So,here is some basic survival information about teenagers, middle schools, and the holidays.
1. Gift Giving --if young teenagers are involved in a relationship, the questions of appropriate gifts come to the surface. Is it too early for jewelry, what clothing items are appropriate (no lingerie), what if you buy a gift for person that you care for, but the feelings are unappreciated. Some tips about appropriate gift buying in middle school include: Stay within your price range, look for subtle hints about what your boy/girlfriend likes, and start slow (no diamonds engagement rings in 7th grade, and yes it has happened)(http://www.wikihow.com/Pick-the-Perfect-Gift-for-Your-Boyfriend-or-Girlfriend-in-Middle-School)
2. School Break--While teachers are counting down the number of days between and Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation (13 days from today for those of you who are wondering! but I am not counting or anything like that). Any....way, the issue at hand here is that schools provide a lot of consistency for students. It is the place that students spend time with their friends, eat two of their three meals during the day, and make connections with their teachers and staff members. During the winter break, depending on what day those holidays fall, some schools can be out for an entire two weeks. (Teachers unfortunately have to stay at home as well :) you can't teach when the students are there, oh darn! For some students, this means a break in consistency and structure. The greater majority of students do well with structure and consistency, and they is the true reason why so many are really ready to return to school when the January winds begin to blow. There are some great tips of things to do with your students all over the internet. It is a google search that will be outdone before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. But, if that is too much work, here are few quick tips: have a regular mealtime during break just like at school (it helps to keep the routine), build in time during each day for learning or hands on activities (video games do not count here!), try to maintain a regular bedtime (even if it is later than a usual school night).
3. Keep up with the Jones'--or the Smith's, or the Tyler's or the Johnson's, or whomever your student's best friend's last name during this holiday season. After opening presents during your particular holiday season, the second best thing is finding out what everyone else got. Social Media makes this process faster and easier for teens to click away during the ceremonial gift giving process. However, it also makes it worse for those students that don't receive gifts that are up to par with the rest of the social group to which they belong. So, how do we tackle this dreadful and age old problem of "I got better gifts than you"? Simply by giving!! Make the focus of your holiday about giving instead of receiving. Let's be the people that change
"I got better gifts than you" to "I gave gifts, did you?"
Finally remember, most of all, to make memories with your students. Before long, you will be wishing them back into these years of middle school mayhem. You will long for the fights in the kitchen, the laughter in the living room, and the scamper of feet on these cold winter mornings as they quickly fade back to the school schedule in January!!!
Wishing you and yours the best of holiday seasons of whichever you choose to celebrate. Celebrate it with love, with family, and with laughter!!!!
