Christmas Foretold – Christmas Thoughts 2023

Tis the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas break, these three and half weeks, and all through the school, students and teachers are acting jolly and cool. Teachers are restless; Thanksgiving break was just a tease of visions of time off. Now, the teachers do not want to be seen again until the new year and plotting their scheme to see how early they can sneak off.

Everyone is discussing their holiday plans; students believe that the studies in the classes don’t matter. Yet the teachers are still persevering through. Lesson plans are not decorations, they say. Still, they dress them up even more than before. Bah Humbug!

The countdown has been on the board; now it matters even more. Every day, one day closer with the passing hours and hopes of students passing. Teachers dream of sleeping late, drinking coffee in pajamas, reading a book, or binge-watching what they have not seen. When will the final bell of the semester ring? Oh, to escape before.

In classrooms, teaching is like lecturing the chaos method. Students’ minds everywhere, sugarplums in their heads. Teachers teaching with smiles of gingerbread men, trying to keep control with a caffeinated dream yet loving their festive decorated classrooms they will have to unclutter upon return in January.

Teacher departments’ get-togethers will be planned around food, all in a ho, ho, ho mood. Ugly sweaters come out only this time once a year, creating a real nightmare before Christmas. Carols of the season play in the background while teachers dream of summer vacation.

In the copy room, the copier takes human form with cries of distress. No more tests, it says. They groan like the teachers with the exams they have to grade. Staff meetings will cause a drag as teachers sit creating complex driving route equations to solve their shopping, which is not yet done. Amazon to the rescue!

And then, there it will be, not the bell, but the announcement, “Teachers, if you have any students, send them to the cafeteria. Administration will watch them until it is time for them to leave.” The teachers who are left will breathe the sweet relief, walking out with the joy of belief. Christmas break is finally here while standing in the parking lot, talking for another few hours.

And so, as teachers leave with holiday cheer in a week or so or a few days, Merry Christmas to the elves of education. The ones who make it happen every day for all. They are the gift of education that keeps on giving every school day of the year and keep on giving…

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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It’s That Time Of The Year: Gifts That Keep On Giving In Education…

01 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Christmas, Classroom Leadership, Communication, Conversations, Culture, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Encouragement, Joy, Leader, Leadership, Light, Students, Teachers, Unity

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Education, Educational Leadership, Leader, leader, Leadership, principal, Teachers

It’s December 1, and Christmas time is officially here. With the season in full swing, as educators, we are presented with a unique opportunity to foster a sense of unity, joy, and growth within our schools for three weeks. With diversity in schools, Christmas is sometimes celebrated differently due to cultures, or if at all, in student households. However, Christmas is a festive season, a time for celebration, and a period with immense potential to wrap up the first semester by creating an enriching and supportive environment that can help jumpstart and motivate for the second semester.

Christmas time offers a sense of belonging. One thing is certain: in education, we foster a community for many students who have the need for belonging and need acceptance. As we lead in our schools, we might be the only ones offering belonging…

Communication is key to belonging. Educators can use this time to communicate, as stated in the beginning, to convey a sense of joy, unity, growth, and many other characteristics that may not be explicitly seen during the different times of the school year. A simple gesture of gratitude telling a student thank you might do wonders for their self-esteem (everyone enjoys this, by the way).

As we all know, educators remain a crucial piece of the jigsaw puzzle in setting the tone for a positive and inclusive atmosphere, welcoming all (why would we not?). How we decide to do this helps light the candle, brightening the season’s spirit. It starts with each one of us. Lighting someone else’s candle is hard if yours is not burning.

Educational leadership during Christmas is an extra opportunity to create a nurturing and vibrant learning environment. Throughout the school year, educators can make a lasting impact on students. Still, there are times, as now, when this impact can be even more relevant. As we celebrate the season, let us remember that the spirit of Christmas extends beyond festivities—it is a time for joy, unity, and growth. These are gifts that keep on giving (and no, not the jelly of the month club gift, Cousin Eddie).

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…