As a kid, Christmas parties were what we waited for. As a teacher, it is a lot of work!!! For the most part, it was the halfway point in the school year. It was all downhill from there. Now, I must say that benchmark testing has thrown a big fat, bucket of cold water on recent holiday seasons. They suck. They waste time. They steal joy from the classroom. And for what? So some chap at central office has something to talk numbers in their next meeting. But Christmas parties are entirely different. The Benchmark Grinch is banned from such occasions. There are no strings attached. Just good fellowship, a chance to unwind, and to do some learning that doesn’t come from a book.
Ah, so that is a great question, and I am glad that you asked. How do Christmas parties promote learning? Well for starters, children get to practice interacting for no other purpose than just being human. They get to practice using respect and manners. They get to eat. You would be surprised how many kids just need that party for some extra calories. And honestly, Christmas parties are just fun – a quality which school is lacking in greater and greater proportions. They give parents a chance to be involved. Kids can relax. And here is the kicker…drum roll please -> These types of events build community and rich culture inside of classrooms. Relationships are strengthened. Children see school as something more. And all of that makes school a welcoming place that they want to come back and be a part of.
And yes!!!! I am all for Christmas crafts. One time during a walk through, a teacher was “caught” doing a seasonal craft. Gasp. Call the cops!!!! Contact the state!!! A quick hallway conference in the hallway was called in order to notify the teacher, “This is not a part of the pacing guide(say it with as much nasal sound as you can manage).” I am not going to say what system this occurred, but it rhymes with Kingsport.
Deck the Halls. Hand out the candy canes. Order some pizza. Put on some music. Maybe even watch a movie. But on the last day of fall semester, celebrate. Our classroom communities have earned it.
ProTip: I like movie trailers. We used to watch trailers in my classroom for big movies. Here are a couple that I would use if I was teaching today. You know, I don’t know how much they add to the curriculum, but I could probably justify it. They do make classrooms a fun place to be, and I dig that. They give us things to look forward to. And if we want our students to be creative…well, they need to see creativity. They need to see storytelling. If they can see a story, I imagine at some point they will be able to take a pin and put their own stories to paper. Their minds need to be set free to dream.
