It's the time of year again: Spring Vacation. With many vacations delayed until this year and the pandemic slowing, expect that more of your students will be heading elsewhere for a holiday. It's a terrific time for you to take a rest, clear your head and recharge. I know I will be! I'm headed off to sunny Mexico this week!
1. Easter Break is a large event, but it can also be a busy time in the class.
The first thing to consider is that Spring Break is a big event, but it can be a busy time in the schoolroom. The students will need to know that this is a time that is essential for the educators, so do your best to be organized and prepare thoroughly. It's a two-way street: both students and teachers need to lay the groundwork before break so no unexpected problems arise.
Second, and more significant than the actual time, is that your students need to know what to expect. The last thing you want to do during the break is to get Anixous about life. Be patient. Be inclusive. Show that you empathize. It's fine to take a moment to breathe and rest when you need to. You don't have to do it all at one time. That's it! If you are ready, then you are ready.
2. What to do on April break needs to be decided in advance so you are not scrambling at the last minute.
My advice would be to determine what you want to do ahead of time and make plans. If you do not have a plan then you're going to end up with a lot of wasted time and money. The best thing to do is to get some sort of accommodation that you may rent or a place that you can stay in for a few days.This manner, you understand precisely what you need to do ahead of time so once you start looking for a place to stay, you have a schedule in mind. Instead of wasting months or even years like I did, make sure you make your intentions well ahead of time. This way, you can shave a month or two off your travelling time or at least remove a lot of the hassle.
I wish I had taken this advice before. Because when you are on your travels by yourself, you have a lot less time to waste. In hindsight, this probably sounds like common sense information but you must practice making and maintaining life plans. It doesn't quite happen automatically but something like this will get you to pay less attention to empty time and to waste less of it on ruminating, useless thoughts.
In my travels, you always end up spending a little more than you planned. This is because you usually book airlines, accommodations, and join other people you know in your destinations.
Your costs are the same either way. It's something you need to cover each time that the travel goes ahead. This practice of paying for the appropriate deals or the right hotels or the ideal restaurants will save you a lot of money and time. I am well aware that since I use preventive measures for this, my expenses might be a bit higher now than they were back then but I still tend to reevaluate my spending.
Finding a fantastic bargain and booking cheap flights and staying someplace cheap will only get you so far. There is still the question of how are you going to leave your home when you don't have a clue about anything.
3. It is important to assign work during spring break since it enables students to get together outside of class time and gives teachers more time with their pupils.
Since students are not able to function in the classroom during spring break, they may need to be able to get together outside of class time so as to use their time wisely and to get to know each other better. For this reason, spring break is an excellent time to assign work and to allow students to get together outside of class time. It's also a great time for students that are not going to a different town (or country) for some much needed socializing in.
The main reason that most campuses participate in spring break is so that students can be societal during their off time. Research indicates that if award institutions look closely into this demand, then they could design their schedules accordingly so that students can spend more time with their peers. As 10 university awards presented by CINP recognize, competition can be high, and therefore it's an excellent idea to design your program so that you can attract the right students, so that you could hold onto them long enough to make it to the end of awards ceremonies. While the world continues to change, students may expect to be in tight social and educational relationships based on shared interests with their peers which this year will be all about. Being stuck in a world that continues to break down each second, students may have to adjust their schedules, but they can also rely on generous scholarships and awards to make it through a tough academic year.
Whatever you decide, have a terrific week!