Why does it seem like you finally get into the swing of things and then BAM a break happens? It doesn’t fail. How do you get those students back on track after a long break, like winter break? This can be challenging because your students probably slept in, ate whenever and whatever they wanted, went to their friend’s house often, and stayed up later than usual – less structure definitely!!!!
Getting your students to focus again after break doesn’t have to be a struggle.It will just take some easing back in to a typical school day. Here are 6 tips to help your students, and let’s face it, you, transition smoothly back into your typical day.
Open-Ended Activities
Students have been away from school and
academics for many days now. It is
important that you gradually pull them into the academic school day, but at the
same time letting students know that they are expected to be in “school mode." From the moment my students walk into the
room, I want them to continue expectations that I set for them at the beginning
of the year.
I always, and I mean ALWAYS, use my “Tell Me About It” for bellwork. This is a great
way for students to get out everything they are dying to tell you about break,
but in a structured, fun activity.
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Review Academic Content
This is a great time to review content from
before break. I’m guessing that students
probably didn’t remember everything. Plus, it gives students immediate positive feelings of academic success
on the first day back.
I do try to make these activities
unconventional, hands-on, and/or fun. This
could be anything from open-ended writing prompts, to coloring activities, to cut
and paste activities.
For instance, before break we were learning
3-digit addition with regrouping. We
spent a few months building up to regrouping and after break we are hoping to
jump into subtraction with regrouping. However, I want to make sure my students still remember addition from before break. I will probably have my students do a color by code that’s full of practice but fun because it’s not basic paper/pencil or
maybe my QR code task cards to utilize technology.
Again, review, but different and fun.
Review Routines and Expectations
Do you remember those routines and expectations that you practiced over and over again at the beginning of the year for a few months? Great. Well, guess what? Your students, probably not so much. Well, they may but will probably
need some refreshing.
Most of your students probably enjoyed a lot of freedoms
over the winter break and they may want to try to extend those into your
classroom. It’s different from the
beginning of the year when nerves were keeping students in check. Now, they KNOW you.
It is imperative that you uphold your rules,
consequences, and procedures as early as possible. This way, there is no excuse
for negative behavior. Students need a little reminder that they are back and school and should act accordingly.
Of course, these reviews of routines and expectations
should come at the time that they are happening - snack time procedures before
snack time, restroom procedures before restroom breaks, cafeteria procedures
before lunch, etc. You get the idea: back
to school 2.0.
Get back to routine
They will be tired
Use
the time to do SHORT bursts of activities.
Students will not have the attention they had before vacation; they will
need to work up to that again. 5-10 minute lessons are ideal. Lessons with movements are ideal. Open-ended activities are ideal. These are nothing new to teaching, just be
mindful of using more of it on the first few days back.
The one change that I would recommend is
changing up any groups that you have in the classroom, whether they be academic
or simply seating arrangements.
Sometimes not having those common relationships upon return will help
students focus more and get back on track easier.
Change up Groups
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