Otis was adjunct faculty at New York University and a guest speaker at The Bank Street College of Education, City College of New York, Touro College and others. Having taught in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Berlin, Germany, Kriegel has taught all of the grades 1st -8th in monolingual, dual language, inclusion as also created and taught a Digital Arts program for a public Middle School in New York City. Starting as an international outdoor adventure guide, Kriegel made his way the classroom afterwards and has been teaching for the past 15 years.
Use these tips to keep your class engaged before and after the break, get some rest, and try not to eat too much! Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect upon what you have accomplished so far and prepare for the intensity of the holiday season. Instead, I like to stay late at school either before or after the break to make sure I'm caught up and ready to teach when we return to the classroom. When this short break rolls around I really try to take a break from the classroom and relax, and I avoid school work. Implementing routines and systems is exciting but takes a lot of energy. The first few months of the school year can be draining, and I'm tired by the time Thanksgiving break rolls around. This will help them know what to expect over this hectic time of the school year. I like to provide a schedule for older students that lays out what we will cover over the holiday season and which assignments students will be tasked with completing.
Use the days leading up to Thanksgiving break to prepare your class for the intensity of the weeks between Thanksgiving and winter vacation. There are end-of-the-unit tests, projects due, and special performances, which can drain students' energy. No matter where you teach, the holiday season is a busy time. When you get back in the classroom, have students get back into the groove by reviewing their accomplishments and setting goals for the weeks between Thanksgiving break and winter break, and beyond.įurther reading: Survive the Holiday Season Prepare Your Class for the Crazy Holiday Season You can even tie this activity into Thanksgiving by presenting the log as a way for students to give "thanks" to themselves and appreciate what they've accomplished so far. They can fill in their accomplishments so far, whether they've had a high test score or improved with time management, and add "victories" as the year progresses. My father, a motivational speaker, always encouraged me to keep a victory log that lists out my personal "wins." Have your class use the days before break to start a victory log of their own, either in a journal or on a page in a notebook.
To keep them engaged, ask students to reflect on their accomplishments with the class curriculum you've covered so far. It's easy for students to lose focus during the short week before Thanksgiving break. Stay away from busy work! It's better to let your students rest over the break and return to your classroom ready to tackle the next topic. If I give homework at all, I go with an assignment that will inspire students to think more deeply about the current class curriculum, such as a reflective writing assignment or a reading assignment that digs deeper into our current studies but doesn't introduce anything new. I usually recommend wrapping up all assignments before a vacation, but not Thanksgiving because the break is so short. Don't Try to Finish Everything Before You Goĭon't stress finishing projects or units before Thanksgiving. Even though it's a short break, keep these tips in mind as the holiday week approaches. You'll also want to make sure both you and your students rest over the long weekend before you ramp up to finish the year strong. But you don't want to lose the momentum you've carefully built, so make sure to keep students engaged before and after the break. Thanksgiving break is a nice respite that both students and teachers gladly welcome.
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