The Hidden Opportunity of Fall Break - the reset button!

Ahhh, Fall Break... the weather's changing... you've had a moment to breathe, maybe read a novel, listen to some relaxing tunes, travel the world (through the internet) and sleep! You're rejuvinated and ready for 2 more months of school until winter break.

But, the reality of your situation is this - the students have had one to two weeks off as well. Do you think the majority of them took a moment to breathe, read a novel, listen to some relaxing tunes, travel the world? No, many of them stayed up all night, slept in most mornings, got all sugared up, and have forgotten all the procedures you carefully taught them. Who was supervising the students during the last one to two weeks of fall break? Parents are working... yes, it was an older sibling or self regulation! Yikes!! They are coming back like a hurricane if you're not prepared.

The hidden opportunity of fall break is found in the moment to hit a reset button. No matter what was going on in regards to classroom and instructional management, you can hit a reset button after fall break. Here's what I suggest you do - three simple things:

1. Pretend it is the first day of school.
2. Reteach all of your classroom procudures, rules, consequences.
3. Reteach all of your instructional and learning expectations.
4. Practice, practice, practice all of your procedures and expectations until they are automatic once again.

I promise you, if you will do these simple suggestions the student academic time on task will increase along with all student achievement data!

Visit, http://www.theprincipals-office.com/ for ideas on increasing student academic time on task.

Best wishes,

Dr. Brian