Making the Most of Weeks before Breaks:
Teaching for Maximum Effectiveness
Here are some tips to make the most of instructional time:
1. Take a look at your school's calendar and bulletins; make note of concert and/or assembly days. Realize that this is a prime time for students to be out of your room for rehearsals, etc. Anticipate ways to help these students keep up with the class; we don't want to punish them for "doing more."
2. If possible, try to complete your chapter, unit, or project before the holidays. While you're planning your lessons, you may wish to add a "floating" day as a buffer. If you can't finish, plan for a stopping point and brief review when you return.
3. Avoid assigning large amounts of homework to students over the holidays. If you do, make sure they start the work before they leave and have what they need to keep working successfully.
4. Consider making a class "to do" list of things to accomplish before the December break. Students will be asking you more frequently, "Are we doing anything in class today?" You can simply refer to your "to do" list.
5. Plan for structured student talking because this is a high-energy time. You may want to use pair work more than group work to control volume and off-task behavior.
5. Don't forget about structure during these days. Use a timer, share expectations, and reset and redirect behavior if students aren't giving you what you want. This is the time to be consistent and for students to see that you mean business.
6. That being said, you may wish to use some time the week of the holiday breaks for a content-supported game or a time to do something less intense - like organizing notebooks, reflecting on goals, and creating excitement for work after the breaks.
7. Avoid the assumption that the holidays are pleasant for everyone. Some students do not look forward the time off because things at home are unstable.
8. Try to get caught up on grading before the next break; you want to make sure you get some down time, too!
1. Take a look at your school's calendar and bulletins; make note of concert and/or assembly days. Realize that this is a prime time for students to be out of your room for rehearsals, etc. Anticipate ways to help these students keep up with the class; we don't want to punish them for "doing more."
2. If possible, try to complete your chapter, unit, or project before the holidays. While you're planning your lessons, you may wish to add a "floating" day as a buffer. If you can't finish, plan for a stopping point and brief review when you return.
3. Avoid assigning large amounts of homework to students over the holidays. If you do, make sure they start the work before they leave and have what they need to keep working successfully.
4. Consider making a class "to do" list of things to accomplish before the December break. Students will be asking you more frequently, "Are we doing anything in class today?" You can simply refer to your "to do" list.
5. Plan for structured student talking because this is a high-energy time. You may want to use pair work more than group work to control volume and off-task behavior.
5. Don't forget about structure during these days. Use a timer, share expectations, and reset and redirect behavior if students aren't giving you what you want. This is the time to be consistent and for students to see that you mean business.
6. That being said, you may wish to use some time the week of the holiday breaks for a content-supported game or a time to do something less intense - like organizing notebooks, reflecting on goals, and creating excitement for work after the breaks.
7. Avoid the assumption that the holidays are pleasant for everyone. Some students do not look forward the time off because things at home are unstable.
8. Try to get caught up on grading before the next break; you want to make sure you get some down time, too!