As winter break nears, students and teachers need space within the school day to feel relaxed and joyful. November and December can be hectic times in school due to celebrations and without the opportunity to unwind, the stress from the busy holiday rush can make everyone feel overly taxed.

School days in December are often a time to excite students for holidays and the upcoming break. As we continue to adapt to a new “normal” in school, this may lead to heightened social emotional needs resulting in students expressing their overly excited state through their behaviors. To support our students (and ourselves), we should be looking for ways to help students diminish the stress that they may feel outside of school. The good news is that doing so does not require new tips, tools, or techniques.

Despite the various disruptions to the school day learning – such as concerts, book fairs, end of unit celebrations, holiday bazaars and more – Here are six ways we can help students continue to find success and feel comfortable in school this time of year: 

1. Keep routines in place. Students thrive on structure, and routines provide a sense of normalcy for them day in and day out. As much as possible, maintain consistency with your routines to allow students a chance to feel like each day will provide the same sense of peace and safety they have come to associate with your classroom/school.
2. Choose partners for students. While we have worked hard to help students build relationships with each other over the past four months, during this time we need to rewind and put structure back in place to support students. One way we can do this is to return to choosing partners for students. In doing so, we remind students that they will work with a variety of classmates, provide them opportunities to practice working with others, and eliminate the stress associated with trying to partner with their best friend for each activity. 
3. Use MODELing to show students what is expected. At this time of year, it is essential that we continue to model for students how to follow specific expectations. Using an engaging form of modeling for students, we can prepare them to watch a presentation, participate in a group discussion, or use materials for a specific activity. 
4. Use familiar activities. It is important to remember that there are times when we want to pull some of the scaffolding away for students to allow them a chance to show the independence and learning they’ve accomplished, and there are times when we want to put scaffolding back in place to support them. With many disruptions to the typical learning day, students find it easier to succeed when they participate in activities they are familiar with. When choosing activities for morning/advisory meetings or for breaks in learning throughout the day, choose activities that are familiar to students. This will allow them a true break to relax and enjoy the activity.
5. Incorporate structured games (Math/ELA). To help students continue learning and practicing basic concepts, such as math facts or word play, incorporate games into lessons. Before students begin playing games, take a moment to review the important social emotional skills students will utilize such as turn-taking, listening, compromise, and supporting their partner. Choosing games that students are familiar with can help students continue their learning, maintain a positive learning environment, and allow students a chance to have fun while practicing essential skills. 
6. Represent all cultures in your classroom and school. One way to naturally embed some relaxing moments throughout the school day, while maintaining consistency in the routines and procedures, is to use read alouds or music that are holiday themed. While choosing read alouds or music that are related to the holiday season, remember to select a variety that represents different cultures, holidays, celebrations. In doing so, we acknowledge the importance of all cultures and potentially expose students to new learning/areas of interest. Families are an excellent resource as we explore traditions that may be different from our own and a welcome invitation as one way to contribute to the learning in the classroom. 

One of the best ways we can support our students during the holiday season is to maintain as much consistency as possible. In doing so, students are able to relax and feel cared for, enjoy the special events that happen throughout the days, and continue their learning in a way that is productive. 

Written by Sarah Fillion & Dana Januszka 2021