Tips To Make School Exciting After Winter Break
Winter break may not seem like a long time, but it’s long enough to make the first days of the new semester feel like a chore. It takes a minute for students to get back into the groove of things, but it is possible to make the transition smooth for everyone. Here are some tips to make school exciting after winter break.
Open the Floor
Remember what it was like when you came back from winter break? You saw your friends and wanted to get caught up on everything. Don’t shut your students down immediately and force them to get back to work.
Give them time to socialize with their friends so they can get it out of their system. Better yet, consider allowing each student to present their favorite part of winter break in front of the class. Sharing gives them time to ask their classmates questions and brag about their exciting vacations.
Set Goals
With the new year comes new goals. It’s out with the old and in with the new. Instruct your students to clean out their desks. You should do the same before starting class. Come in early or stay late to hang up new decorations.
Consider making a poster board and putting all your students’ names on it. Direct them to write one personal and one academic goal they wish to achieve by the end of the school year. Make a learning objective board for the academic goals. Your students can return the next day with their goals.
Plan Something Exciting
Students returning from winter break need something to look forward to, and that’s where you come in. Plan something big academically so they work hard towards it. A class project is always a great idea, but you can take it a step further and ask the other teachers for their time if they also wish to get their students involved.
It can either be a competition or something a group effort. Projects like launching model rockets are always fun with the right amount of education. Follow the proper procedures to avoid common mistakes when launching. This is a great way to kick off the new semester with a bang.
Review Academic Expectations
With all the fun and excitement, you still need to keep your students grounded and get back to the basics. Start class with a quick review of academic expectations. They had a significant amount of time away from school, so they may have forgotten specific routines.
Remind your kids of these procedures and routines that effectively support a positive learning environment. Don’t worry if you spend an entire class on this task. Reteaching these expectations will anchor your students while fostering their need to learn and grow.
School was exciting before your students went on winter break, and you can make it exciting when they come back just by following these tips.
