8 things teachers can do to prepare for a new half term

It has been a long time since I last posted! Call it writers’ block, but there has been so much going on. New school this year, and recently engaged, so I’ve been busy getting to grips with new systems and wedding planning! As half term holiday draws to a close, I find myself getting excited about getting back to work (this never happens!). For all those teachers, new or old, who find the last few days of a holiday break a bit overwhelming like me, I thought I’d compile a list of helpful things to remember/do before your alarm starts blaring at sunrise tomorrow!

8 things to do before you go back to school

1. Enjoy an hour for you – have a hot bath, curl up with a good book, watch your favourite film, just do something that has nothing to do with school. This is particularly important if you’ve spent the half term week off chasing around after other people! This is YOUR time. Mentally prepare yourself for the new half term in a way that appeals to you.
2. Prep your meals – I’m not a big food prepper, really, but I find that sorting my lunches ahead of the week really helps with stress levels in the morning. I just make sure I have enough bagels and fruit for grabbing in the morning, but this would be a good time to sort a tasty pasta salad or soup to lift your spirits when you hit a slump in the week.
3. Try not to check your emails – I am THE WORST for this. You’ve gone all week not checking them, you can go another day. The last thing you want is to read about a problem that you can’t fix until Monday and you’ll then have to lie awake obsessing over.
4. Pack your bag – your name badge/ID, favourite marking pens (does anyone have those?!), laptop, any books you brought home. The last thing you want is to forget something important on your first day back when you want to hit the ground running!
5. Set your alarm – right now! Who has decided to leave setting their alarm for the week until they’re about to go to bed and then forgotten? Do it now, and it’s done.
6. Organise a nice treat to enjoy during the day tomorrow – that first morning can be a killer, can’t it! You’re out of the morning routine and by midday you might be on your knees begging for 3.30. Cue yourself up a sweet treat, diet be damned. Or maybe pick yourself up a nice latte on your way in. This doesn’t have to become a habit. Treat yourself, it’s your first day back!
7. If you really must, remind yourself of your planning – by this point you have probably already done everything you need to do for Monday in terms of planning. Either have faith, or make yourself feel extra prepared by reminding yourself of your core lesson plans for tomorrow.
8. Get a good night’s sleep – it doesn’t have to be an early night, but go to bed with a good book, or a milky drink, and just relax. You’ve got this! The children will be really excited to see you and each other, and to share their week. It’ll be a great day, so you don’t need to spend all night worrying about whether or not you marked Tommy’s book properly, or if you remembered to include plenaries on your maths plan.

I hope these steps are helpful to some! I’ll be curling up at 9pm tonight with my new book that I have promised myself I will read every night this week for some me time. Have a fantastic first week back – it’ll be Christmas before you know it!