3 Things Smart Teachers Do Before December Hits [Episode 293]

Heidi 0:01
This is episode 293 of Teacher Approved.

Heidi 0:06
You’re listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I’m Heidi.

Emily 0:14
And I’m Emily. We’re the creators behind Second Story Window, where we give research-based and teacher-approved strategies that make teaching less stressful and more effective. You can check out the show notes and resources from each episode at SecondStoryWindow.net.

Heidi 0:29
We’re so glad you’re tuning in today. Let’s get to the show.

Emily 0:36
Hey there! Thanks for joining us today. In today’s episode, we are talking about how to use November to get ready for December, and we’ve got a simple read aloud idea that brings festive fun into your classroom.

Heidi 0:49
But first, let’s start with a try it tomorrow, where we share a quick win that you can try in your classroom right away. Emily, what is our suggestion for this week?

Emily 0:57
Okay, this week add a fun prompt to your movement directions during transitions, so you can tell the kids to crawl like a cat to the carpet or tiptoe like a ballerina to turn in their paper. It’s just a simple way to add a bit of spark to a stale routine.

Heidi 1:13
And that little bit of spark is important because when the kids are excited to do something, they are more likely to do it without causing trouble. So really, that’s a win for everyone.

Emily 1:23
Yeah, and once you’re done this a few times, you can let students suggest ways to move, or you could even make choosing the movement style a class job or a privilege that students can earn. I kind of like the privilege one better because I think it won’t get old as fast as if it only happens occasionally.

Heidi 1:40
Yeah, that’s true. Novelty has to stay novel in order for it to be engaging. But of course, anytime we are adding spark, we have to add an equal amount of structure. So in this case, it probably means setting your expectations before anyone starts slithering across the floor. You might want to say something like, “If you show me that you can’t crab walk quickly and quietly, everyone goes back to plain old walking.”

Emily 2:01
And plain old walking is so much less fun than crab walking. So most kids will want to keep the privilege.

Heidi 2:09
If you like this idea or anything else we share here on the podcast, would you take a second and give us a five star rating? Ratings and reviews are one way that new listeners find us. So each one really does help us out a lot.

Emily 2:21
Unless this is your first time listening to us, you have heard us talk about the seasons of the school year, and you also know that those don’t line up with the seasons of the calendar. And some transitions between the seasons of the school year happen so gradually that you might not notice things have changed until you’re on the other side.

Heidi 2:40
Yeah, this is especially true with back to school season. It just kind of eases into the season of settling in, and you just roll along with it. You know how it goes. You’re finally getting your feet under you. You’re on top of planning and grading. You feel like a whole new person.

Emily 2:55
Well, at least it feels that way some of the time. But it’s okay because in those seasons when things get off track, all it takes is a little nudge to course correct.

Heidi 3:05
And that’s why we call settling in the golden days of the school year. You’re getting to know this new group of kids. You are figuring out what makes them tick and what it takes to keep your classroom running, and you might even start thinking, “Okay, I’ve got this. We’re in a good place.”

Emily 3:20
Oh, but don’t think that because then you will have jinxed it. So don’t don’t think that because sometime between October and December something’s going to change, and it won’t be like gracefully shifting into a higher gear on your bike. It will be like someone jamming a stick into your spokes, and then you’re going to be flying over the handlebars.

Heidi 3:41
And plus everything you thought you had figured out about running your class this year is gonna fly over the handlebars right along with you.

Emily 3:49
It’s so unfair that this could happen to a teacher as lovely as you are.

Heidi 3:53
And you definitely don’t deserve it. So it might make you wonder if you did something wrong, or maybe if your students are plotting a coup, but it is probably nothing you did, and it’s probably not a coup. It’s just that the energy this time of year tips so hard towards spark that you are clinging to structure for dear life.

Emily 4:11
And if hyper kids were not enough, this is also the same moment the interruptions to your routine start to double. Suddenly, there’s all the holiday programs, class parties, and extra assemblies to plan around.

Heidi 4:24
And not to mention all the extra work that is piling up in your personal life. It is a lot.

Emily 4:30
It really is, and it’s inescapable. Even if you don’t do a single thing differently, the outside world is moving into festive overdrive, and so that energy will pour into your classroom whether you invite it or not.

Heidi 4:42
But there’s some good news. You don’t have to wait until you’re flying over the handlebars to get ready. One of the ideas that we talk about in our book, Structure and Spark, is that a lot of classroom disruptions arrive on a predictable schedule.

Emily 4:56
And that’s good news, you say?

Heidi 4:58
Well, it is. Kind of. Yes, we can’t avoid it, but we can prepare for it, and that is why the month of November is on the calendar.

Emily 5:08
It was really nice of those calendar makers to set aside this month for us.

Heidi 5:12
You know, it really was. So let’s repay them by using November to make thoughtful decisions before December’s demands take over, and we have got some tips to help you out. Emily, why don’t you tell us about the first one?

Emily 5:25
Well, the first thing you need to do is to sort the glass from the plastic. And no, this is not about recycling.

Heidi 5:32
Although that is important.

Emily 5:33
Yes, but in this case, we’re talking about everyone’s favorite pastime. I mean, I know I am a pro at this: juggling.

Heidi 5:40
I’ve often said that about you that nobody does it better. And whether you know it or not, you are probably also an expert at juggling. So for years, I have heard reference to juggling with glass balls versus plastic. So I finally took the time to look at the quote. This was reported on Twitter as something author Nora Roberts said about work-life balance. So she said, the key to juggling is to know that some of the balls you have in the air are made of plastic and some are made of glass. And if you drop a plastic ball, it bounces, no harm done. If you drop a glass ball, it shatters.

Heidi 6:14
So you have to know which balls are glass and which are plastic, and prioritize catching the glass ones. The balls don’t represent family or work. There are separate balls for everything that goes into each of those categories, like a project deadline or a crazy sock day at school. If you’re juggling 55 balls, some are going to drop. So you have to focus not on broad categories, but on the glass balls.

Emily 6:38
Ah, I love that quote. It gives such a clear visual. Between now and winter break, something is going to drop. Probably a lot of somethings. You are not going to get everything done, and it is a lot easier to make peace with that now than in the middle of December, when you can barely remember what day it is, let alone what your priorities are. But everything feels important.

Heidi 6:59
Yes. So let’s put this juggling idea into practice. Since this is a teacher podcast, we are going to focus just on the teaching tasks. But next week we are tackling the other half of December, everything waiting for you at home.

Emily 7:14
So thinking of your classroom, your first step is to start by figuring out what has to happen between now and winter break. Then we’re going to push a bit past December and think about January. Ask yourself what needs to be ready for those first few days back after winter break. Unless you want to spend your time off juggling 15 new glass balls, this step is very important.

Heidi 7:37
Now, by this point, your list is probably getting pretty long, but don’t let that overwhelm you, because the next step is to figure out what you can drop. Start by finding the tasks without any real consequences. Maybe you always decorate your classroom in December with a fun penguin theme. If you don’t feel like you can give your energy to it this year, drop it and just watch it bounce away.

Emily 8:00
When you’ve weeded out the obvious stuff, take a closer look at what’s left. Are there things that you can push until later? Things you could simplify? Things you’re only doing because someone else expects you to do them?

Heidi 8:12
These types of tasks are tricky because they might feel urgent, but are they actually essential? If not, you can add them to the plastic pile.

Emily 8:21
And don’t let this sound like you have to cut out all the fun. Just because a task might be plastic doesn’t mean you have to toss it. It just means that when it’s December 18 and your energy tank has dropped below empty, you don’t have to make another decision. You already know exactly what you can release.

Heidi 8:39
Once you have sorted the glass from the plastic. Our second tip is to turn that list into a plan. There’s a difference between having a to-do list and having a workable plan. A list tells you what needs to happen. A plan accounts for when and how you will make it happen.

Emily 8:55
And doing this in November is so important because right now you still have options. So pull out your calendar and decide when you’ll do each important task instead of assuming you’ll find time later.

Heidi 9:07
Yeah, it’s a lot easier to find time now than to have to stitch together minutes from all of the scraps that are left in your schedule. So if you want to catch up on all of your grading so that you can come back from break and be ready to fill out term two report cards, pick the day to tackle it. Maybe you can get away with showing Muppets Christmas Carol to your class one afternoon while you work on grades. We won’t tell.

Emily 9:28
Hey, I was at my kid’s school the other day, and as I walked past the class, they were watching Pocahontas. So I don’t know what was happening in there. But I didn’t tell on them because teachers got to do what she’s got to do. But maybe you’ll just take the stack home and then you can enter grades while you’re watching Muppets Christmas Carol from the comfort of your couch. But either way, Muppets Christmas Carol is essential. We’ve decided.

Heidi 9:54
Oh, absolutely. We need some cheeses for us meeces. But whatever option you choose, write it down so you don’t forget, and so you don’t let anything else steal that spot.

Emily 10:06
Another way to make a plan is to not make a plan, and that is our third tip. By that we mean avoid filling every available spot on your calendar. Leaving empty space gives you room to move things around if necessary.

Heidi 10:20
Right, because if you are unfortunately out with stomach flu for three days, the work won’t magically disappear. And in fact, as teachers well know, taking time off creates even more work.

Emily 10:32
And this time of year, even good things can catch you off guard. If you set aside Thursday night to lesson plan and then realize that’s the same night as your niece’s dance recital, how great would it feel to look at your calendar and see you’ve got a good block of time available for lesson planning in a couple days?

Heidi 10:48
So even though we are trying to be as strategic and efficient as possible, our goal really is not strategic efficiency. We’re just trying to make enough decisions ahead of time so that you can adjust when things go sideways.

Emily 11:03
Or if you want a catchier phrase, prepare for the predictable so you have room for the unpredictable. The goal is to make our time richer, not cram it full of more work.

Heidi 11:13
When you sort the glass from the plastic, turn your list into a plan, and leave room for real life, think about where this leaves you. What would it feel like to walk out the school doors on the last day of school in December, knowing that you have handled all of the essentials?

Emily 11:28
Not only did you stay on track with your lessons, but your room is in order, and best of all, January’s first few days are ready to go. That way, you aren’t spending your time off work figuring out how to come back to work.

Heidi 11:41
Of course, knowing you should prepare is one thing; sitting down and doing it is another. So that’s why we are hosting Reclaim Your Winter Break, a free four-day challenge happening November 15th to the 18th.

Emily 11:53
In this challenge, we’re going to work through all of this together, and by the end, you won’t be holding a list of good intentions. You will have a finished plan built around all the tasks you can’t let drop.

Heidi 12:04
Because it’s happening in November, you still have plenty of time to make thoughtful choices instead of reacting to whatever feels urgent. You can sign up for free at secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak. Your most relaxing winter break starts right now.

Emily 12:21
Now for our teacher-approved tip of the week, where we share an actionable tip to help you elevate what matters and simplify the rest. Heidi, what do you got for us?

Heidi 12:29
Well, since we have been looking ahead today, let’s look ahead from another angle. Instead of your school work, let’s talk about some school fun. If you love reading aloud, start rounding up seasonal picture books now. You can put holds at the library, borrow from other teachers, or check thrift stores. There are so many fun options that you could easily read five different titles a day and still not get through them all.

Emily 12:54
That’s a good problem to have, of course. Once you have your title, steal a few minutes every day, or at least a couple times a week to read aloud one of your books. Even big kids benefit from hearing picture books, even if they don’t want to admit it.

Heidi 13:07
And in the spirit of dropping those plastic ball tasks, keep this simple: just get a stack of books and set a class challenge to read them all before winter break. But if you can manage to juggle another plastic ball, you could make it a little more special. Emily, I think you did something like this with your class.

Emily 13:24
Yeah, I used an advent calendar to get through all the read alouds I wanted to do in December. And so, one way you could do this that would probably be easy would be wrapping the books, and you can unwrap a book every day. But the way I did it was I printed out little book covers of each of the books that I loved and wanted to do, and I slid those inside of an advent calendar with pockets for the days. So each day we would just pull out, see which book was in the advent calendar, and then read that book. It just was so much fun and a great way to add some magic just by reading some seasonal books.

Heidi 14:00
And reading aloud this time of year has another bonus. It’s a great energy reset. You can think of this as a low spark way to have some festive fun. So pull out a seasonal read aloud next time the room needs to feel a little more grounded and in control.

Heidi 14:16
Okay, to wrap up the show, we are sharing what we’re giving extra credit to this week. Emily, what gets you extra credit?

Emily 14:21
I’m giving extra credit to the new flavor of Barebell’s protein bars, which are my favorite. That flavor is called Corn Crunch, and I know what you’re thinking. I don’t want to eat corn in my protein bar, but I am telling you, it is so good. The flavors remind me of like a buttery, salty caramel corn with chocolate. So it was a very good surprise, and I have switched it, I think, to my number one Barebell spot, which for a good year was held by peanut butter.

Heidi 14:55
I know, that’s a big switch for you.

Emily 14:57
I know. Maybe it’s because I’m sick of peanut butter.

Heidi 15:02
And that sounds way better than what I was picturing with you know the corn kid. It has the juice.

Emily 15:09
I’ve had the like mix of his little thing that’s put into a song. You know, I’ve had that stuck in my head ever since I’ve been enjoying these protein bars. So that is a side effect, unfortunately.

Heidi 15:20
They should probably put that on the wrapper.

Emily 15:22
What are you giving extra credit to, Heidi?

Heidi 15:24
I am giving extra credit to the National Park Puzzle Badge Banner.

Emily 15:29
Okay.

Heidi 15:30
So I got this for Emily’s son for Christmas. So everyone, keep it quiet. So what this is is little badges, you know, like pin buttons that are puzzles, and there’s one for each national park, and then there’s a banner that you can hang up so you can put each of the badges on the banner. I guess maybe the idea is that like after you visit the park, you could do that. But you know, we’re just gonna put them all on the banner. And I thought this would be such a fun gift for our little guy, because he is first and foremost a completionist. He loves loves to do things that have an end, and he also really is into history and learning about things. So I just thought this was a good crossover. I put a link to this in the show notes in case anyone else wants to grab this for the holidays.

Emily 16:20
He’s gonna love it.

Heidi 16:21
Well, that is it for today’s episode. Take a few minutes to sort the glass from the plastic, turn your list into a plan, and leave room for real life. And if you would like help doing all of that, come join our free four-day challenge: Reclaim Your Winter Break, November 15th through the 18th, and you can sign up for free at secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak.

Heidi 16:44
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Approved. I’m Heidi.

Emily 16:48
And I’m Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Heidi 16:55
You can connect with us and other teachers in the Teacher Approved Facebook group. We’ll see you here next week. Bye for now.

Emily 17:00
Bye.