Last Tuesday, I watched little Sofia bounce in her seat for approximately forty-seven minutes straight. Not exaggerating. I started timing her after the first ten minutes because, honestly, I was impressed by her stamina.

"Miss Santos," she finally burst out during our math lesson, "how many more days until we don't have to do fractions?"

Welcome to the week before Thanksgiving break, y'all.

The Reality Check We All Need

Let's be honest about something. The week before any break is rough, but Thanksgiving week hits different. The kids are wired, parents are stressed about travel plans, and we're all running on fumes from the longest stretch of the school year.

I used to fight this reality. Ay, dios mío, did I fight it hard. My first few years teaching, I'd plan elaborate lessons and get frustrated when nobody could focus. I'd raise my voice trying to get attention and end up more exhausted than the kids.

Now? I work with the chaos instead of against it.

Lower Your Expectations (And I Mean It)

This isn't giving up. This is being smart.

During Thanksgiving week, I plan for about 60% of normal productivity. That's it. If we get more done, fantastic. If we don't, we're still on track.

I learned this lesson the hard way during my third year teaching. I had this beautiful unit on Native American history planned, complete with research projects and presentations. The kids were supposed to be deeply engaged, making connections to the holiday.

Instead, Marcus (different Marcus than my son) spent twenty minutes explaining why his family's turkey was going to be "the most epic turkey ever" while the rest of the class debated whether stuffing or mashed potatoes were superior. The research projects? Half-hearted at best.

Now I save the heavy lifting for after break when everyone's refreshed.

What Actually Works This Week

Embrace the Holiday Spirit

Instead of fighting their excitement, channel it. We do Thanksgiving math problems. How many pounds of turkey for twelve people? If each pie serves eight people and we have twenty-four guests, how many pies do we need?

The kids love it because it feels relevant. I love it because we're still practicing multiplication and division.

Movement is Your Friend

Remember Sofia and her bouncing? She needed to move. They all do.

I build in extra movement breaks this week. We do math scavenger hunts around the classroom. During reading time, kids can sit on the floor, stand at the back counter, or even lie on their bellies if it helps them focus.

Fighting their need to move is like trying to hold back the tide. Work with it instead.

Flexibility is Everything

Last year, the fire alarm went off right in the middle of our Thanksgiving writing activity. Instead of being frustrated about losing time, we turned it into a writing prompt when we got back inside. "Write about a time something unexpected happened."

The stories were actually better than what they'd been working on before.

Managing Your Own Stress

Here's what nobody tells you about this week: it's not just the kids who are struggling. We're tired too.

I've been doing this for twenty-two years, and I still feel the weight of this stretch. From Halloween through Thanksgiving is basically a marathon with no water stations.

Give Yourself Permission to Do Less

That bulletin board that needs updating? It can wait until December. Those papers you meant to grade? Pick the most important ones and let the rest slide.

Carlos always jokes that I bring half the school home with me, but this week I try to leave more at school. The kids need me to be present and patient, not stressed about my to-do list.

Plan Something to Look Forward To

I always schedule something fun for myself during this week. Maybe it's coffee with my colleague Patricia during lunch, or maybe it's just promising myself I'll watch a terrible Hallmark movie after the kids go to bed.

Having something small to anticipate helps me get through the tough moments.

The Magic of Gratitude Activities

This sounds cheesy, but stick with me. Gratitude activities actually work during this week, and not just because they're seasonally appropriate.

When kids focus on what they're thankful for, it shifts their energy. Instead of bouncing off the walls thinking about vacation, they settle into something calmer.

We keep it simple. Each morning, three kids share one thing they're grateful for. That's it. No elaborate projects or forced reflection essays.

Yesterday, little Emma said she was grateful for "pencils that don't break when you're trying to finish your work." It was so specific and genuine that it made the whole class smile.

When Things Go Wrong (And They Will)

Two years ago, we had a stomach bug sweep through our classroom the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Half my kids were out sick, the other half were worried about getting sick, and I was running on pure adrenaline and hand sanitizer.

I threw out my lesson plans completely. We watched a nature documentary about turkeys (educational!), did some gentle math games, and called it a day. Nobody died, nobody fell behind, and we all survived.

Sometimes survival is enough.

The Countdown Strategy

Kids are going to count down the days whether we acknowledge it or not. So I make it official.

We have a little countdown on the board, and each day we cross off another number. It gives them a sense of control and helps them visualize how much time is left.

Plus, it's honestly helping me too. Seeing "2 more days" written out makes it feel manageable.

Remember Why We're Here

In the middle of all the chaos, it's easy to forget why we love this job. But this week often gives us the sweetest moments.

Last year, David, who usually struggles with writing, spent thirty minutes crafting a thank you note to our school custodian. He wanted to make sure Mr. Rodriguez knew how much he appreciated having clean bathrooms.

These kids, even when they're bouncing off the walls, have huge hearts. They're excited about time with family, grateful for what they have, and still learning even when we think they're not paying attention.

You've Got This

We're in the home stretch now. By the time you read this, you might only have a day or two left before break. You've made it through the hardest part.

Remember that it's okay if this week wasn't your best teaching week. It's okay if the kids were restless and you felt scattered. It's okay if you're counting down the hours just as much as they are.

We'll all come back refreshed after break, ready to tackle the push toward winter break with renewed energy. But for now, just focus on getting through with grace, patience, and maybe a little extra coffee.

Your classroom might be chaotic, pero you're still making a difference. Even when it doesn't feel like it.

Hang in there, teachers. We're almost home.