How To Shine in December!
TIPS FOR BUSY ELEMENTARY TEACHERS
A glimpse of the NYC street outside one of my favorite coffee shops where I love to go and create new TpT products and write website articles.
As December rolls around, teachers often find themselves juggling the joy of the holiday season with the challenge of keeping young learners engaged. Whether you're teaching PreK-Grade 2 in a traditional classroom, leading intervention groups, or homeschooling, staying ahead while nurturing your students can feel overwhelming. That’s where thoughtful preparation and the right resources come in.
In this post, I’ll share expert strategies for thriving as a December teacher, introduce an all-in-one resource to make your planning easier, and provide a special freebie to help you start the season strong.
1. KEEP ROUTINES STEADY, BUT ADD A SEASONAL TWIST!
Children thrive on structure, especially in the excitement of December. Use your existing routines—like morning meetings or small group rotations—but infuse them with festive, engaging themes.
An interactive December calendar slide for Google Slides and PowerPoint, featuring drag-and-drop elements for dates, holidays, and weather tracking. Perfect for daily classroom routines and building foundational math and literacy skills in early elementary students.
Morning Message: Instead of the usual greeting, try openers like,"Think about your favorite holiday tradition or celebration. How would you explain it to a friend who has never experienced it before?"(Promotes cultural awareness and oral storytelling skills); or "If you could make one rule for the whole class to follow this month, what would it be? How would it make our classroom a better place?"(Inspires self-reflection and a sense of community).
Calendar Time: Use seasonal visuals like snowflakes or reindeer to make calendar activities extra fun.
Pro Tip: The December Math and Language Pack includes editable morning messages and interactive calendar activities that are perfect for this. It brings enough of the fun while still maintaining the routines and academic rigor you need to maintain.
2.INCORPORTATE MOVEMENT & HANDS ON LEARNING
Kids need to move! Combine movement with academics by using interactive slides or gamified learning. For example:
Click the image to see a video preview of the December Math and Language Bundle.
Practice sight words with a “snowball toss” game (virtual or physical).
Count by 10s using themed manipulatives or virtual tools like the ones in the calendar pack.
Practice counting syllables, ABC order, punctuation and more by using interactive whiteboard slides (added bonus: no set up, clean up or storing of materials, just click and go!)
Free Resource Alert: Grab a 5-page preview of my December bundle to try activities like these with your class.
3. FOCUS ON LITERACY & MATH STANDARDS
December is ideal for revisiting core skills while keeping things light. Reinforce foundational math and literacy skills using creative, seasonal approaches:
Build number sense with digital tools that practice place value and counting. Engage students in syllable sorting and word families with interactive slides.
These activities not only maintain focus but also prep students for a strong January start.
Click the image to grab your free December SWAT game from my TpT store!
Ready to boost your math instruction in December? Learn how the SWAT game can make learning fun and dynamic in your class! Click here to read my post on how to play SWAT (it is an interactive, differentiated, easy, no prep activity to play as a class and can be differentiated in COUNTLESS ways to meet all of our students’ needs! Also great for a substitute teacher in case you need to be out for a day to do your Christmas shopping (wink wink!)
4. LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO SAVE TIME
Technology can transform the way you teach—and save you hours of prep time.
My smile says it all! Digital products save you SO much time & energy & help you achieve more work/life balance!
Use interactive digital products that require no printing, cutting, or laminating.
Save reusable templates and tools for future years.
My December Bundle includes fully interactive activities for PowerPoint and Google Slides, so you’ll never need to reinvent the wheel. There are also TONS of Smartboard products. I opened my TpT store back in 2013 with only Smartboard products. I have now expanded to have an equal number of Powerpoint / Google Slides products to meet every teacher’s need for interactive products!
5. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TOO!
The best teacher is a well-rested and inspired one. To maintain balance:
Simplify your lesson plans with ready-to-go resources.
Delegate where possible (use that bundle to reduce planning stress!).
Treat yourself to moments of mindfulness during the day—you deserve it!
MEET THE DECEMBER MATH/LANGUAGE PACK
This all- in- one bundle for PreK-Grade 2 teachers includes everything you need to teach, assess, and challenge students. With slides for:
Math Skills: Calendar time, number sense, place value, money, time, weather, odd/even, greater than/less than, and so much more.
Click to see the preview & grab the December Bundle
Language Skills: Syllables, word families, positional words, sequencing, ABC order, spelling, and more.
Interactive Features: Moveable pieces, editable text boxes, and links to external games.
Priced at $17 individually, the bundle is just $14 when purchased together. Plus, it’s reusable every year!
👉 Explore the December Bundle Here
Want to try it out before committing? Download a FREE 7-page preview with activities to jumpstart your December lesson plans. This freebie includes:
SWAT(an interactive and differentiated math game)
Syllable sorting slide
Sequencing slides for numbers and letters
+ a few more fun slides!
💌 Sign up here to get your free preview!
NEXT STEPS:
Check out the December Bundle to simplify your planning.
Download your free resource to see the benefits firsthand.
Stay tuned for more tips and resources—sign up for my newsletter to never miss a post!
With these strategies and resources, you’ll head into December feeling prepared, confident, and ready to shine.
Happy teaching!
