by Rachel Wells
The holiday season seems to make students attention spans… well… shorten. Luckily, we have some tips and tricks to get you through the end of the semester in one piece and help you keep your students focused during the last few weeks before winter break.
Go over classroom expectations
Now is a great time to re-visit classroom rules and expectations, and have students explain what the rules look like in practice. (Pro tip: don’t forget to go over them again when you get back from winter break!)
Maintain regular routines and schedules as much as possible
The holiday time can put a wrench in your regularly scheduled programming but try as best you can to keep up your daily routine until the very last day.
Incorporate holiday fun
Whether you plan out themed activities or play holiday music for your students when they walk into the room – incorporating organized holiday cheer into your classroom is a must.
Take brain breaks
Often times a 30 second dance party can do wonders in getting your students wiggles out and refocused.
Encourage kindness
Read A Little Spot of Christmas or The Grinch and encourage students to show kindness to others.
Provide incentives to work toward
Reward your students showing good behavior with a fun celebration before break. A pajama, hot chocolate, or popcorn party are great winter reward choices.
Of course, no matter how much you try, not everything is going to go smoothly – the holiday season is crazy and hectic, and students aren’t always going to listen. Give yourself some grace and know that you showed up and did your best!
