Holiday Break

As usual, the last week and a half leading up to the Holiday Break was busy and everyone was counting down the days. One of the activities I looked forward to was "Kids Who Care". This is an annual event where we do something with our advisee group to give back to the community. This activity is always wonderful. The amount of time and stress it takes to plan and put together is borderline crazy, but it is always a great event. I worry with all of the mandates and expectations being levied on teachers, that things like this will fade or disappear as we lack the time and energy to pull them off. Time will tell!

My group worked with 2nd grade students in our Elementary School in town. My wife teaches 2nd grade there so it was a nice fit. My students helped the 2nd graders to make some Holiday crafts they could take home afterward. They also read books, played games, and went out to recess with them. By all accounts, the 2nd graders were very happy!

My students were engaged in academic work these last few days also! Students have started working on Final projects in my semester classes. In U.S. History, students were working on a primary source investigation and essay related to abolition. In AP Psychology, students were working on a project where they attempt to classically condition a subject and report on their findings. Luckily the weather held and we had no snow days before the break this year. In fact we had 55 degree weather on Christmas day this year! Typically the lake near my house is almost or completely frozen over by now and we usually have had at least some snow. Not the case this year!

(Christmas day near my house)

The holiday break always seems to come at just the right time when we all need it. Now its time to get some much needed rest for the the last 3 weeks of the semester when we go back after break. Things will be very busy with a webinar, work related to Understanding Sacrifice, and the wrapping up of semester grades. Throw in some bad weather and it will definitely be an interesting month of January!