It's that time of year again: Spring Vacation. With many vacations delayed until this season and the virus slowing, expect that more of your students will be heading elsewhere for a holiday. It's a great time for you to have a rest, clear your head and recharge. I know I will be! I'm headed off to sunny Colorado this week!
1. Spring Break is a large event, but it can also be a hectic time in the class.
The first thing to consider is that Spring vacation is a big event, but it can be a busy time in the class. The students will need to know that this is a time that's important for the teachers, so do what you can to be organized and prepare thoroughly. It is a two-way road: both students and teachers need to lay the groundwork ahead of 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 need to do during the break is to get Anixous about life. Be patient. Be inclusive. Show that you care. It's okay to take a moment to breathe and rest if you want to. You do not have to do everything at one time. That's it! If you are ready, then you're ready.
2. Things to do on spring break has to be decided in advance so that you aren't scrambling at the last moment.
My advice would be to determine what you want to do beforehand and make plans. If you do not have a plan then you are 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 exactly what you need to do ahead of time so when 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 eliminate a lot of the hassle.
I wish I had taken this information 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 have to practice making and maintaining life plans. It does not 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 ideas.
In my trips, you always end up spending a little more than you planned. This is because you usually book flights, accommodations, and join other people you know in your destinations.
Your costs will be the same either way. It's something you have to cover every time the travel goes ahead. This practice of paying for the appropriate deals or the right hotels or the right restaurants will save you a lot of money and effort. I'm well aware that because I use preventive measures for this, my expenses might be a little higher now than they were back then but I still tend to minimise my spending.
Finding a good bargain and booking cheap flights and staying somewhere cheap will only get you so far. There is still the question of how are you going to leave your house when you don't have a clue about anything.
3. It is very 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 unable to work in the classroom during spring break, they might need to have the ability to get together outside of class time in order to use their time wisely and to get to know each other better. For this reason, spring break is a good time to assign work and to allow students to get together outside of class time. It's also a great time for students that aren't going to another city (or country) to get some much needed socializing in.
The major reason that many campuses participate in spring break is so that students can be social during their off time. Research indicates that if award institutions look closely in 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 is an excellent idea to design your schedule so you can attract the right students, so you can hold onto them long enough to make it to the end of awards ceremonies. As the world continues to change, students can expect to maintain tight educational and social relationships based on common interests with their peers which this year will be all about. Being stuck in a world that continues to break down every second, students might have to adjust their schedules, but they can also rely on generous awards and scholarships to make it through a difficult academic year.
Whatever you decide, have a terrific week!