Teaching Tips For The Holidays

December 12, 2014

Let’s face it – this time of year, students are likely to get a bit more rambunctious than usual. With five or more days off from school in their future, they’re counting down the minutes until the bell rings, signaling that the holidays are finally here. However, while students immerse themselves in the excitement that the holiday season brings, for teachers, it’s not all fun and games. In fact, teaching during this time of year can be even more stressful than the first day of school.

But there has to be a way to keep your classroom in order up until the last day of school, right? Of course there is! To help you have a smooth few weeks leading up to the holiday break, check out the following classroom management strategies:

1. Follow Routines: First things first – continue to follow your routines! To prevent students from becoming fidgety in their seats as they watch the clock, stick to the routines you’ve practiced in your classroom since day one. Since this time of year can be hectic, students’ schedules are probably already all over the place – that’s why having a sense of normalcy in the classroom is imperative.
2. Reiterate Rules: It never hurts to revisit your classroom rules. When you start to notice students are getting off task and out of hand, take a few minutes to reinforce what is expected of them behavior wise. Sometimes all it takes is a reminder to get students back on track.
3. Positive Reinforcement: You’re always going to have a handful of students who remain focused during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, so let them know their actions are appreciated! Positive reinforcement is great way to get all students behaving appropriately.
4. Use Their Energy: While enthusiasm might be viewed as having a negative impact on a students’ ability to get things done, you’d be surprised at how much it can help! When developing your lesson plans, design activities that encourage students to be enthusiastic and excited – you know they already have it in them!

By implementing these strategies in your classroom, you can help students be much more productive, even when the holidays consume most of their thoughts. What management techniques will you use in your classroom for the rest of the month? Visit us on our Facebook page and let us know!

For over 60 years, Nickerson Corporation has been supplying educational furniture and equipment to schools in New York and New Jersey. From traditional classroom furniture to library furniture, cafeteria furniture and more, we offer a variety of furniture solutions to ensure that your school functions to its utmost potential. For more information on how we can help, contact us at (631) 666-0200 today!