Do you remember the opening scene from Jim Caray’s Grinch where all the Whos from Whoville are in a frantic tizzy over their final Christmas preparations? This is not too dissimilar to the scene inside an elementary school classroom the day (or week) before Christmas break. However, instead of creatures with interesting hairstyles and facial features scrambling around noisily there is a multitude of crazed sugar-hungry children trampling about in their festive holiday garb. If you attend, or help run, one of these parties, you will quickly realize why the grinch was driven mad by the noises and antics of the Whos. The high-pitched squealing, inevitable bickering, and the countless messes and spills that accompany these occasions is bound to push even the most even keeled saint to the edge.
A successful class Christmas party keeps the students occupied with little to no down time for a few hours until you can send them on a candy train out the door and home to their exuberant parents before your students destroy your classroom beyond quick repairs and clean up (no one is trying to come in over break to tidy up).
Some ingredients for such a festive experience include snacks that take a little while for everyone to receive, my suggestion would be hot chocolate or popcorn although these can be problematic with minor issues like burning, fires, and large spills. If you are feeling ambitious, you might want to try gingerbread houses, but these may require you to pretend to console children who feel the experience is too competitive.
Another piece to a successful classroom holiday puzzle is a short film. You want one long enough to kill some time and for you to catch your breath but also short enough, so the kids don’t get bored and look for unbroken ornaments to hurl at you and each other.
Finally, although many think that a Secret Santa is necessary for a holly jolly Christmas party, it is more beneficial for teachers to schedule a class dodgeball game instead. These serves two main purposes: to work off a little bit of the students’ sugar so they’re not completely wild animals during dismissal, and it gives you the opportunities to take out your frustrations on the children for their half-year tormenting of your soul.
It should be noted that these gears I’ve provided for you Christmas party clock do not ensure a happy time. However, my hope is that these activities will help you make it to break before you decide to retire half-way through the year. But hey, maybe that’s what you and your family need for the holidays: a retirement plan. I don’t know. I don’t live with you. You’ll have to make that decision on your own.
Stay Cooking Ya Filthy Animals
The Cooked Teacher