The school holidays are an important time for teachers and students alike. Everyone looks forward to the holidays as a way to reset, recharge and start preparing for the new term. How important are the term breaks to improving wellbeing though? 

In any profession, time away from work is necessary, but for teachers especially, this time is critical. Reports are starting to illustrate what we already suspected: that teachers are facing severe burnout. A report stated that 70% of teachers report unmanageable workloads, over three quarters (76.9%) cite teacher shortages in their schools, and one quarter (25%) regularly teach classes outside their area of training. Additionally, a staggering 60% of teacher absences in the previous month were attributed to mental health or emotional issues. These numbers paint a clear picture that the school holidays are just the starting point for what teachers need to improve their wellbeing. 

Taking a meaningful term break not only leads to improved physical and mental health but can also lead to a more successful school term. Allocating time to planning for the school term can actually reduce stress if done in the right balance. 

Strategies for finding balance over the holidays 

Map out your schedule 

It’s easy to take your work home with you over the holidays, but carve out and set clear time to switch off from school. Planning your holiday schedule ahead of time can help make splitting your days between unwinding and preparing for Term 4 easier to stick to. The first week might be the perfect time to switch off, and the second week the right time to look at what’s on for the new term. This planning time could also include meal prep and booking any leave days or important appointments.

Create new routines

The holidays are the perfect time to think about your current routines – if they’re still working or, if not, then maybe it’s time to switch them up. Are you going to bed later than you’d like, not eating enough fruit throughout the day or skipping your daily walk? Incorporating one or two new habits over the break will make it easier to see them through as we hit Term 4. Even including these habits in more specific goals can be a great way to stay committed. 

For example: 

• Eating three pieces of fruit a day 
• Sleeping eight hours a night
• Exercising four times a week 

Clear your mind 

Mindfulness as a tool for managing stress and staying present is invaluable when those high-pressure moments eventually arise. If you feel equipped to manage your emotions, naturally, you will worry less about challenging situations. Instead of losing a week of sleep over a disrupted lesson or difficult student behaviour, you’ll move through the moment and then let it go more easily. 

Mindfulness activities:

• Daily journaling in your favourite notebook
• Breathing exercises
• Guided meditation

Resources for the new term 

Term 4 is the perfect time to test out new teaching techniques, activities and resources to see what is worth implementing next year.

Growth mindset 

A growth mindset empowers learners to overcome challenges while staying motivated and engaged in learning. This naturally creates curious, independent and confident students who are less reliant on teachers and parents to guide them through every step of the learning process and are more willing to take on challenges themselves. 

Growth mindset resources and activities:

1. The big thinking switch 

1. Moulding Mindsets – Teacher Extension
2. The power of yet
3. Mistakes help you grow

A personalised learning program that empowers students
Every student is unique, with different strengths, weaknesses, and interests. When students are involved in their education, learning can be tailored to suit their individual needs. This personalisation not only makes learning more enjoyable but also more effective, as they are more likely to retain information that is relevant and interesting to them.

If you’re looking for personalised support, then a program like Maths Pathway could be the right fit for your classroom. We see every student as an individual – that’s why every learning journey is personalised.

Our intuitive diagnostic test clearly maps everything a student knows or doesn’t know yet and provides them with the maths content they are ready to learn next. Our high-quality curriculum-aligned learning content is created by maths teachers and numeracy specialists and powers our personalised learning model. 

You can explore Maths Pathway in a free term trial, but get in quick to lock in your trial for Term 4.

Maths activities for Term 4 

Searching for interesting lessons to run with your students in Term 4? Click on a lesson below to watch the lesson video with Tom Moore and access any relevant teaching materials.

We hope these tips help you reset these school holidays and our resources make Term 4 a little easier. Happy holidays!