As an upper grades teacher, February was always when I came to the conclusion that school planners had done at least one thing right: back-loading vacations. As the year dragged on, I realized that February break and April break and the assorted holidays in between were timed perfectly to help me stay evenly keeled. If those weeklong breaks had come in October and November, I’d never have made it through till June. The school year is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash.
The idea that a school year is a long, gradual climb and not a short burst of intense energy is one that’s sometimes hard for both teachers and students to remember. And what’s more, there are plenty of teachers out there who do it in year-round schools with no long summer vacation and just a few extended breaks.
So how do you keep your battery fresh? How do you refuel and keep yourself running at a decent pace for the school-year marathon? Do you have daily rituals? Weekend rituals? Ways to clear your head and splash cold water on your weary soul?
It’s getting to be that time of year. Share your ideas with us today!
I agree that it is a marathon and I think that is why teachers wish for snow days as much as students do in January, February and March. Those months can drag on without many breaks. To keep myself refreshed in my classroom, I try and enjoy all the special holidays and occasions in these winter months and plan projects accordingly. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Black History Month, Valentines, President’s Day, the 100th day of School, and Dental Health Month are all occasions to celebrate in my classroom and keep my fresh!
I would love to hear what others are doing too!