December Harmony! Well maybe not.
Yay, it’s December! Just a few weeks until a longer break! Oh wait, school performances, increasing behavior issues, dark going to school AND getting home…
December can feel even crazier than November. We are feeling overwhelmed and maybe even depressed from the dark days. That disillusionment from November is still probably hanging around. You thought students finally had that routine down, and suddenly they have forgotten?
No, it’s just December. Students are either so excited about holidays that they forgot, well, everything. Or they are not looking forward to extra time at home, and can show escalated behaviors. The routine of school is comforting, and you have a special and different connection with them than anyone else. Help them feel connected and have some fun during this time of year. Don’t let down on your expectations and routines, keep reteaching and reminding.
Oh, and performances! Let’s add that to the mix. We have assemblies or shows for parents. Arranging and communicating about that is just “extra”. Most of us music teachers also play or sing in community or church groups. More performances. It’s some major stress for us in December.
However, it also is a different sense of enjoyment, isn’t it? We get to see our students rise to the occasion and show that they can perform together! We get to participate in adult music situations, too. We don’t just listen to the holiday music, as most people do. We get to experience it and share it! Don’t forget to find the joy in that.
But, before you leave for break, do a few things.
Get your first days plan in place for January. You will need to reteach the expectations and routines. Have some materials ready to go, new musical selections all set, at least an outline of lessons. Having these plan in place will ease your mind for break and help it be even more enjoyable. (In the past, I have done the opposite, and then worried all break long.)
Do a quick reflection and tweak a few things. What do you want to change that didn’t work so well? What do you want to keep and reinforce that did work well? What new idea do you want to implement? It’s a great time of year to do some bigger adjustments to how your classroom works. Students will be more open to some changes as they return from break.
Then, after the whirlwind of school craziness, we can enjoy the calmness of sleeping in, put on the soundtrack from Charlie Brown Christmas, and forget about lesson planning for a while. I hope that you will stop and enjoy your break time, really relish the feelings and experiences, and take note of that release of pressure.
If school stuff is weighing you down and you can’t get relief from anxiety, please find someone to talk to. If you want to problem-solve, my first session is always free, just contact me through the link below.
Happy Holidays from me, your Music Teaching Mentor!
Amy
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