Do you have a Winter Break countdown going? If you’re a teacher, I’m sure you do! There’s nothing better than leaving the classroom for Winter Break and completely checking out of school mode for a couple weeks! I LOVE spending time with my family and enjoying the holidays without any pressure to get schoolwork done. In order to make this happen, I like to put in a little work before break so I can enjoy every second guilt-free! Yes, it’s a little extra effort (when all you want to do is lay on the floor and eat Christmas cookies) but once it’s done, it is SOO worth it. I put together a list of 5 things to do before leaving for winter break.
Here are 5 things I do every year before leaving school for Winter Break:
1. Put away Holiday Decorations
I know, putting away decorations before Christmas is weird and kind of depressing. But I’m telling you, it’s way less sad than coming back in January and having holiday decor in every square inch of your classroom. OR coming in during your break to put it away 😩 I used to do this every year and I 10/10 do not recommend. Now, once the kids leave, I turn on some Christmas music, have some peppermint mocha coffee and get it DONE!
2. Clean Everything!
New year means a fresh start! It is so much better coming back to school in January when you have a clean and organized space. I like to have the kids help me on the last day. We re-organize our classroom library, go through all of our supplies and throw away trash and old papers, and wipe down any and all surfaces we can find! If you want to read more about how I keep my classroom organized using routines, check out this blog post!
3. Plan and Prep for your first week back!
Make the copies, change out the stations, replace the book display with your January read alouds. Have your outline of lesson plans. If report cards are due, I like to make sure all of my grades are entered and comments are written. It seems overwhelming to do all of this before break, but it is so worth it to leave your school bag closed and actually enjoy your time off. One way I make planning easier is by long-term planning and batching my lesson plans! This has saved me hours and hours of planning time! You can find my Curriculum Map and Pacing Guide templates here to get started!
4. Write your thank you notes.
If you are blessed to receive gifts from your students or teammates, writing thank you notes before break is such a time saver. I like to give students a holiday activity to work on (like a Color by Code!) and just get the notes done right away. They are so much easier to write when everything is fresh in your brain, and you aren’t trying to remember which student got you the snowman mug.
5. Embrace the Chaos
The day (or week) before winter break will probably not go smoothly. Routines are different, and the kids are bouncing off the walls with excitement. I like to embrace it and enjoy it. We turn on Christmas music all day long, turn on the fireplace on the Smart Board, and focus on making memories together!
Do you like to get things done before leaving for break too? What’s on your to-do list? Wishing you the happiest of Holidays!
💗 Kelsey
