Reset your life in a few simple steps, is it possible? When it comes to teaching the answer is yes. Resetting your life during a long break like summer or over a holiday is easy when you take action before the break. When your classroom is designed with intentionality the reset process when returning to school goes much faster.
Want to know how to reset your life in a few simple steps?
- Take a few hours over the break or right before the break to make some decisions about the classroom and your January or August self will thank you.
- Put away any and all December/June items, whether those are holiday-related or not.
- Change the calendar to January/August headers and day cards.
- Clean all counters and tabletops.
- Wash window sills, and organize all papers, recycle what you can.
- Remove all bulletin board content. To be clear leave the bulletin board paper or material backing, just remove the heading and projects. Even if your break is in the middle of the school year, the fresh space will have students interested in content again.
- Water plants.
- Take home class pets.
- Take home and wash coffee cups, lunch containers, water bottles, jackets, etc.
- Turn off school-wide notifications on your phone or laptop.
- Set an automated email response.
Reset Your Classroom
- Plan the first day or week back, complete with activities and copies.
- When planning the first day back find a way to go over expectations and rules Repeat this step as necessary.
- Play games that will reinforce and remind students about any necessary skills.
- Have the children freshen their learning space, whether it’s a desk, bulletin board, or cubby area. Creating some themed décor, or art projects for the wall, or new name cards adds excitement and freshness to the room.
Reset Your Life After a Break
Creating a clean canvas for when you return will allow your brain to let go of the stress of the classroom, and give you time to decompress. Intentional learning environments are created when we think of the students and teachers who grace the space during the design process. This is the idea we want to take into a break too. Think of your future self and create a clean area that will allow you to reset your life before you return.
Then take your break and enjoy your down time.
When you return to school you will be so glad you have a clean fresh space. Your plans for the first week are ready to go. And your cluttered areas have been organized.
Still looking for more detailed ideas for clearing the clutter, ways to reset your life, and creating an intentional learning environment? You can grab the FREE guide here.
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