Winter break offers students, teachers, and administrators a well-deserved rest before the second half of the academic year. Everyone should use the time to regain his or her energy to start the new year off right.
At the same time, this is a unique moment when students often have more downtime than during the school year. Often, the weather is less than ideal, so staying indoors and working on a project can be a good investment of time. Completing something lingering on a task list can also relieve a student’s stress. Educators and administrators can be influential in helping students use their time productively during this lull in the school year while also rejuvenating for the next stretch of the year.
As a teacher and principal, I was often struck by how many 10th graders left in December, acting like sophomores only to return after New Year with a new sense of purpose. I observed this type of change in students (and teachers) of all ages. The shift often came from a conversation with a mentor, a unique experience, or simply from having time to think about who they wanted to become. As educators, we can encourage and nurture this growth and maturity. Here, we offer some suggestions for educators to guide students in using their time away from the classroom.
Get Ahead in Classes
First and foremost, this is a perfect time for students to improve their grades in an academic class. Often, winter break falls before the end of a quarter or semester, so there is an opportunity to complete missing or late work and study for upcoming exams. Before leaving for break, students should ask their teachers for guidance on improving their grades over break and make a plan. Student-coordinated study groups can be a nice way to spend time with friends while also catching up on their studies.
Actions educators can suggest to students to improve their grades over winter break:
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Get Ready for the ACT/SAT
Winter break is an excellent time for students to bolster their ACT or SAT scores with dedicated study time. With juniors’ test dates looming in the spring, it’s essential to use this time without classes to review content and to hone test-taking skills. By doing so, students can feel more confident and prepared, which can lead to reduced stress, better scores, and a stronger college application.
Students should sit for a full-length practice exam at the start of winter break. Winward Academy offers both ACT and SAT full-length released exams with comprehensive step-by-step explanations to support student learning. After completing the exam, they should score it on Winward Academy for a detailed performance analysis.
The next day, students should review each question in detail, watching the step-by-step explanations for each question that was missed or posed a challenge. This review will help them understand their mistakes and fill in any knowledge gaps, which is essential for elevating future results.
Once the review is complete, students should analyze their overall results to identify the lessons and topics that require the most urgent attention. From there, they should set a goal to complete 2-3 lessons over the remaining days of break. These lessons should have the biggest impact on their performance on their next exam attempt.
One way to push this effort beyond winter break is for the student to design a realistic study plan for the weeks between winter and spring break. During spring break, they can take another practice test on Winward Academy to assess their growth and adjust their study plan as needed for the final stretch of the year. This will be a huge boost for students striving to achieve a strong ACT/SAT score as they look ahead to college applications.
Actions educators can suggest to students to prepare for the ACT/SAT over winter break:
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Make the Most of Winter Break
While taking breaks and relaxing over winter break is essential, it’s equally important for students to stay focused on their long-term goals. In addition to improving grades and preparing for the ACT/SAT, there are many other ways students can stay productive and motivated during the break.
Students can use this time to explore their interests and passions, whether by reading books or articles related to their future career goals or volunteering in their community. They can also get a head start on their college applications by researching colleges and universities or building their resumes by participating in extracurricular activities. By staying engaged and motivated, students can make the most of their winter break and set themselves up for success in the new year.
By striking a balance between relaxation and productivity, students can recharge and refocus over winter break, and return to school ready to tackle their goals and achieve success.
Actions educators can suggest to students to be productive while caring for themselves over break:
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Help Them Help Themselves
As an educator or advisor, you play a significant role in guiding students on how to make the most of their winter break. By offering suggestions and coaching them to build a plan, you set them up to take control of their destinies and charge toward their own college and life goals. It is essential to encourage them to set specific, achievable goals – whether dedicating a certain number of hours per week or completing a set number of tasks – and to strike a balance between relaxation and productivity. By doing so, you can help ensure students stay motivated and focused over winter break while also chasing a bright future as they enter the new year.
Remember, your influence can be a powerful catalyst for students to take ownership of their goals and aspirations.
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About Winward Academy – Winward Academy is one of the world’s leading innovators in the online education space, providing web-based academic support that enhances students’ knowledge, confidence, and competitiveness in middle and high school academics and in college applications. We help thousands of students every year by providing personalized, comprehensive ACT and SAT test preparation and extensive math curriculum support. The Winward Academy learning platform honors over 40 years of education and cognitive psychology research, incorporating proven techniques that promote effective learning.
Winward Academy’s unmatched reputation is wholly attributable to our students’ exceptional success and to the trust earned among students, parents, and schools around the world.
