If you’ve ever looked at the calendar on December 1st and thought, “How am I supposed to make it all the way to winter break?”, I get it. December is magical. But it’s also…a lot. And if you’re looking for a December teacher survival guide, consider this your permission slip to make things a little easier.
Students are excited. The schedule seems to change every other day. Holiday events start popping up. Everyone is counting down to break. And somehow, you’re still expected to teach every standard, manage your classroom, assess students, prepare for January, and maybe even squeeze in a little holiday magic.
No pressure, right?
Well after years in the elementary classroom, I’ve learned that the secret isn’t trying to make December look exactly like every other month. Instead, you have to work with the season. That means simplifying where you can, keeping your classroom routines strong, and finding ways to make learning feel festive without creating hours of extra work for yourself. So let’s check out how to do just that.
First: Accept That Surviving December As a Teacher Will Be Different
Let’s get this December teacher survival guide tip out of the way first. Your classroom probably isn’t going to look exactly like it did in October. And that’s okay. Students are excited about upcoming celebrations. Families may have different schedules. There may be assemblies, concerts, field trips, parties, and other interruptions. Because of that, trying to fight the excitement can make everyone more frustrated.
Instead, I like to acknowledge it. As a class, we talk about how exciting December can be, while also discussing what still needs to happen at school. It’s absolutely possible to have fun AND learn. We can celebrate AND follow our classroom expectations. Students know we will enjoy the season, while also continuing to be responsible learners. That simple mindset shift makes December feel much more manageable for everyone.
Keep Your Classroom Routines Strong
If there is one thing I would prioritize during December, it’s routines. When everything else feels unpredictable, your classroom routines provide stability.
Continue practicing:
- Morning routines
- Transitions
- Center expectations
- Independent work
- Clean-up procedures
- Lining up
- Dismissal
- Voice levels
You may feel like your students already know these things. However, December is the perfect time for a quick refresher. Taking five minutes to actually practice the routine again makes a huge difference. As a result, you’ll likely spend far less time correcting the same behaviors throughout the day.
Don’t Throw Out Your Curriculum
This one is important. You do not have to stop teaching just because it’s December. Instead, make the learning feel different.
For example, we turn math practice into a holiday-themed challenge, writing into a gingerbread adventure, and use winter read alouds to introduce a writing response. We add seasonal vocabulary to your literacy centers and create STEM challenges around snow, gifts, gingerbread, or reindeer.
The standards don’t have to change, but the presentation can. And honestly, students often become more engaged simply because the same learning suddenly feels new and exciting.
Give Yourself Permission to Use Low-Prep Activities
December is not the month to spend three hours every night cutting out tiny pieces of construction paper for crafts. Trust me, I’ve been there. You find the cutest activity online. Then you realize you need 12 different colors of cardstock, three laminating sheets, a specialty punch, glitter, ribbon, and approximately six hours of your life.
No thank you.
Instead, now I specifically look for activities that are:
✔ Easy to prep
✔ Easy to explain
✔ Easy for students to complete
✔ Reusable
✔ Connected to your curriculum
Remember the goal isn’t to impress Pinterest. The goal is to guide yourself to survive as a teacher in December with your sanity intact. Check out this FREE, super low prep activity that students and teachers LOVE.
Grab your FREE reindeer directed draw using the link below!
Keep Students Moving
If your students suddenly seem like they have unlimited energy in December, it’s because they probably do. Instead of spending the entire day telling them to sit still, build movement into your schedule intentionally.
These are some of our favorite ways to move in the classroom:
- Four Corners
- Would You Rather
- Holiday scavenger hunts
- Partner activities
- Brain breaks
- Movement games
- Gallery walks
- Read-and-move activities
Even a three-minute movement break can help students reset. And sometimes, when behavior starts getting a little wild, the solution isn’t another consequence. It’s simply movement.
Use Read Alouds to Do the Heavy Lifting
December is one of my favorite months for read alouds. A great picture book can become the starting point for an entire lesson. One story can lead to writing, vocabulary, comprehension, math connections, STEM, social emotional learning, art, and the best classroom discussions. As a result, you aren’t trying to create ten completely separate activities. Instead, you’re taking one engaging story and building learning around it.
That’s a huge win during a month when planning time is already limited.
Create Small Traditions Instead of Huge Events
You don’t need a classroom party every day to make December memorable. In fact, some of my favorite December memories are incredibly simple. It’s a big part of the December teacher survival guide: keeping it simple yet fun.
Some favorites include:
📚 Flashlight reading
☕ Cozy read alouds
🎁 A class compliment circle
❄️ Winter drawing
✉️ Writing kind notes to classmates
🎄 A holiday book exchange
🎨 A simple directed draw
These little traditions create excitement without completely disrupting your schedule. Plus, students often remember these small moments long after they’ve forgotten the worksheet they completed that day. A big win for everyone.
Plan Your Week Before Winter Break NOW
Please don’t wait until the Friday before break to figure out what you’re doing the following week.
The future you will be very grateful.
I recommend creating a simple Before Winter Break Box.
Put everything you need inside:
- Books
- Copies
- Crafts
- Games
- Center activities
- STEM supplies
- Writing activities
- Extra activities
- Lesson plans
Then organize everything by day. This way, instead of waking up every morning wondering what you’re going to teach, you already have a plan.
Keep Centers Familiar
December is not the time to introduce 15 brand-new center routines. Your students already know how your centers work so use that to your advantage. I have one center strategies that works wonders. Change the skill, not the activity.
For example, students might already know how to play a particular Bingo game. Instead of teaching a completely new game, simply change what they’re practicing. The activity stays familiar. The skill changes. As a result, students can get right to work without asking you how to play. This is especially helpful when you’re trying to pull small groups during an already busy month. You can read more about this HERE.
Don’t Forget About Your Own Sanity
This might be the most important tip in this entire post.
You don’t have to do everything.
And you shouldn’t try. December is not about recreating every adorable activity you see online, or making every bulletin board Pinterest-worthy. Additionally, you shouldn’t feel the pressure to create handmade gifts for every student or say yes to every volunteer opportunity.
This is not the time to make December magical every single day. Because the truth is, your students don’t need a perfect December. They need you. You bring the stability and calm and structure to their days that they might not experience at home. And they are about to lose it for the next few weeks. So choose the things that genuinely bring joy to your classroom and let the rest go.
Have a “Good Enough” Plan
Your December teacher survival guide states that lesson planning doesn’t have to be complicated.
I like to ask myself three questions:
- What do my students need to learn?
- How will I keep them engaged?
- What can I realistically prep?
If an activity checks all three boxes, it’s probably a winner.
You don’t need the most creative lesson. You simply need a lesson that works.
And sometimes, simple is exactly what your classroom needs.
My December Teacher Survival Checklist
Before you head into the busiest part of the month, make sure you have:
- Your weekly plans ready
- Copies organized
- Read alouds selected
- Centers prepared
- Classroom routines reviewed
- Holiday activities chosen
- Movement breaks planned
- Materials organized
- Emergency activities ready
- A plan for the week before break
And most importantly:
- Permission to keep things simple
Make December Easier on Yourself
If you’re looking at December and already feeling overwhelmed, please know that you don’t need to reinvent your entire classroom. You need systems that work. You need activities that are engaging without requiring hours of preparation. And you need a plan that allows you to enjoy the season alongside your students.
That’s exactly why I created my Before Break Kit.
Instead of spending hours searching Pinterest, piecing together activities, and trying to figure out what to teach next, you can have ready-to-use literacy, math, writing, STEM, movement, and holiday activities at your fingertips. It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about taking a whole lot off of it.
Please Remember: You Can Survive December
December will probably always be a little chaotic. There will be excitement, schedule changes, and probably be a few days when absolutely nothing goes according to plan. And that’s okay. The goal isn’t to create a perfectly calm December classroom. Instead, the goal is to create a classroom where students can learn, celebrate, move, laugh, and make memories while you still have enough energy to enjoy it too. So keep your routines. Simplify your planning. Use engaging activities. Build in movement. Say no when you need to.
And most importantly, give yourself permission to enjoy December. Because before you know it, winter break will be here and you’ll wish you had slowed down enough to enjoy some of those little moments with your students.
Leave a Reply