February Vacation

Vacation.

The word conjures up images of tropical sandy beaches, balmy breezes, sunshine, and lots of outdoor activities. The reality is that during the school year, “school vacation” for many teachers does not mean an actual break from work. Yes, we do not physically go into the classroom, but the grading and lesson planning continues even as we are admonished by our administrators to “relax” for the week.

So how can a teacher sneak fun into the school vacation? 

My top 6 suggestions:

• Sleep in. 

My day typically starts at 4:30am, so getting to sleep past this time – even if it is just for a half hour – is an amazingly refreshing way to start the day.

• Watch silly movies and read ridiculous books. 

School vacation is not the time to preview books for students or check out movies to enrich the classroom. Personally I watch all the over-the-top “chick flicks” or dance movies that my husband has no interest in while he is at work.

• Make time for friends. 

Although we are surrounded by students from early in the morning until late in the afternoon, teaching can be one of the most isolating jobs in the world. Often it feels like it is just YOU out there in an ocean of teenage hormones…

(Disclaimer: To any of my students who happen to read this blog, no insult is intended. However, imagine if you never had an opportunity to hang out with your friends. Wouldn't that make you feel a bit cranky?) 

School nights are often too busy to spend time with your grownup friends, so school vacations provide some open opportunities to schedule fun!

• Try something new. 

Pick up that guitar that has been languishing in the corner of your rock-n-roll room, try out those colored pencils you bought for that cool new art book, or learn a new dance move. These hours of vacation should inspire you to be daring – even if it just a small tra-la-la of a Britney song when no one else is around. 

(What do you mean that not everyone has a rock-n-roll room? Doesn't one come standard with every home?)

• Go somewhere. 

If you are like me and can’t get away to somewhere grand for a school vacation, plan a small day trip to a place you have wanted to visit. Museums, gardens (if you live somewhere warm or know of an indoor one), a new store, or even a simple drive down a new street can feel deliciously decadent when done during what would normally be school hours.

• Indulge. 

Buy a crazy colored nail polish, put that nose ring back on, splurge on that extra luxurious hand cream, pick up that Harley Davidson key chain, and make that Starbucks espresso a triple! As teachers we spend our time teaching practical skills, however it is okay to break out of the mold on vacation – a teensy bit…

Even with these suggestions I promise you the lesson planning will get done, the grades will be entered, and you will get ahead on the next unit you are teaching. However your students will be happy to see a relaxed teacher smiling at them on the first day back at school instead of a cranky stressed out monster. After all, we are trying to make the classroom experience fun, right?