December Holiday Solutions to Common Teacher Challenges

The stretch between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break presents a unique challenge for teachers: we’re juggling end-of-semester deadlines, navigating a classroom full of students whose minds are already on vacation, and trying to manage our own personal holiday stress, which in and of itself is its own kind of chaos. Speaking only in terms of teaching, it’s a time when the pressure to maintain rigor clashes with the reality of dwindling student attention spans.  So how do we strike a delicate balance between keeping learning meaningful and keeping students engaged?

I don’t have THE answer, but I have an answer that works for me.  In this blog post, I’ll break down 2 pain points teachers face in December and practical, low-prep strategies to help you not just survive, but genuinely thrive until the final bell for break rings. 

 Pain Point 1: The "Holiday Haze" (Student Disengagement)

The Problem: You look out at your class and see a sea of blank stares. Students are physically present, but their focus is minimal, and anything that requires work (just forget about deep analytical thinking) feels like pulling teeth. Is this the result of being in school for 4 months or just the time of year in general? Honestly, its probably a combination of both.  That said, the energy required to teach a new, complex concept is simply not worth the return on investment.

Practical Solution: Embrace the Low-Stakes Fun.  Instead of fighting the disengagement, redirect it. December is the perfect time to shift from introducing new skills to applying existing ones in a fun, low-stakes context. Here are a few ways you can do that:

1. Themed Creative Writing: Lean into the seasonal energy for short, engaging assignments. Challenge students to write a short story from the perspective of a disgruntled elf or a six-word memoir about the worst holiday gift they ever received. These activities reinforce narrative structure, word choice, and voice without the weight of a major essay.  You can use these December journal prompts or one of these digital activities as daily creative bell ringers or expand them into a larger assignment.

2.  Review literary concepts through film: Use short films to reinforce literary concepts without losing instructional time. Analyze narrative structure, character archetypes, or thematic elements in carefully selected holiday-themed short films. Students stay engaged, and you still get to sharpen their critical thinking and literary analysis skills in a manageable, high-impact format.  Make it even easier with done-for-you short film resources: “The Time Shop” and “The Real Santa.”

 Pain Point 2: The Post-Break Planning Void

Many teachers are so busy in the lead-up to Winter Break that planning for what comes afterward often gets pushed aside. It’s easy to put it off, assuming there will be time over the holiday to figure it out.

The Problem: Many teachers are so busy leading up to Winter Break that planning for what comes AFTER the break often gets pushed aside.  This is so common since many teachers think they’ll have time over the holiday to figure it out.  I am a reformed one of those teachers myself! Of course, what ends up happening is the stress of planning for the return in January looms over your entire winter break and prevents you from achieving true rest.  Let’s change that!

Practical Solution: Pre-Load the First Days Back. A rested teacher is a better teacher. Protect your break by planning ahead, but only strategically.

The "One-Day Buffer": Give yourself permission to plan only the first day back.  My go-to activity is a New Year one-pager. This is a simple, low-stress, creative activity for students that gives them space to reconnect and chat while still engaging in meaningful reflection and creative expression.   I recently updated this resource to include a reflection sheet for the previous year, so I’ll be adding that activity for my students this year.  The best thing about both activities is that you can print and copy them before you leave for break and walk out knowing you have your day 1 planned.  Plan to leave the rest of the planning until you are rested and back in the classroom rhythm AFTER the break. 

Personally, I like several days planned in advance, so if you need more ideas, be sure to check out these 2 previous blog posts:

New Year, Proven Strategies: How to Re-Engage Students After Winter Break

Give yourself the Gift of Preparation (BEFORE the holiday break)

If you want more totally done-for-you ideas, check out these resources:

*Winter Themed ELA Self-Checking Review Game

*Flashback: The Year in Review interactive Google Slides Activity

*Mega Bundle of Activities

Final Thoughts

December is tough for teachers AND for students.  Making small, shifts in your mindset and teaching strategies can simplify things for you and ease your level of stress.  By embracing low-stakes engagement and pre-loading your January return, you can protect your energy and ensure you get the restful break you deserve.

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