Latest / New Teacher Talk / Ep 175: 3rd Annual Holiday Special: Essential Holiday Break Advice for Beginning Educators

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Ep 175: 3rd Annual Holiday Special: Essential Holiday Break Advice for Beginning Educators · New Teacher Talk

Hey, early career teachers, you are part of the squad now.
Dr.
Beth here.
This holiday edition of New Teacher Talk is our way of
sending you a little seasonal cheer.
As winter break approaches,
calendars fill quickly with events, to-dos,
and competing priorities.
That's why we devoted this episode to reflecting on you and
your students, as well as identifying simple ways to pause,
reflect, and restore your energy during the holidays.
One practice I lean on is to mark off days on my calendar
to slow down, sleep in, and let the hours unfold naturally.
As teachers,
we are always on the go with just about every minute spoken
for.
I break that busy cycle during the holiday by designating
specific days to let the morning, afternoon,
and evening just come to me, without guilt.
Enjoy the remainder of this episode as you hear from fellow
teachers who share their own ways of reflecting,
recharging,
and stepping into the new year with renewed spirit.
My name is Kim,
and I'm a 3rd grade general education teacher.
The best advice I can give new teachers about the holiday
break is to listen to your body.
What you need this year might be different from what you
need next year,
so if you feel like you have some energy and you're ready
to make some plans for winter break,
enjoy those adventures.
If you feel like you need to relax and recharge,
winter break is the ideal time to do so,
wishing you all a very happy holiday season and a healthy
new year.
Hi, my name is Elia Rispon.
I teach at School of Rock and Barrington,
as well as I'm an independent contractor at Montessori
Academy of North Hoffman.
One thing that helps me recharge during the holiday break
is I try to make sure to plan things,
whether I need to get done or do for myself.
So I try to fill up that time for things that I like to do
for myself, or if I can't fill in those days where I'm off,
I just take the time to relax and have a day for myself or
do something spontaneous.
Hi, my name is Kathleen Plucker.
I teach transitional kindergarten in Germantown, Tennessee.
As we head into the holiday break,
I like to do anything that I really feel I need to get done
teaching-wise at the very beginning of the break.
And that way, I'm not thinking about it for the remainder.
I also snooze teaching-related sites on social media.
My name is Joellen Cofield,
and I am a private voice lesson teacher at Naperville
Central High School, Oswego East High School,
and Larkin High School.
One boundary I set during the holidays is just to say no.
Sometimes people want extra lessons or want, you know,
additional guidance and things,
but I have to remember that I need a break, too.
They're on a break,
but if I have a bunch of students telling me that they need
help with something, then I don't get a break.
Hello,
my name is Abigail Jarrett and I'm a first grade teacher.
During the holidays,
I make it a priority to truly recharge and avoid burnout.
I step away from lesson planning, emails,
and grading so I can focus on rest and reconnect with loved
ones.
I used to break to do things that bring me joy.
For example, for me, I like to read for fun,
spending time outdoors,
and slowly unwinding with a cup of hot chocolate.
Taking the intentional time to rejuvenate helps me return
to the classroom refreshed, re-energized,
and ready to give my best to my students.
I hope you all have a great holidays.
Hi, my name is Keona Oshika,
and I teach at Hinsdale Central High School.
I'm the choral accompanist over there,
and looking back over the semester,
I'm most proud of any student in the choir program that
came to the school,
especially freshmen who are new to high school environment,
and it's usually massive students' growth compared to their
middle school, and they adjust it beautifully,
and they learn to work hard to meet my expectation because
I hold very high standards,
and they are doing voice recital right now,
and they are just doing great, and I'm very proud of them.
Hello, my name is Darren Goodwin,
and I'm a preschool teacher within Early Childhood Special
Education.
And if you are as physically and mentally exhausted as I
am,
then I hope you could use a couple of these resets on the
upcoming break.
Spend a little bit of time with your family.
sleeping a little bit maybe watch your favorite TV show but
remember that the students are what makes this profession
worth it and our breaks are fuel for us to show up better
than before
My name is Lonna Kennedy,
and I'm a special education teacher in a K-5 self-contained
classroom.
Because of all my students' individual needs,
my brain is always on the go.
But holiday break reminds me it's okay to turn off that
part of my life.
Leave that family behind and enjoy being part of my
extended family with my husband, my children, my sisters,
their husbands, and their kids.
Hi my name is
Chloe Lilly and I teach at Divine Providence Catholic
School.
One thing that helps me recharge during the holiday is
making sure to spend time with people my own age.
My name is Marissa Voltz and I teach in East Aurora School
District 131.
To avoid teacher burnout, I make sure to do self-care,
whether that is to take care of myself getting a massage or
taking care of myself and making sure I see my family and
my friends relaxing at home and unplugging from the school
work that I do all throughout the week.
Try to leave my work at work and I enjoy my weekends.
Hello teachers,
I am Sydnee Ariel Jackson and I teach Middle School
English.
The best advice that I can give new teachers about the
holiday break is to do exactly what it says.
Take a break.
I mean, day in and day out, weeks, months,
Monday through Friday,
you're pouring all your effort into your students,
your teaching classes and things like that,
but class is over and it's a break.
Take a break and connect with yourself.
You do a lot for everyone else, but don't forget about you.
Hi, my name is Nick Thomas,
and I teach at Morraine Valley Community College in Palos
Hills, Illinois.
I'm the department chair for Fine Arts and Humanities.
And the best advice I can give to new teachers about the
holiday break is,
you have to plan for the holiday break and schedule
accordingly.
With seven different disciplines in my department,
I know what I have to plan for each of the areas so that
I'm not going crazy and everything's combined to the last
minute.
So I take the time a couple weeks before the break begins
so I can start that planning.
And then it helps make a smooth transition and a happy
holiday for Nick.
Thank you for joining us.
Here at New Teacher Talk, we are taking our own advice,
making space to rest, reflect,
and reconnect with our families and friends.
We will return with fresh conversations and inspiration on
Monday, January 5th.
Until then, may your days be filled with peace, laughter,
and the kind of renewal that carries you into the new year
with strength.
From all of us here at New Teacher Talk,
may your holiday season be both restorative