The Last Week of School before Christmas: Survival Edition

Well.  I survived the last week of school before break.

Barely.

Never in my life have I been more exhausted, I can assure you.  And I have birthed four babies.

The week started off okay, as long as I tried to keep everything in a normal-ish routine for the little kiddos. By Tuesday afternoon, behavior was through the roof and we had to reverse gears and shift into complete survival mode.

On Wednesday afternoon, I ran into one of my team teachers in the break room.  We both looked shell-shocked and like we had just survived an enemy attack.

Me:  How’s it going in there?

Team Teacher:  Oh, not so good.

Me:  How did  . . . math go?

Friends.  Math is a tricky time for our first grade friends, even in the weeks not surrounding a major holiday.  For you see, math happens in the afternoon.  And you never know what will happen in the afternoon with a bunch of “spirited” 6 year olds.  Sometimes, it isn’t pretty, folks.

Team Teacher:  Oh, I tried to teach them something new!

Me (aghast):  You did, what?!

Team Teacher (now laughing hysterically):  Yes!  I tried to teach them how addition and subtraction are related!

Me (also now laughing hysterically):  Are you STUPID?

Team Teacher:  Yeah, I am all done with that now.

Ha.  Rookie mistake.

In an effort to keep most kids away from the “refocus” desk, I invented a new teaching strategy the last few days called:

“Just Let Them Choose A Quiet Learning Activity And Hope For The Best.”

It was brilliant.  I would list about four choices that were quiet, pleasing to them, and had an academic nature, and let them pick.  We had moments of quiet bliss.

Moments.

But I was also feeling the teacher guilt.  I struggle with remembering to be magical and fun, all while trying to manage them and keep them learning.

I already had a Christmas tree in the room with a wrapped present for each of them under it.  So, you know, big “Teacher-Magic” Points there.

And, yes.  I heard:

Teacher, when do we get to open our presents?

Every. 10. Minutes.

Me:  On Friday.

Students:  When is Friday?

Every. 10. Minutes.

Then Little Dude came home talking about how his class had an Elf.  And I was so annoyed that his teacher was beating me at Christmas magic when she is teaching 3rd grade and I am teaching 1st grade.  And I knew I had to up my game.

So I also threw an Elf into the mix.  I didn’t really know what to do with this Elf, but I just started to make stuff up.

First, the Elf was in our Christmas Tree and he wrote them a note on the whiteboard.  And Elf asked them to write about what he might see in our awesome classroom.

And, by golly, that Elf got them to write.  QUIETLY.  FOR 20 MINUTES.

Next, Elf moved and he left them each a candy came on their desk and a gingerbread house craft.

It was at this moment that Elf completely blew their minds.

Oh, the shouting that ensued.  Let us be thankful my principal did not walk in at this moment for a surprise observation.

Kid 1:  THE ELF MOVED!

Kid 2:  I KNOW!

Kid 1:  HOW DID HE MOVE?

Kid 2:  I DO NOT KNOW!  HE IS MAGIC!

Kid 1:  DO YOU THINK MRS. M MOVED HIM?

Kid 2:  NO BECAUSE SHE WAS ON RECESS DUTY!  I SAW HER OUTSIDE WITH US!

Kid 1: THAT’S RIGHT!  WOW!

Cue Reasonable Child:  Actually, we didn’t see Mrs. M during library time, so maybe  . . .

Me:  Let’s go read the note together!

Christmas magic!

It was then that I realized that this Elf thing didn’t have to be super involved.  They absolutely loved it and he would just move around and do funny things.

And so with minimal effort on my part, I was able to make Christmas magical for the little pumpkins.

On Friday morning, a couple of kids brought me in a card or a small gift.  I absolutely do not expect any gift whatsoever from the kids.  It is so cute, because some of them see others give me something and they are not sure what is going on or what they should do.  One little guy opened his lunchbox and gave me his orange.  I kept trying to give it back to him, but he was so proud and insisted.

Another kiddo wanted to give me his gingerbread house craft.

Me:  Oh, buddy, you should take this home and give it to grandma.  She will love it!

Kiddo:  But you do so much for us everyday.  You should have it.

*Oh, be still my heart*

One little guy brought me a wrapped present.  When I opened it, it was a ceramic angel, but one of its wings had broken off.  I tried to not let him see, but he asked me:

“Did it break?”

So I showed him and he was very sad.

“It was in my backpack and I was trying to be so careful, but some kids ran by me and bumped into me and I fell backwards into a snowbank and I was worried the angel broke.”

Me:  It’s ok.  I love it and I will try to fix the wing.

Poor guy.  It was very sweet.  I couldn’t fix the wing, but it is sitting on my window sill, broken wing and all.  I will always treasure it.

Friday was a tricky day.  It was full of excitement, sugar, and fun.  But it was also inside recess day on account of frigid temps.

Inside recess day is no bueno.

The kids finally got to open their presents.  I was declared THE BEST TEACHER EVER, so, yeah.  Don’t be jealous.

(Full disclosure:  the gifts are the $1 book selection from Scholastic and I use my teacher points that I earn throughout the year to buy them.  #winning)

And by Friday at 5pm, I was home and ready for bed.  I looked in the mirror, and I could hardly recognize myself.  I have never looked so old and tired and didn’t know my eyes could look so red.  It was a scary sight.

But I survived.  And I am very thankful for Christmas break.

Very.

Very.

Thankful.