It’s the most wonderful time of the year!🎅🏼

‘As the term comes to an end and Mr Claus is soon to visit our houses, my attention is drawn to how we celebrate Christmas at school. With staff show rehearsals in full swing and secret Santa gifts wrapped, how will I make everyone in my form feel thought about this Christmas?

Leading up to the last week of term, I have been thinking a lot about how to end the term positively for myself and pupils, and to spread Christmas cheer. In some lessons we begin with a exciting comment that the holidays are fast approaching and pupils are keen to share their Christmas plans. I’m filled with joy to hear about their family plans, and how they love spending time with the people that matter most to them. And of course there are the comments about wanting the newest iPhone or the latest XBOX game, but how nice to share moments of happiness that we are looking forward to in the weeks to come!

Although like all things, there comes the children that won’t have a stable, enjoyable Christmas. For whatever reason this could be, when I talk about Christmas I never forget that for some people this might not be their favourite day of their year.

So, this year I have made an extra effort to ensure that whatever happens in their households this Christmas, my form class will have all had a small but meaningful Christmas gift, that we all open and celebrate together.

7L’s secret Santa is in full swing, with our form class getting more and more excited each day at the prospect of everyone receiving presents on Monday morning. Not only does it make us grateful and joyful, but it also creates a group responsibility to cheer up and treat the people around us. Just to see the excitement on their faces when they picked a name out of the hat was lovely. And that’s before the gifts! Also, they wanted to include me! So now I get to have the delight too, as we all open the presents together!

Its definitely true that you develop a special bond with your form pupils, but also that you feel proud of them. The delight in having a young form class, is their appreciation of the little things, the small efforts made by others. I have given them all an individual message with a mini candy-cane. For some pupils, a “merry Christmas” and a small gift will make their day. It’s such a simple idea but for me, it’s a way to ensure that everyone gets wished a Merry Christmas before the leave my room for the last time this year.

A very positive blog this week, celebrating spreading Christmas cheer, and trying to make my pupils feel involved, appreciated and cared for this Christmas ❤️

How do you celebrate Christmas in your classes? When is it too early to play Christmas songs? How do you make them all feel thought about at Christmas?

Thanks for reading!

Miss B :)