Christmas Escape Room Review

The days leading up to Christmas/Winter break can be pure chaos!

I feel like I have been fully initiated into teacherhood now that I have experienced the week before break! On top of it being the last week before break, we were also preparing for our Advent Program, which is where each grade performs a few songs centered around Advent/Christmas/holidays. I'm not talking just your typical music class time slot. I'm talking more along the lines of 2 1/2 HOURS two days in a row with the previous two days taken away by snow days.

Schedules were always changing and structure was weakening, which for my class in particular can be detrimental. My class is definitely one who thrives off structure, because the minute structure is taken down they go bonkers. I love them but boy do they get carried away!

One of the activities that I used on the last day of school before break was this Christmas Escape Room by Sarah Miller Tech. 

Product Overview:

Price: $4.00

Grade Levels: 4th, 5th, 6th 

Prep Time: I definitely rushed because I printed this the morning of, but it did not take long at all. I would say about 15 minutes. 

My Rating: ♡♡♡♡

Rating Explanation: I gave this product four stars because I would have liked to have given my class a scenario. I ended up making one up on the spot, and that worked just fine. A big part that either makes or breaks an escape room is the storyline that sets up the experience. Other than that, the activities were easy to prep and to understand. My fourth graders were able to independently work with their groups to decipher the codes. They were engaged for the whole hour they were rotating through the different stations. 

Let me know in the comments: Have you ever used an escape room activity in your classroom? How do you prep them? 

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New Teacher Tip #1: Give Yourself a Cutoff

New Teacher Tip #1: Give Yourself a Cutoff!

A cutoff?? I have so much to do! You can't expect me to stop without finishing EVERYTHING.

First off, breathe. I'm going to put it right out there you will get it all done. If not now, later for sure.

I'm five months into my first year of teaching and I am continuously trying to come to terms with a cutoff. There have been many days already where I have woken up, gotten to school an hour early, worked all day, and come home and worked until I got into bed. My brain wouldn't even shut off because I would be thinking about what I didn't get to or what I should have done differently.

A couple months in I could tell I wasn't happy, and I recognized I couldn't keep going like that. I knew if I did continue on like that then this would be one long school year.

I noticed that on the evenings that I stopped working a couple hours before bed I felt better about what I had accomplished. I came to terms I still had work to do, but that I would get it done eventually.

Most nights I try to give myself the cutoff at 8:00 PM. I usually take a break when I get home for a hour or so before returning to my task list that needs to be accomplished. I tell myself that I will work until 8 and whatever I get done I get done. Whatever I don't, I don't. It will be there in the morning.

Once 8 comes around, I pack up for the next day and I kickback. I might go through social media. I'll pick up a non-educational related book. I'll watch some TV. I'll get cozy under my blankets.

I let myself slow down and forget about school for a little bit. Some nights that is easier said than done. However, I have found that I have fallen asleep easier and slept more soundly on nights I have followed through with my cutoff. I wake up ready for the next school day!

This is what works for me! You might have children of your own that you need to assist with homework or drive around to different practices and rehearsals. You need to find the cutoff that is appropriate to your schedule and makes you feel comfortable.

Let me know how you wind down for the evening, especially on those Monday - Thursday evenings!

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