Latest / New Teacher Talk / Ep 173: Thriving in December: A New Teacher's Guide to Surviving the Chaos Before Winter Break

Transcript

Ep 173: Thriving in December: A New Teacher's Guide to Surviving the Chaos Before Winter Break · New Teacher Talk

Hello and welcome to New Teacher Talk.
I'm Dr.
Anna.
and I'm Dr.
Beth.
We're so glad you're here with us today.
Beth, I have to tell you,
I was just looking at the calendar this morning,
and I realized we're heading into December.
How did that happen?
I know the months have just gone by.
It feels like we just started the school year yesterday,
and now we are quickly moving toward winter break.
And you know, December is such a unique month in schools.
It's exciting, chaotic, and honestly,
it's just overwhelming.
Absolutely.
Between holiday parties, assemblies, shortened schedules,
and students who are completely distracted by whatever
celebration is happening in their homes,
it can feel impossible to maintain any sense of normalcy.
But you know, here's one thing,
December doesn't have to derail your entire classroom or
leave you completely burned out.
With some intentional planning and realistic expectations,
you can actually make it through this month feeling
relatively sane.
That's what we want to talk about today.
We're going to cover four key considerations for December.
Managing classroom dynamics,
being strategic with curriculum and instruction,
taking care of yourself, and planning ahead for January.
Grab your coffee, tea,
or whatever is getting you through today and let's just
dive on in.
Let's start with classroom management, because honestly,
this is where December can feel like the wheels are coming
off the bus.
Oh, completely about that.
You know, you've spent months building routines,
establishing expectations and creating a sense of
structure.
And then December hits and suddenly your students are
walking in your door,
talking about what they're getting for Christmas, Hanukkah,
Kwanzaa, or just winter break in general.
And this.
The regular schedule you've carefully crafted?
Forget about it.
There are holiday concerts, early dismissals, field trips,
classroom parties.
Gingerbread math where every student solves math problems
to earn pieces to build a gingerbread character.
Yeah.
Exactly.
So the first thing we want to say to new teachers is this.
Maintaining structure is more important than ever,
but that structure might look different than it did in
October.
Right, so what does that actually mean?
First,
stick to your core routines as much as humanly possible.
If you always start the day with a morning meeting or a
quick warmup activity,
keep doing that even on shortened days.
Those predictable touch points help students feel grounded
when everything else feels chaotic.
They know what to expect,
and that sense of familiarity can actually reduce behavior
issues.
Absolutely.
And here's something I learned the hard way,
communicate schedule changes clearly and repeatedly.
Do not assume your students heard the announcement about
the assembly or remembered that tomorrow is a half day.
Visual schedules are your friend here.
I used to write the day's schedule on the board every
single morning, but in December I'd add extra detail.
After lunch we'll have 20 minutes of math,
then pack up for the concert at 1.30.
Oh, I really like that, Anna.
And now I think we should talk about something that's
really important, but sometimes gets overlooked.
The fact that December can be a really hard time for some
students.
This is so true.
While some kids are bouncing off the walls with excitement
about holidays and family gatherings,
others are dealing with really difficult situations.
Maybe there's financial stress at home, family conflict,
grief over someone who's not at the table this year,
or they don't celebrate any winter holidays and feel left
out.
And you might not even know which students are struggling
because they may not tell you.
So this is where patience and grace becomes absolutely
essential.
If a student who's usually well-behaved is suddenly acting
out or shutting down,
try to respond with curiosity instead of frustration.
I notice you seem to be having a hard time today.
Can I help with anything?
That's great advice, Anna.
And remember that trauma-informed practices are always
important,
but especially during potentially triggering times like
holidays.
Some of our students need extra understanding right now.
The bottom line with classroom management in December is
this.
Hold your boundaries and expectations,
but lead with compassion.
Your students need both structure and empathy to get
through this month.
Okay,
let's talk about what you're really teaching in December,
because this is where a lot of new teachers get stressed
trying to push through the curriculum.
Right,
there's this pressure to stay on pace with your curriculum
map or to teach all the standards before winter break,
but here's some real talk.
December is not the month for introducing complex new
concepts.
Exactly.
Think of December as your review and reinforcement month.
This is your opportunity to spiral back to concepts you
taught earlier in the year and help your students solidify
their understanding.
And the beautiful thing is you can make review fun.
This is the perfect time for game-centered,
project-based activities,
anything that lets students practice skills in engaging
ways.
I couldn't agree more.
For example,
if you're an elementary teacher and you taught addition and
subtraction in September and October,
December is perfect for math games that reinforce those
skills.
You can do holiday themed word problems,
board games that require calculation,
or even cooking activities that involve measurement.
If you're teaching older students,
maybe you focus on review activities that build toward
midterm exams,
or you create a cumulative project that lets students apply
multiple skills they've learned.
I agree.
Key is being strategic and realistic.
Don't try to cram in three new units before break.
You'll stress yourself out.
Your students won't retain the information anyway because
they're already distracted.
And you'll just have to reteach it all in January.
Instead,
think about what will actually stick and will serve your
students well.
What foundational skills do they need more practice with?
What vocabulary or concepts could they review through fun,
low-pressure activities?
And here's another thing.
It's okay to embrace some of those December activities that
maybe aren't strictly academic,
but do build community and joy in your classroom.
Absolutely.
If you want to spend a day doing a STEM challenge where
students build gingerbread houses or design a sleigh that
can carry a certain weight, that's legitimate learning.
You're teaching engineering, problem solving,
collaboration.
Right.
Or maybe you do a literature circle with picture books
about different winter celebrations around the world.
You're building cultural awareness,
practicing reading comprehension,
developing discussion skills.
That's real curriculum.
The point is,
don't feel guilty about making December a little lighter
academically.
Students' brains are already in break mode by mid-month,
so lean into activities that maintain engagement while
reinforcing what they've already learned.
This benefits you too.
You don't have to spend hours planning complex new
lessons.
You can pull from activities you have already done.
Adapt them with a seasonal twist and save your energy for
January when your students are actually ready to dive into
the new material.
One more quick tip.
If you're required to give assessments in December,
try to get them done earlier in the month before the chaos
really ramps up.
Great point, Anna.
That's a great one.
That first week of December is usually still pretty
functional, so if you can assess them,
you'll have much better results than trying to test
students the week before break when they can barely sit
still.
All right, now let's talk about you.
Because December isn't just chaotic for students,
it's exhausting for teachers.
Oh my goodness.
You are managing all the classroom chaos we just talked
about.
Plus, you have evening concerts, faculty meetings,
maybe you're organizing a classroom party,
and on top of all that,
you're trying to navigate your own personal holiday
obligations.
shopping, cooking, traveling, seeing family.
And somehow you're supposed to do all of this while
teaching full-time and probably fighting off whatever cold
or flu is circulating through your classroom.
True.
So let's just say this right now.
You need to prioritize your well-being this month,
and that means being really intentional about what you say
yes to and what you let go.
First, let's talk about setting boundaries.
You do not have to attend every single optional school
event.
If there's a holiday happy hour, but you're exhausted,
it's okay to skip it.
I agree.
And you don't have to DIY elaborate gifts for every
colleague or create Pinterest perfect classroom
decorations.
Your worth as a teacher is not measured by how festive your
door or classroom looks.
Do what brings you joy.
It makes sense for your energy level.
But don't add pressure because you think you should do
something.
Exactly.
Now one thing that can really help during stressful months
is leaning on your community.
If you have teacher friends, colleagues you trust,
or mentors, reach out to them.
This is the perfect time to do that.
Sometimes just venting for 10 minutes in another teacher's
classroom after school can make such a difference.
Just be sure you're venting in the right person's
classroom.
You're reminded that you're not alone,
that other people are feeling the same stress,
and that this chaos is temporary.
I would add,
if you're part of any online teacher communities like
Facebook groups, Discord servers, whatever,
this is a great time to connect there too.
You know,
read what other people have written about their survival
stories, how they've shared their own struggles,
celebrate small wins together.
It's all about collaboration.
And speaking of wins,
let's talk about gratitude for a second.
I know it can feel cheesy,
but there's real research showing that practicing gratitude
reduces stress and improves mental health.
Mm hmm.
And in teaching, even on the hardest days,
there are usually small amounts worth noticing.
Maybe a struggling student finally understands a concept,
or maybe a parent that you've been in communication with
sent a kind email to you.
Maybe you and your students laugh together about something
silly.
Try ending each day by identifying one or two things that
went well, even if the day overall was rough.
It doesn't erase the hard parts,
but it helps you maintain perspective.
And here is the other piece of self-care we have to
mention, physical wellbeing.
I know you're tired and busy and please try to get enough
sleep or at least an extra hour here or there.
Eat somewhat regularly and move your body when you can.
Even if it's just a 10-minute walk around the building
during your lunch break or doing some stretches in your
classroom,
taking care of your physical health directly impacts your
ability to handle stress.
And if you're getting sick,
which is so common this time of year,
actually take a sick day.
Don't become a martyr and drag yourself to school when you
need rest.
Your students will survive with a substitute.
The bottom line is, you cannot pour from an empty cup.
Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's necessary.
Your students need you to be healthy and present,
and you deserve to enjoy this season too.
I agree Anna final topic and this might be the most
important one planning ahead for January.
Yes, here's the mistake a lot of new teachers make.
They get to win or break, they're exhausted,
and they just collapse for two weeks without doing any
planning, which feels great in the moment.
But then you come back in January completely overwhelmed
because you have no idea what you're teaching.
Your classroom is still a mess from December and you're
trying to reorganize everything while also managing
students who forgot every routine you taught them.
So instead,
carve out a little bit of time before break ends,
even just a couple of hours to set yourself up for success
in January.
And let's just break this down practically first before you
leave for break tidy up your classroom,
we all know to all that the last day before break is
chaotic.
But stay an extra hour if you need to clear off your
services organized materials throw away those dried up
markers.
Walking into a clean,
organized space in January will immediately reduce your
stress and help you feel ready to start fresh.
Second, plan at least your first week back,
ideally your first two weeks.
You do not need every detail figured out,
but have a general roadmap of what you are teaching and
what materials you will need.
This is especially important because that first week back
is often hard.
Students are rusty, you readjusting to early mornings.
And if you're trying to plan day to day on top of that,
you'll burn out fast.
Yes, I agree.
And think strategically about January.
Just like we said, December should be review.
That first week or two of January, when you get back,
should focus on reestablishing routines and easing back
into academics.
Plan activities that rebuild your classroom community,
reteach your expectations,
and help students shake off the rust.
Don't jump straight into high stakes testing or complex new
content.
Another thing you can do before break is make a list of
things you want to reset in January.
Maybe classroom management fell apart in December and you
need to revisit certain procedures.
Maybe you want to rearrange your seating chart.
Write it down so you remember.
And here's something that might sound counterintuitive.
Actually take real time off during your break.
Don't spend the entire two weeks working on school stuff.
That's right.
If you plan efficiently before break starts and carve out
one focus planning session during break,
you can genuinely rest for most of that time.
Rest is not lazy.
Rest is how you recharge so you can be effective when you
return to your classroom.
You might come back to find you actually miss your students
and feel excited about teaching again,
which is a such better feeling than dragging yourself back
to school full of drat.
Exactly, Anna.
I couldn't agree more.
The goal with planning ahead is to give yourself the gift
of less stress in January and actual rest during break.
Your future self will thank you.
All right, let's wrap up.
Beth,
what's your number one piece of advice for new teachers
heading into December?
um lower your expectations a little and raise your
compassion a lot both for your students and yourself.
December is just messy but you are going to get through it.
I love that.
My advice is to remember that this is temporary.
The chaos of December can feel endless when you're in it,
but winter break is coming, and January is a fresh start.
You've got this.
And if you need support, reach out to other teachers.
Connect with communities like ours.
And always remember, you are not alone.
Thank you so much for listening to this episode of New
Teacher Talk.
If the episode was helpful,
please share it with a teacher friend who might need to
hear it.
You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts,
and we'd love to hear from you on Instagram and Blue Sky at
New Teacher Talk about how you are surviving December.
Take care of yourselves, educators,
and we'll talk to you next time.