Bringing Joy Back Into Your Classroom After the Holiday Break
The holiday season is full of magic with late nights, special traditions, cozy moments, and a happy disruption of routine. For both students and teachers, it’s a time that looks and feels very different from the school day. So when January arrives and the classroom doors open again, it’s completely normal for things to feel a little off.
Energy levels can fluctuate from high to low in a moment. Attention spans can feel shorter. Emotions seem bigger and closer to the surface.
And that’s okay!
After a long break, students don’t need to jump straight back into expectations, outcomes, and academics the moment they walk in the door. Before anything else, they need to feel safe, seen, and grounded again. This is where one of the most important truths in teaching gently reminds us where to begin: Regulation before curriculum, and connection before content.
Start With Reconnection, Not Rigor
Returning from winter break is a lot like the start of the school year. It calls for a soft reset. Familiar routines, favorite stories, and predictable rhythms help children remember who they are in your classroom and how it feels to belong there.
Revisiting those early-year practices isn’t moving backward. It’s a powerful investment in everything that comes next. When connection is strong, learning flows more smoothly, more deeply, and with far more joy. Sometimes the most effective teaching move isn’t pressing forward, but pressing pause.
It’s about slowing down to reconnect and reteach now so you can move forward together soon after.
Intentionally Weaving Joy Into the Day
After the busyness of the holidays, January can feel long and heavy. That’s true for adults, too. Being intentional about bringing joy back into the day can make a remarkable difference for everyone.
Small shifts matter:
- Play music during morning arrival, transitions, or cleanup
- Use soft background music during centers or writing time
- Add calming music after recess or upbeat songs to kick-start the day
These little moments create comfort and familiarity. They help students settle back into learning while reminding them that school is a place where they feel comfortable and at ease.
Create a Collective Reset
A class meeting after the break is a powerful way to begin again together. Invite students into meaningful conversations like:
- What has gone well so far this year?
- Which routines do we do really well?
- What could we practice a little more?
- What new ideas should we try moving forward?
When students feel ownership over their classroom, the buy-in grows. They love knowing their voices matter, and those shared conversations help shape a positive path for the second half of the year.
Rebuild Community First
Before the academic pace picks up, make space to rebuild your classroom community. Morning meetings, partner interviews, team-building games, and collaborative activities help students reconnect with each other and with you.
Be especially tuned in to new worries or lingering anxieties. The second half of the year often moves quickly, with increasing academic demands. Taking time now to help students feel emotionally ready to learn makes everything else feel lighter and smoother.
Reteach Routines With a Little Fun
If needed, treat the return from break like a mini “first week of school.” Review expectations, transitions, and routines in playful, engaging ways. Invite students to share ideas and refine classroom agreements together.
When children help shape the systems around them, they understand why those systems matter and how they help keep everyone safe, happy, and ready to learn.
Celebrate Progress, Big and Small
Joy grows when effort is noticed. Look for ways to celebrate throughout the day:
- Brain breaks, stretching, yoga, or walk-and-talks
- Outdoor learning whenever possible
- Class cheers or shared celebrations
- “Glows and grows” reflections before dismissal
- Earning a favorite read-aloud or extra sharing time
These moments build momentum and remind students that school is a place where growth in academics and soft skills is celebrated.
Reset the Classroom Together
January is also a wonderful time for a classroom refresh together. Invite students to help care for their shared space:
- Sort and clean supplies
- Refresh the classroom library
- Organize cubbies, bins, and writing stations
- Clean manipulatives and center materials
When students are part of the process, it becomes a shared project instead of a chore. Plus, it helps them build pride, responsibility, and ownership.
Connection Changes Behavior
Never underestimate the power of a one-on-one connection. A quiet check-in, a short conversation, or a moment of genuine listening can shift everything. When students feel supported, understood, and valued, behavior improves, and emotional regulation strengthens.
There is so much pressure to move quickly after the break, but the truth is, the time you spend rebuilding connection is never wasted. Every moment invested in safety, trust, and belonging pays dividends for the rest of the year. Focus on reconnection, warmth, and renewed joy, and the learning will follow naturally.
What are some ways you like to reset after the holiday break with your students? I’d love to hear.
Warmly,
Debbie
Debbie Bagley works as a Studies Weekly Teacher Advocate. Teacher Advocates are former teachers who help teachers like you implement Studies Weekly materials into their instruction. Teacher Advocates are available to provide support through email, phone call, and video chat. Teacher Advocates are only available for classroom teachers currently using Studies Weekly materials. They are not available for homeschools. Schedule a meeting with Debbie here.