Who's in the last week countdown? I am!! I am teaming up with some awesome upper grade teachers to bring you some tips to help you keep that last week before Christmas break a MERRY one!! AND, one lucky person will win a fab Winter Prize Bundle!!
Stay consistent with "sprinkles" of Christmas/Holiday fun mixed in here and there. This may sound like a no brainer BUT it has kept me merry and my kiddos calm this past week and I know it will help even more next week. I don't know about you, but the weeks leading up to Christmas break tend to get a little "off track" from our normal routine, structured days that kiddos thrive in get changed or interrupted....testing, Christmas programs, Holiday store, activities, sing-a-longs....just change. Now, change can be good but at times it can lead to a little unraveling and some not so merry days.
I do most of my math and reading in a workshop format...I have kept that format but added little bits/activities and sprinkled a little holiday magic here and there in their rotations. The consistency of keeping our "routines" keeps my kiddos focused and jolly and their teacher a happy camper.
Some of these "sprinkles" have been:
- making ornaments for parents (not done yet)
- I've handed out Elf tags
- We have had daily fun with our kindness elf making cards for a nursing home, letters to firefighters, delivering Christmas pencils to another class just to name a few
In the plans for next week:
Snowflake QTip Angle Snowflakes
Candy Labs from The Science Penguin with Crystal Snowflakes, Cookies and Milk experiments and Elf potions:)
Another tip I have for you is to make sure your have a little pack of "thank you" notes and even a pack of Christmas cards in your bag or desk. Then you can write notes as you need to and not forget anyone:)
Be sure to visit my other teacher friends and read about their tips and make sure you enter our Winter Prize Bundle giveaway!