Feeling stuck in that mid-November limbo? This episode kicks off our Smooth December Series so that you can head into January feeling calm and confident. We break down four core focus areas (pockets of prep, classroom reset, student engagement hook, and a teacher comfort plan) along with simple ways to find small windows of time, organize materials with easy systems, and plan meaningful activities that help students return refreshed. You’ll learn how small steps, from prepping welcome slides to stocking your snack drawer, can make your first week back feel lighter. Next week, we're talking all about planning December lessons that work with the chaos, so make sure you’re subscribed!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teacher-prep-for-december/

Resources:

• December Teacher Survival Kit
• Podcast Playlist: Teaching in December
• Hero Cheese and Herb Croissant Rolls
• Woobles
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 17, 5 Tried and True Tips For Teaching in December
• Episode 107, Get Ahead For January Now With 4 Easy Steps
• Episode 105, Festive Fun in December: Engaging Holiday Activities to Do With Your Class
• Episode 169, Our Best Teacher Tips for Finding Pockets of Prep Time To Get Ahead For January

Mentioned in this episode:

Teacher WINTER Talks is a free virtual event to support elementary teachers who want to fall in love with teaching again. It runs January 17–19, and it’s free to join. Head to https://secondstorywindow.net/teacherwintertalks to get your ticket!

Teacher WINTER Talks is a free virtual event to support elementary teachers who want to fall in love with teaching again. It runs January 17–19, and it’s free to join. Head to https://secondstorywindow.net/teacherwintertalks to get your ticket!