ALways!

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ALways!
By AmberM

Always the week before a holiday my first graders become excited and very chatty. I try to follow our normal routine but I include LOTS of small group activities and Holiday related games, songs, stories and art projects.
I choose these activities so they CAN talk and be verbal, but its being used to my advantage. I use to try to fight the excitement and "control" the class like I do for regular teaching time but it caused me the type of stress I think you are venting about.
I do insist they are repectful to each other, use inside voices with no one louder than the others, and that they stay in their

seats or given area, listen and follow directions and have good hall manners etc. I actually look forward to the fun holiday week because I don't try to get the normal grades that week. (Spelling, reading, math phonics assessment, etc) instead I use a rubrics for creative writing, and group projects. It's a time that I get to enjoy the kids being kids and putting their creativity and imagination to work.
By doing this I present those projects that there is never time to squeeze in on a normal day. The ones that make school fun and a memorable experience.
This week was a good one for me. I hope you can find a way to work with your class to where you can enjoy the excitment of the Christmas season to come. Good Luck!