3 Must-Dos for Teachers This Christmas Break
As Christmas break approaches, have you thought about what you would like to do over the break? Many of us find ourselves caught in the tug-of-war between what we want to do, what we should do, and what our family expects us to do over winter break. Sound familiar? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Today, we’re diving into this very topic: What I believe every teacher should do during their winter break in order to help you feel more rejuvenated and ready to tackle the new year. Trust me, it’s not about adding more to your already full plate or following someone else’s version of "productive rest." Instead, it’s about you!
The Three R’s
When it comes to what every teacher should do on their winter break, I like to think of it as focusing on the three R’s: recharge, reflect, and refocus. These three strategies are not just limited to winter break—they’re applicable to any of our shorter breaks (1-2 weeks long), like spring break or fall break. Even summer break, with its longer duration, can benefit from this approach, although the extra time makes it a bit different. Here’s a blog post, Summer To-Do List for Teachers, on some ideas on how to make your summer vacation more productive.
The First R: Recharge
Recharging your battery is arguably the most important thing you can do during your teacher winter break. After all, the stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas is one of the most challenging times of the school year. No matter how strong your classroom management is or how well you’ve planned your lessons, the energy it takes to make it to break is significant. Then, after the break, you’re looking at a “long slog” until spring break with only a few short holiday weekends like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day. That’s why it’s so important to use this time to truly recharge.
Recharging looks different for everyone. For some, it’s curling up on the couch to binge-watch a favorite show. For others, it’s heading outdoors to go snowshoeing or hitting the trails for a cold-weather run. Some people recharge by connecting with friends and family, while others crave alone time to rest and reset. However YOU choose to recharge, it’s essential to prioritize it.
Extra Tips for Recharging
1. Set Boundaries with Work
The best way to recharge is to truly step away from teacher work. I recommend treating the week before break like a typical week. Plan your lessons, make your copies, and finish your grading so you’re not bringing work home with you. Now if you feel like you need to "catch up" over break, I get it! But limit yourself to one or two small, simple tasks. For instance, I might bring home a few task cards to laminate and cut out while watching a Christmas movie with my family. This allows you to be productive without it taking up too much time.
2. Set Boundaries with Personal Obligations
Holiday events and family gatherings can be wonderful—but also exhausting. Be mindful of how many events you’re committing to and avoid over-scheduling yourself. You don’t need to attend every event, make every gift Pinterest-perfect, or host an elaborate dinner. Simplify where you can and give yourself permission to say "no" when needed. Protect your energy so you’re not starting the new year feeling depleted.
By setting boundaries around both work and personal obligations, you’ll give yourself the space you need to recharge. Take as much time as you need to refill those batteries and to even try to get some spares because you might need them, right?
The Second R: Reflect
The next piece is to really start to reflect on the whole realm of your personal and professional life. Really take a look at it. And I know a lot of us do this because it’s the end of the year, and we naturally begin to reflect. We start preparing for New Year’s resolutions and setting goals. But this time of year is especially valuable for teachers because it’s not just the start of a new calendar year—it’s also the midpoint of the school year. You’re halfway through your school year (give or take a couple of weeks), and this makes it the perfect time to get a pulse check on how things are going.
Take a look at your personal life. How are your relationships? Are you managing your time well? What’s working, and what’s not? Now, shift your reflection to your classroom. Are your transitions working smoothly? Is there something in your whole group instruction that could be tweaked or improved?
Take time to reflect on what’s working well in your classroom, too. When you identify and analyze your successes, you’re more likely to repeat them. If something’s working, keep it up! But also, be honest about what’s not working as well as it could be. This reflection will naturally lead into the third R, which is to refocus.
The Third R: Refocus
When we reflect on what has worked well and what hasn't, it naturally leads us to refocus our efforts. At first, I considered calling this step "reinvent" as part of the three R's, but that didn't quite fit. Reinventing implies starting from scratch, and that’s not what we’re doing here. Instead, the goal is to make small, intentional tweaks that help move the needle forward.
My personal motto is: Be better tomorrow than I was today. By refocusing my efforts and setting clear goals for myself, I can make ongoing improvements. It’s not about scrapping everything you’re doing—unless that’s truly what’s needed. For most of us, refocusing is about minor adjustments to get major results.
Once you've identified an area for improvement—like classroom transitions, for example—ask yourself, "What specific steps can I take to improve this?" Goal setting plays a crucial role here. It’s easy to say, "I’ll do better," but without a clear plan, it’s hard to achieve real progress.
Vision Boards
One effective way to visualize your goals is by creating a vision board. A vision board serves as a visual representation of your goals and aspirations, and it’s a great way to keep your objectives front and center. You can create a vision board in several ways:
Write them down: List your goals on paper or in a digital document.
Use a photo-based physical board: Cut out images or words from magazines and arrange them collage-style on a poster.
Create a digital board: Use digital design tools or apps to compile your images and goals in one place.
The key is to display your vision board somewhere you’ll see it regularly. This visibility provides accountability, motivation, and a reminder to stay intentional with your actions. It also allows you to reassess and adjust as needed.
If you’re looking for a springboard or more guidance on how to refocus your classroom management efforts, I’ve created a Classroom Management Framework Guide. This guide outlines the key components of effective classroom management, like a puzzle where each piece fits together to create a complete system. Inside, you’ll find explanations of each part, real-life examples, and a brainstorming template to help you organize your ideas.
Okay, friend, that pretty much wraps it up on the things that I believe you should prioritize over your Christmas break. I hope you found that the number one thing that you should do is take the time to recharge. And again, the way you recharge is completely up to you. It's not always what your family thinks, what your friends think. It's what you need, and it's okay to say no to some things and yes to others. Also, make sure to take the time to reflect and refocus so that you can help move that needle forward in your personal life and your students' lives as well.
Until next time, I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Want to learn more about what other pieces fit into the classroom management puzzle? Build your teaching toolkit with this FREE Classroom Management Framework Guide. It's your go-to resource for understanding the different systems that contribute to a successful and organized classroom, and a happier you!