Getting Back into the Groove

And with the sound of the morning alarm, vacation time ends, and the second half of the school year begins. As much as I hate to admit it, it’s probably for the best.

I love breaks, but the problem is that when I am taking them, I lose all sense of time and space. “What day of the week is it? No, I haven’t heard the news. What do you mean that It’s noon?” Yes, having vacation time is great, but at some point, it’s best to resume a regular routine – though getting back into that routine can be difficult, to say the least.

I jumped back into work earlier this week providing staff development at a nearby school. Having worked with this group before, I was excited about the session – which seemed to go well. However, I did have to call upon my behavior management skills more so than usual. I waited, as it took longer to get the group’s attention. I was understanding, as there were more side discussions. And I modified the content, breaking up the material into shorter chunks and allowing for more process time. Before you judge – this is always the case when presenting to groups in August and January. After extended breaks, we need more unstructured time to talk, move, and ease back into our school routines.

Teachers, remember that just because your students need the structure school affords, doesn’t mean they are ready to accept it. Students might want to follow directions, attend, and learn, but their bodies might override their desire to do so at first. We also must keep in mind that we don’t know what some of our students might have been exposed to or had to deal with over the break, so assume positive intent. You and your students will both adjust and get back into the groove of things – but I suggest riding that wave with them rather than fighting against it.