8 Tips for Easy, Organized Holidays in the Classroom
Hey hey, friend!
Let’s talk about HOLIDAYS. Holidays in the classroom…they’re just the BEST, right?! They can be so wonderful and exciting and happy and….STRESSFUL. In the midst of all the fun, it’s easy to get caught up and bogged down by the stress and challenge of coordinating all the things. Testing, early release days, report cards, celebration and party times, personal life events, lesson planning, get volunteers, keep track of gifts you’re giving and receiving, staff meetings, decorating...the list goes on and on and can be SO overwhelming.
So, here are my top 8 tips for keeping holidays in the classroom easy, organized, and relatively stress-free.
1. Plan out the whole month.
I always start by planning out the whole month with the biggest events on the calendar first. Add all your “must-do’s” to the calendar month and then plan the smaller details around those bigger events. Once you know what day your holiday party or celebration will be on, then plan backwards for when you’ll send out information, gather supplies, enlist volunteers, and all that goodness. Also, remember to keep track of your big school and personal life to-do’s as well so nothing falls through the cracks. If you want to get REALLY organized, you could even color code your personal life, school requirements, and holiday details all in different flair pen colors….just for fun! :)
2. Plan the celebration details.
After you know what day your celebration will happen on, then you’ll need to plan out the details and figure out what you need. You’ll probably need to sign up a few volunteers, decide what food and drinks you need for the party, send out the detailed information about the party, keep track fo who is bringing what…all the things! So, figure out what you need for the celebration like food, drinks, craft supplies, utensils, plates, napkins, extra coffee for you! Whatever need to make the party a super enjoyable time for you and your kiddos, add it to your list and send home information to get the help you need. Many parents LOVE to help by volunteering time or sending supplies or bringing you an extra Starbucks. *Wink wink!*
3. Plan fun activities.
A lot of times, teachers think, “Okay, if we just have cupcakes and a movie, we’ll be fine!” And you MIGHT be lucky enough that that will work with your class. However, a lot of groups of kids need some other fun activities to keep their brains occupied and their behavior appropriate. Keeping a similar structure to your normal day only throwing in some fun, holiday-themed activities instead of the normal assignments is a great way to keep excited kids behaving as is normally expected. So, plan some fun activities that go with the season! You can find tons of holiday activities on TPT that are just for fun OR that have an academic component to them! Even these kinds of activities that are still practicing an academic skill are super fun when they’re holiday themed and include a little extra fun, like coloring or glitter or crafting.
So, plan out those fun activity ideas and keep track of what you’ll need for students to complete those activities. These are great items to include on your party information sheet that you send home to parents. Maybe they’ll buy the glitter FOR you!
4. Choose books for the day.
Picking out some books to read aloud throughout your celebration week that are related to the holiday you’re celebrating is a great way to engage kids, but keep them learning at the same time. It would definitely be worth your while to pop into your school’s library to borrow a handful of holiday-themed books to read with your class, so plan out which books to look for first! Make a plan, pop in and grab them, and off you go! Annnnnndddd, adding on a little reading or writing craft, like THESE, is a perfect way to have your kiddos practice all kinds of great literacy skills WHILE they enjoy their holiday fun. It’s a win-win!
5. Follow up with your volunteers.
Once you’ve sent out your holiday celebration information, be sure to follow up with those volunteers to make sure they’re still available to complete the job they said they would…AND to make sure they don’t accidentally forget! Parents usually have a TON on their plates too, so be sure to not get lost in the shuffle by sending a quick note or email to remind them when they’re needed, where they’re needed, and what they’re expected to do. They’ll be super grateful for the kind reminder and think, “Wow, that teacher sure is organized!” Haha!
6. Keep track of your holiday gifts.
For almost EVERY holiday throughout the year, students bring in a few gifts for you, their beloved teacher! So, be sure to keep track of what each student gives you with a quick little sheet. Jot down who brought it, what it was, and maybe have a place to track if you wrote a thank you note to them yet or not. I always wanted to make sure that every student who thought of me on the holiday knew that I thought of them by sending a quick thank you. Which brings me to my next easy tip…
7. Send thank you notes.
This might seem simple and obvious, but sending hand written or personal thank you notes to families and students can go a LONG way. Expressing that gratitude and appreciation can help to build that relationship and take it to a deeper level. I always think that sending a thank you note lets the giver know that I care for them as much as they care about me. So, print or write out a few sweet notes to let them know they made you feel special by thinking of you! There are a few versions of thank you notes included in my editable holiday binder if you need some ideas.
8. Then, breathe!
After you’ve planned all the things so that your day can go as smoothly as possible, bundle it all into a nice little binder and lay it out on your organized (or at least organized-APPEARING) teacher desk and just go with the flow! Breathe, smile, take a sip of coffee, keep behavior expectations high, and enjoy the fun day with your kiddos! You've worked super hard to help make this holiday and these “out-of-the-norm” days feel peaceful and calm for you and your kids, so enjoy the peace and joy that’s floating around your room now.
And there you go…8 simple tips for easy, stress-free holidays with your students! I hope these tips help you feel ALL the zen in your classroom this holiday, knowing that you’ve GOT this. If you need this big binder of goodness for your next holiday, GRAB IT HERE!
Wishing you a super happy, organized holiday, dear friend!
Cheering you on!
