Welcome back, teacher friends! As we say “good-bye” to winter break and welcome in a new year, it's time to revive the energy and enthusiasm in our classrooms for both our students and ourselves.

The return to school after winter break can be exciting, challenging, and — let’s be honest — exhausting, as we transition from all the holiday festivities/food back into the academic rhythm and daily routines; meal prep, alarms before sunrise, a few-ish cups of coffee, podcasts on the ride to work, the constant repeat of instructions, over stimulation, and then back home to wash the day away only to do it all over again in the morning. Can’t wait!

I took full advantage of this winter break, so the idea of work on Monday is making me dig my heels in. “Nope, you can’t make me! I don’t wanna!”

Yep, I need a little coaxing.

I’m sure I’m not the only teacher out here feeling this way, so let’s take a look some tips and strategies to help make this transition smooth for students and even carve out some time for ourselves. Officially half-way through the school year!

1. Create a Warm Welcome

   This is really for the students, but you do have to live in your space for the school day…win-win! Ease students back into the school routine by creating a warm and welcoming environment. Consider decorating your classroom walls and/or bulletin board with positive messages and engaging displays. Need ideas? I have a few!

   • QR codes that link to interesting articles or videos, such as TED-Ed

   • Coloring pages or crossword puzzles posted around the room for brain-breaks

   • Check out this article for even more ideas!

   A welcoming space helps set a positive tone for the start of the new term.

2. Reflect and Reset

   Take a moment to reflect on the past semester, celebrate the achievements — big or small. Use this reflection time to reset goals for the upcoming term, both for yourself and your students. This would be a great bellringer for the first day back! Get your students collaborating to develop their own goals, taking ownership of their school year. You can display these goals around the room and even have students “check-in” or reflect as the days pass.

3. Re-establish Routines

   After a break, it's essential to re-establish routines promptly. Review classroom and school expectations, policies and procedures with your students. A quick PowerPoint is great for this! Setting up a clear structure helps create a sense of stability, predictability, and safety, which can be reassuring for both you and your students. Students need boundaries. Set the expectations and be consistent. If you are making edits to existing policies and procedures, now is the perfect time to introduce them. Be sure to explain the new or revised expectation and provide reason(s) for the change.

4. Engage in Icebreaker Activities

   This is a restart. Treat it that way. You’ll need to reestablish the classroom culture. To rekindle the sense of community in your classroom, engage in fun icebreaker activities. This is my Back To School Survival Kit that is great for the beginning of the year and after long breaks. Whether it's sharing holiday experiences, creating "New Year's Resolutions" as a class, or collaborating on a team-building exercise, these activities can foster connections among students and create a positive class dynamic.

5. Set Realistic Goals

   As you plan for the upcoming weeks, set realistic and achievable goals for yourself and your students. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This approach helps avoid feeling overwhelmed and allows for a steady, successful progression throughout the term. For example, I’m working on a large stop motion project for my students and I’ll be breaking it up into four smaller parts that we can progress through for this quarter. This will include progress checks, quizzes, and even smaller worksheets that will help guide students toward the larger goal of the final project.

6. Integrate Holiday Experiences into Lessons

   Connect holiday experiences with classroom lessons to bridge the gap between vacation and academic work. Encourage students to share their holiday stories, and consider incorporating relevant themes into your curriculum. Not only will this add a personal touch to learning but also helps students transition back into a school-ready mindset.

7. Promote a Positive Mindset

   Emphasize the importance of a positive mindset as students return to school. You can do this during bellringer activities or even brain breaks. Carve out time, encouraging students to focus deliberately on their mindset. Discuss the possibilities and opportunities that the new term brings, and help students to embraces challenges as opportunities for learning and even personal growth.

8. Self-Care for Educators

   This is a big one! Best for last. Remember to prioritize your own well-being! Returning to school after a break can be demanding, so make sure to take time for self-care. What does this mean??? It means that you do what you need for your self; mentally and physically. What refreshes, encourages, motivates, inspires, or calms you? Whether it’s meditation, yoga, spending time outdoors, getting your nails or hair done, going to dinner with friends or loved ones, working out, eating healthy, whatever it is that takes care of YOU and nurtures your well-being will positively impact your ability to support your students.

   Get your hands on my Teacher & Life Planner to help you along!

The return to school after winter break is a chance for a fresh start and renewed energy. By creating a welcoming environment, re-establishing routines, and embracing the positive possibilities of the new term, you can set the stage for a successful and fulfilling continuation of the school year. Here's to a fantastic start to the second half of the school year!

Drop a comment below and let me know what helps you get back into the swing of things after winter break.