a stained glass style, crayons, and baby oil.
Read all about it in this post:
Think Themes!
I love spending time on gingerbread activities in my classroom this time of the year! We read and compare different gingerbread man stories. We do an art project and “gingerbread” ourselves. We write letters to try and convince an animal to eat someone else, and decorating gingerbread cookies is always a hit!
Go With The Flow!
Finally, we all need to learn to ease off on academics and just go with the flow!
Plan a pajama day, watch a holiday movie, bake cookies, or decorate a bulletin board together. Enjoy your students. Relive your own childhood in their excitement.
This is a super time of the year to really bond with your class. Happy December! I’ll see you on the other side!
A Final Thought…
Don’t forget to thank families, volunteers, and other staff members with these free editable thank-you cards! They are part of the Freebie Library you’ll gain access to when you sign up to receive my weekly email.
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