Get Back On Track After Winter Break

                                                               Image by Oberholster Venita from Pixabay

There’s no magic trick to getting your class back on course after winter break, but there are a few steps you can take to ease the changeover.

A smooth transition depends on your mindset. Rules and routines won't fall into place at once if you teach little ones.

Everyone will have a few limit testers and criers when their class returns. We must be proactive, consistent, and compassionate with ourselves and our kiddos.

                                                             Image by Prawny from Pixabay

Here are four steps to help you keep the procedures and the fun going.

1. Set your intentions for the day with a simple guided meditation. I feel calmer and more focused when I do this consistently.

2. Make sure everything is ready for your lessons. Some teachers had their lessons written before Winter Break. For those who did it, I salute you! I prepared mine while I was off.

3. Review classroom procedures and expectations in the morning.

4. The holidays are over, but not all the jolly is gone. A classroom snowman will be introduced to my students.

Like Elf on the Shelf, the snowman will arrive with an introductory letter. Each week in January, he’ll bring us a fun wintry activity to do.

                                                                                Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Week 1- Classroom New Year’s Party Box

We’re going to do a Noontime New Year’s Countdown, so January coloring pages, party hats, noisemakers, and a writing prompt for a New Year’s Resolution will be included in our box.

                                                                                  

Week 2- The Snowy Day Box

The Mailbox Magazine has a cute activity that my kids enjoy. Children recreate the front cover of The Snowy Day after reading it.

This box will hold The Snowy Day, Peter cutouts, rectangles in different sizes to be used as the buildings in the background, white, blue, and purple paint, white glitter, and large paper to paint on.

                                                                                                           

Week 3- The Mitten Box

This is a popular activity that goes with The Mitten. The children will retell the story after a read aloud of the book. There’s an adorable poem inspired by the book on firstgradewow.blogspot.com. There are free character masks available for the book on Jan Brett’s website.

This box will have The Mitten, a white sheet to use as the mitten (drape it like a tent between two chairs and the children sit inside), The Mitten Poem, and the character masks.

Week 4- Snow Box

You can’t have a snowman mascot and not bring a little snow into the classroom. After reading Snow by Marion Dane Bauer, we will make our own snow.

This box will include Snow and a recipe to make our own snow. You can also purchase classroom snow here.

I hope these suggestions help you and your kiddos transition back to a new term at school.