I think we can all agree that these last months have been intense for our young learners, their families, and faculty alike. We’ve all scrummed through the bulk of this busy, sometimes challenging semester, with the shared goal of making the most out of our learning journeys. Our brains are full to capacity and our bodies are feeling the weight of all the energy we’ve invested in the learning process. Everyone is ready for some rest, I think.
If there is one thing I have learned in my almost 20 years of being an educator, it is that Winter Break is when the magic happens. As minds wind down, and bodies take time to breath, our brains keep working away quietly in the background. They are processing, filing and consolidating. This is when all the cognitive work starts to come together. During play, rest and vacation, neurons continue to strengthen and reach out, formatting and reformatting, making new connections and solidifying learning. I’m looking forward to the new year, seeing those proverbial light bulbs, and watching the young members of our learning community, each in their own unique way, and guided by their individual strengths and goals, start to move confidently towards the finish line.
Until then, may your break be filled with family, play, love and laughter.
Ms. M.