Ten tips for Teachers after the Christmas Break

The Christmas break offers a chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with loved ones. As the holiday season winds down, it’s time for teachers and support staff to gear up for the return to the classroom. This transition can feel daunting, but we’ve put together ten practical tips to help everyone ease back into their routine with confidence and focus. 

1. Organize Your Space 

Starting the new term, it’s great to have a head start on everything you’ll need. Tidying your classroom and decluttering any leftover materials can help things feel more organised, whilst reminding you of the activities you planned before the Christmas break. To get your class feeling more energised for the new school term, you could update your bulletin boards with fresh, engaging displays.  

Most importantly though, this is a chance to restock your supplies and take inventory of items you may need to replenish, ensuring a smooth return. Not everyone will be as organised as you, remember to keep a few spare pens around for any students who come back still in holiday mode!  

2. Review Curriculum Plans 

After the break it can be helpful to revisit your curriculum map and lesson plans to ensure you’re on track and ready for the new term plans. This can also give you the opportunity to make adjustments based on the progress of your class so far and consider different engaging activities or projects that you could add into the upcoming term’s objectives! 

3. Set New Goals 

As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, this is a great opportunity to do some reflection and set some achievable goals for the new school year. Start by establishing clear goals for both yourself and your students. It may help to reflect on your achievements in the previous term and what could be improved. Reflections can help boost your morale going back into work and can help highlight areas you want to work more on in the upcoming year. 

After your reflection, it may be useful to consider introducing a new routine or strategy, based on your learnings from the previous term, to enhance classroom management and or learning outcomes.  

4. Prepare Lesson Plans and Engage with Students 

Having your lesson plans for the first week back ready in advance, can help you feel more organised when you return to the classroom. We recommend including icebreakers or some fun activities, to help your students transition back into their routines. To help create a warm environment you could share your stories from over Christmas with your students and ask them if they would like to share too! Helping the holiday spirits last a little bit longer.  

You can also encourage students to go on their own reflection journey, sharing what they feel has gone well for them and what they would like to improve on this term. This can support you when creating your new year goals and make your students feel involved in this process too.  

5. Communicate with Parents and Guardians 

To help prepare your students for the new school term, it can be helpful to reconnect with parents and guardians by sharing key dates and expectations for the term ahead, so they can help transition the young people back into a routine at home.  

You could do this by sending a welcome-back email or newsletter, updating families on upcoming topics, events and goals for the new term.  

6. Reconnect with Students 

Planning activities that allow you to re-establish rapport with your class can help you to reconnect with your students, helping you and them settle back in for the new school term. This could look like creating opportunities to discuss their aspirations and personal goals for the new year, in turn helping you create objectives for each pupil and plans to best support them.  

7. Reassess Classroom Routines 

Reassess your classroom routines by reviewing and reinforcing classroom expectations and routines. Using the first days back model and practicing key procedures can help to set the tone for a productive new term.  

What is the first days back model? 

The “first days back” model in education typically refers to strategies and practices implemented at the start of a new school term or after a prolonged break, such as summer break or remote learning periods. The goal is to set a positive tone, build relationships, establish routines, and ensure a smooth transition for both students and educators. Here’s what this model generally includes: 

A. Relationship Building 

Focus on Connections: Emphasize re-establishing or building relationships between teachers and students, as well as among peers. 

• Community Activities: Icebreakers, team-building exercises, and activities that encourage collaboration and trust. 

• Check-Ins: Time to talk about how students are feeling and their experiences during the break. 

B. Establishing Routines 

• Reintroducing Procedures: Remind students of classroom rules, expectations, and daily schedules in a way that is engaging rather than overwhelming. 

• Consistency: Ensure routines are predictable to provide students with a sense of stability and safety. 

C. Academic Refresh 

• Reviewing Basics: Begin with a light review of material from the previous term to ease students back into the academic mindset. 

• Diagnostic Assessments: Conduct low-stakes assessments to gauge where students are and identify gaps or strengths. 

D. Prioritizing Emotional Well-being 

• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Activities or lessons designed to help students manage emotions, set goals, and build positive relationships. 

• Open Conversations: Allow students space to share personal stories, concerns, or excitement about returning to school. 

E. Engaging Content 

• Interesting Activities: Start with fun, hands-on projects or engaging lessons that stimulate curiosity and excitement about learning. 

• Student Voice and Choice: Incorporate activities that allow students to share their interests and have a say in their learning journey. 

F. Collaboration and Reflection 

• Teacher Collaboration: Teachers may meet to plan cohesive approaches and align goals for the return. 

• Student Reflection: Activities where students set goals for the term and reflect on their personal and academic aspirations. 

8. Refresh Your Toolbox 

Refreshing your toolbox can help you to feel motivated and excited for the new term. By researching and trying out new teaching tools, apps or resources you can bring new, exciting and engaging activities to the classroom. Your research can also help you to incorporate fresh ideas, reinvigorating your teaching practices, and in turn helping students feel motivated about the new term.  

9. Take Care of Yourself 

One of the biggest challenges can be getting your sleep schedule, diet and other daily habits back on track. We suggest doing this gradually towards the end of the holidays to help get your mind and body eased back into your regular routine. Set aside some time for self-care to help maintain your energy and enthusiasm for teaching!  

Many of us can forget to put self-care back into our routine when we return to work, but it’s important we continue to prioritise it to avoid burnout. Finding time for activities you enjoy, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and doing little things for yourself can help to keep you refreshed.  

10. Collaborate with Colleagues 

Having a strong network around you at work can make you feel more supported. Other educators getting ready to return to work are facing the same transition as you. Touching base with your colleagues to align on shared goals and upcoming events can help you both feel more prepared for the new term. You could also exchange ideas, collaborate on plans and even just share stories about the holiday period, which can make returning to work more enjoyable.   

By tackling these steps, teachers can enter the new term feeling prepared, confident, and ready to inspire their students.