Snow Days.

Love. Hate. Love. Hate. Love. Hate.

This is the relationship between educators and the infamous snow days in Minnesota.  As a student, snow days caused us bouts of extreme happiness filled with pajama dancing in the kitchen; this was especially true when school was already delayed the night before!  As an educator, snow days wreak havoc on lesson plans and headaches with schedules.  Secretly, educators long for snow days for a break in the mental daze and daily stress of teaching, learning, and leading! However, educators are very aware that the school calendar may be extended because of these snow days!

Love. Hate. Love. Hate. Love. Hate.

This is a double-edged sword knowing the implications of such a day and what it means to future plans.  We believe one of the major keys to teacher sanity during Minnesota winters is… FLEXIBILITY. According to dictionary.com, flexibility is defined as “susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable; willing or disposed to yield; pliable.”

The following suggestions are three simple survival techniques to help educators stay pliable during the snow daze of winter:

1.   Be overly, abundantly, excessively prepared.

TAKE ACTION:
Create thorough lesson plans with extras built in and have a plan A, B, C, …Z! With this skill, you can sit back and enjoy the snow day without having to worry about what to get ready for the next day.

2.    Don’t worry about things you have no control over.  Change those things you do have control over. Worry is worthless. Action is priceless.

TAKE ACTION:
If you are prepared and have plan A, B, C…Z in place, you can concentrate on those things you would like to do on your Snow Day. Just remember to complete your schoolwork first. After the necessary schoolwork is taken care of, think reasons for caffeine and wine.  🙂  In the morning, begin your snow day with a lovely, aromatic, cup of coffee while sitting in your favorite chair and watching the snow dance outside your window. In the evening, cook that favorite meal for dinner that you usually do not have time to prepare during the week. Serve a glass of flavorful, fine wine with it. Indulge! (Notice we did not say overindulge). 🙂

3.    Remember the kid in you and the adult in you must play nice. Or…just play!

TAKE ACTION:
Use the snow day for a little R & R. Relax. Read a book. Research that concept you have been meaning to implement in your classroom for the last two years. Go sledding; build a snow fort; drink hot chocolate; be a ‘snow baby’ for the afternoon.

When the snow day is over and you are back to work, you’ll be a bit more rejuvenated because you are prepared, not worrying about issues you have no control over, and are keeping in balance the kid and adult in you.
Don’t worry, be happy!  🙂

Question: How about you? What ‘snow day’ survival tips have helped you endure the snow daze of winter?

Stay Calm & Lead On!
Profs Dr. C. & Dr. V.