The scenario looks the same in every classroom in America, regardless of whether it is public school, private school, or home school. The teachers are ready to start fresh. The lesson plans are complete. Projects are prepared. The classroom is ready. They arrive with extra time to get everything for the day set up and ready. Then the students arrive. The newly refreshed teachers greet their students as they file in, ready to change the students’ world for the better. But as the day progresses, their excitement and motivation to change the world one student at a time begins to wane. The kids are restless, inattentive, and uncooperative. They are not nearly as ready to have their world changed. Most of them would rather still be at home or with their friends anywhere but at school.
So what happened? Even though they got their much needed break over the holidays, why are they not ready to just jump right back into their routine? The key word is routine. It isn’t necessarily that they didn’t want to be there or start right back in on their new projects/learning. A lot of kids really like school and the daily grind. The problem is that they are not used to the routine and the movement that it entails throughout the day. It is the same phenomenon as when we go on family vacations and come home feeling like we need another vacation to get some rest before we get back into the grind at our jobs. The kids have been enjoying lots of time with family, friends, and neighbors. They have had lots of free time and late bedtimes. Now it is time to get back into regular life and they are just as unprepared as we are after going on an exciting family trip across the country.
There are some great ways to break them (and us teachers) back into the daily routine without driving everyone crazy. The first is to keep expectations of great amounts of work getting done in proper perspective. We can make so much more progress with our students if we spend some time upon their return listening to the things that happened to them over vacation that were highlights for them (or even disappointments they experienced). They will be much more in tune to us if they know that we are listening to them and understanding where their minds are. 
How to Get Your Students’ Attention After Christmas Break
The scenario looks the same in every classroom in America, regardless of whether it is public school, private school, or home school. The teachers are ready to start fresh. The lesson plans are complete. Projects are prepared. The classroom is ready. They arrive with extra time to get everything for the day set up and ready. Then the students arrive. The newly refreshed teachers greet their students as they file in, ready to change the students’ world for the better. But as the day progresses, their excitement and motivation to change the world one student at a time begins to wane. The kids are restless, inattentive, and uncooperative. They are not nearly as ready to have their world changed. Most of them would rather still be at home or with their friends anywhere but at school.
So what happened? Even though they got their much needed break over the holidays, why are they not ready to just jump right back into their routine? The key word is routine. It isn’t necessarily that they didn’t want to be there or start right back in on their new projects/learning. A lot of kids really like school and the daily grind. The problem is that they are not used to the routine and the movement that it entails throughout the day. It is the same phenomenon as when we go on family vacations and come home feeling like we need another vacation to get some rest before we get back into the grind at our jobs. The kids have been enjoying lots of time with family, friends, and neighbors. They have had lots of free time and late bedtimes. Now it is time to get back into regular life and they are just as unprepared as we are after going on an exciting family trip across the country.
There are some great ways to break them (and us teachers) back into the daily routine without driving everyone crazy. The first is to keep expectations of great amounts of work getting done in proper perspective. We can make so much more progress with our students if we spend some time upon their return listening to the things that happened to them over vacation that were highlights for them (or even disappointments they experienced). They will be much more in tune to us if they know that we are listening to them and understanding where their minds are. Share this content
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Oh man, I remember coming back from a holiday break (to school) and just being in such a funk for a good 2 weeks. It’s always so hard to readjust! Listening to the students is a GREAT tip though!
Yes, I remember that too! I was so excited to return and hang out with friends, but I just couldn’t get myself to engage academically!
Oh man, my kids can’t wait for winter break. It starts after tomorrow! But I try to still get them to learn so they don’t return to school all foggy and confused.
I remember going back to school/uni after Christmas break and it was so hard to get back to it. You’ve made some great points here. I hope you have a lovely Christmas!
Thank you, Nyxie! You too!
The back-to-school after Christmas is always so tricky. I feel like the kids are even more tired than they were when they left school….
I know I was, Laura!
It may be hard to get students’ attention after the Christmas break, but you always have some great ideas to share with us. I envy you for your passion for teaching! 🙂
Thank you!
I cannot even imagine how hard this would be. Or right before summer break! No wonder teachers resort to movies, yikes. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
oh mannnn!!! That is gonna be a huge challenge for sure lol…Great tips though.
I can see how a holiday break can be difficult I remember. It’s similar to a mini summer slide.