This first-person reflection, published by edCircuit in December 2024, describes one teacher’s plan for winter break: looking back at the fall, setting goals for 2025, resting and preparing the second half of the school year. A new section below adds national survey data on teacher workload and a way to order the break list so that rest comes first.
As the winter break approaches, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. Not only is it a time for rest and relaxation, but it’s also a chance for me to recharge and prepare for the new year ahead as a teacher. This past year has been filled with challenges and unexpected changes, but I am determined to use this break to reflect, refocus, and rejuvenate myself for the rest of the school year. Join me as I share my plans for making the most of my winter break and how I am getting ready to tackle the new year with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
As a teacher, the holiday season brings a much-needed break from the daily routine of lesson planning, grading, and managing a classroom full of energetic students. But it also marks the halfway point of the school year, and with that comes the realization that there is still so much left to do.
For me, this winter break is not just a time to relax and recharge but also a time to reflect and prepare for the new year ahead. As I write this article, I can’t help but think about what I want to accomplish in the coming months and how I can make the most of this time off to set myself up for success.
Reflecting on the Past Year
Before I can look ahead, I must first look back. This past year has been full of challenges and triumphs, both in my personal life and in the classroom. As I think about my teaching journey, I can’t help but feel grateful for the growth and learning that has taken place.
I think about the students who have come and gone and how each has impacted me. I think about the lessons that went well and those that didn’t and how I can improve them in the future. I also reflect on my personal growth as a teacher and how I can continue to develop my skills and knowledge.
Setting Goals for the New Year (2025)
With a new year comes new opportunities and challenges. As I look ahead, I am filled with excitement and determination to make the most of the remaining school year. This winter break, I am taking the time to set goals for myself and my students.
One of my main goals is to create a more inclusive and diverse classroom environment. I want to make sure that all of my students feel seen, heard, and valued. This means incorporating more diverse literature and resources into my lessons, as well as creating a safe space for open discussions about important issues.
I also want to focus on improving my classroom management skills. This past year, I struggled with maintaining a calm and organized classroom, and I know that it had a negative impact on my students’ learning. I am determined to find new strategies and techniques to create a more positive and productive learning environment.
Recharging and Relaxing
While setting goals and reflecting on the past year are important, it’s also crucial for me to take this time to recharge and relax. Teaching can be emotionally and physically draining, and it’s important for me to take care of myself in order to be the best teacher I can be.
During this break, I am making sure to prioritize self-care. This means spending time with loved ones, reading for pleasure, and engaging in activities that bring me joy. I am also taking the time to catch up on much-needed sleep and exercise, which I often neglect during the busy school year.
Professional Development
As a lifelong learner, I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching practice. This winter break, I am taking advantage of looking at various professional development opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills.
As I reflect on the past year and look ahead to the next, I’m committed to prioritizing my professional growth. To that end, I plan to actively seek out opportunities for learning and development.
Investing in Professional Growth
I’m excited to explore a variety of avenues to enhance my teaching skills. I’ll be on the lookout for relevant workshops and conferences that align with my professional goals. Additionally, I’ll be taking advantage of online courses and webinars to gain specialized knowledge and skills.
To further deepen my understanding of educational theory and practice, I’ll dedicate time to reading educational books and articles. I believe that staying informed about the latest research and trends in education will enable me to provide my students with the most effective and engaging learning experiences.
Investing in the Future
By investing in my own professional development, I’m ultimately investing in the success of my students. I’m confident that the knowledge and skills I gain will empower me to create a more stimulating and supportive learning environment for all my students.
Preparing for the Second Half of the School Year
As much as I am enjoying this break, I am also aware that the second half of the school year will be here before I know it. In order to make a smooth transition back into the classroom, I am taking the time to prepare for the upcoming months.
I am organizing my lesson plans and materials, as well as creating a schedule for the remaining units and assessments. I am also brainstorming new and engaging activities to keep my students motivated and excited about learning. By doing this preparation now, I hope to alleviate some of the stress that comes with the start of a new semester.
Spending Time with Family and Friends
Lastly, but certainly not least, I am cherishing this time off to spend with my family and friends. Teaching can be a demanding job, and it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind. This break allows me to reconnect with loved ones and create lasting memories.
I am looking forward to holiday gatherings, game nights, and simply spending quality time with the people who mean the most to me. These moments of relaxation and joy are essential for my overall well-being and happiness.
Final Thoughts
As I wrap up this article, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and excitement for the new year ahead. This winter break will be a time of reflection, goal-setting, and relaxation, and I am confident that my winter break recharge will not only benefit me, but also my students, as we embark on a new journey together.
I am grateful for the opportunity to recharge and prepare for the new year, and I am looking forward to seeing the growth and progress that my students and I will make together. Here’s to a happy and productive new year as a teacher!
Teacher new year reset: what research on teacher stress means for winter break
A teacher new year reset, as the writer describes above, has three parts: looking back at the fall, choosing a few goals for the second half of the school year, and resting. This section adds what national survey data says about the workload behind the need for rest, and suggests how teachers and school leaders can order the winter break list so the rest is protected rather than crowded out.
Why rest belongs first
The RAND Corporation’s fourth annual State of the Teacher survey was released in June 2024. As reported by ABC News stations, 59% of teachers said they experienced frequent job-related stress, compared with about a third of similar working adults. Teachers in the survey averaged 53 working hours a week, against 44 for comparable adults, and earned about $18,000 less a year. Twenty-two percent said they planned to leave their jobs, compared with about a quarter of comparable working adults.
These figures have limits that are worth stating. They are self-reported answers from a survey, and they describe teachers as a group rather than any one school or grade level. The survey shows how heavy the load is. It does not show that a two-week break lowers stress, or that any particular self-care routine works, and none of the sources read for this section tests that. RAND has continued to publish the survey, so a reader who wants the latest numbers should check RAND’s own site.
Sorting the winter break list
The writer’s list above includes reflection, goal setting, self-care, professional learning and lesson planning. A teacher who is already working 53 hours a week can recreate the school-year workload inside a vacation by trying to finish all five. One practical order is to schedule rest first, then a short look back, then no more than two goals, then one planning task for the first week back. This order is a suggestion drawn from the workload data, not a research finding.
A short look back is more useful when it starts from records instead of memory. An hour with the grade book, attendance sheet and a few samples of student work from September and December can show what changed, which students are ahead of or behind where the teacher expected, and which unit needs a different approach in January. Reflection that begins with those records tends to produce specific goals, which are easier to act on than general intentions.
Two goals worth a closer look
The writer names two goals: a more inclusive classroom and stronger classroom management. For the first, the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) released version 3.0 of its Universal Design for Learning Guidelines in July 2024. The Guidelines are organized under three headings, engagement, representation, and action and expression, and each heading lists concrete suggestions. A teacher does not need to adopt the whole framework over a break. Choosing one guideline and applying it to one upcoming unit is a realistic starting point, for instance by giving directions in more than one format; that example is this section’s illustration, not wording from the Guidelines.
For the second goal, the writer notes above that last year’s classroom management was a struggle. The edCircuit classroom management guide collects strategies, and asking a trusted colleague to observe a class period in January and note the moments when attention drifts often gives more precise information than a teacher’s own recollection of a hard week.
Professional learning without overload
The writer plans workshops, online courses, webinars and reading. That is a wide menu, and the first decision is how much of it fits. Matching one learning activity to one of the two goals keeps the plan small enough to finish. The edCircuit professional development guide describes what makes teacher learning effective, and the same principle applies to a personal plan: depth on one topic usually does more for classroom practice than a sampling of many.
What school leaders can do
Leaders influence how much of the reset teachers can actually complete. Three decisions are within their reach. They can avoid scheduling a long meeting or a new initiative on the first day back, so that teachers can use that day for the planning the writer describes. They can share a short list of the semester’s priorities before the break, so teachers are not guessing what to prepare. And they can point staff to the supports the school already has, as described in the edCircuit article on how schools can promote mental health awareness and wellness.
Bringing the plan together
The writer’s closing hope above is that recharging benefits students as well as teachers. That is a reasonable expectation, although the sources read here measure teacher workload rather than student outcomes. A modest plan that is finished by the first Monday back is more likely to help than an ambitious one that is abandoned in the first week of January.
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