It’s March! Spring break is on the horizon but you may still be dealing with snow in your part of the country. March can still feel like winter, but at least spring is in sight. Daylight savings time is this weekend, but that still means losing an hour of sleep. March can feel like a long month with no holidays to break it up. We have to be intentional about taking breaks for ourselves and doing things that give us extra energy.
Here are some ideas.
At School
*Do some spring cleaning of your classroom. You don’t have to do this all by yourself. Enlist your students to do some cleaning and organizing. Everyone can start with their own work space and storage space, by cleaning out binders, folders, cubbies, desks, or table organizers.
Could students organize or rearrange your classroom library? Maybe they could create some book displays to generate interest in some of the books in your classroom library. Somehow displaying books with the covers facing outward is a great way to build excitement about books (even old titles) and to get kids to take a look.
If you’re looking for some new ways to display classroom library books, here are some display stands on Amazon:
*Clean off your boards and consider changing what is posted on the board. While there are some things that probably need to be posted all the time (your schedule, today’s learning objectives), could you add other fun elements like fun facts about notable women? Good quotes or precepts to discuss? My students love posting a daily precept from 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Precepts by R. J. Palacio.
*Learn about Women’s History Month! Use reading passages from ReadWorks or NewsELA. Here are some of my favorite books about notable women to introduce to your students.
*Consider starting a new routine such as #classroombookaday. See my post about that HERE. Just choose some of your favorite picture books and keep them in a stack near your teaching area. Try to find a consistent time of day to read a picture book to your class. But even if you don’t have one consistent time, try to fit in the reading of a picture book during small moments of the day. Don’t worry about it if you are unable to read the entire book in a day (some picture books are longer than others). It’s the consistency that counts. Your kids will love it!
*Take a break from chapter books during independent reading by introducing books of poetry or magazines to your students. This can be a fun way to reinvigorate the reading habit.
Here are some of my favorite poetry books for kids.
And here are some of my favorite magazines for kids.
*Focus on what is positive about your students. By this time, you have been together for about six months. Even with the most aggravating students, you can probably think of several positive qualities if you sit down and think about it. Here’s how:
Make a list of your kids. Just list their names as they come to you. When you have everyone’s name written down, go down the list and write whatever pops into your head (even if it’s not positive). Then go down the list again and think some more. If you wrote something that might not be a positive trait, is there some positive quality in there? If so, write it down. Here’s an example: for a student who argues about every little thing, the positive there is that they care about fairness. Try to think of two or three positive qualities about every single student.
Now — what to do with this information? During the next week, look for opportunities to share those positive thoughts with your students. You might do it as part of a whole-class discussion, as part of a lesson, within a small group, or individually. Just look for opportunities to share those positive qualities.
*Add a bird feeder to your home or outside your classroom window. Or force some bulbs to bloom in a pot on your classroom windowsill. Anything to add a little touch of spring to your classroom.
*Take your class outside when possible. Even if it’s just for a brisk, ten-minute walk, it changes up the routine, gives everyone a fresh perspective and a “brain break”, and helps keep you focused on all the positive aspects of springtime.
At Home
*Do some spring cleaning at home. This is a great time of year to declutter and to do some deeper cleaning. Stocking up on favorite cleaning products can help get you motivated. Playing some fun music or listening to podcasts while you’re cleaning also work for keeping you moving. Knowing that you’re burning some calories helps too!
*Change up the spring decor around your house!
*Plan a spring break trip or activities to do during spring break. With the current coronavirus threat, traveling by plane may not be advised. But even if you can’t afford a trip right now, there are probably lots of good day trip places and state parks near where you live. Take some time to do some research and plan some fun outings over your spring break.
One of my self-care “rules” is to always have something to anticipate and look forward to doing. It doesn’t have to be something big, but it should be something that makes you happy when you think about it. Planning a trip or making plans to do something out of the ordinary (especially if you do it with someone you enjoy) makes you happier in the here and now.
*Buy flowers. Even adding a plant to your home or workspace is a mood lifter!
*Try a different workout. If you like to stream workouts at home, try something new or try visiting a gym, a barre studio, or a yoga studio. If you’re a gym-goer, try streaming a new workout at home. Changing up your routine keeps your body guessing and lifts your outlook as well!
*Freshen up your spring wardrobe with one or two new pieces. It’s amazing what a new top or cardigan or scarf can do to make everything feel new.
If you haven’t tried Stitch Fix, here’s a link to get started. Stitch Fix is a great service that you can personalize with your own budget and style preferences. Your stylist works with your needs and preferences to send you a curated box once a month. The box usually contains about five items for you to try. You simply return the unwanted items in the enclosed postage-paid shipping envelope. It makes shopping quick and easy!
Happy spring! What are your favorite spring self-care tips? I’d love to hear them!
Do you want more guidance with resetting your classroom? I’m creating a mini-course with more step-by-step tips. Sign up for the waiting list HERE and I will notify you when it’s ready! (Signing up does not obligate you in any way.)