Time Capsules

I’ve love New Year’s. It’s one of those holidays that typically gets overlooked by the beauty and busyness of Christmas and sneaks up quietly and freshly without much notice. It’s important though, both for ourselves and for our students.

I’ll admit, it’s HARD going back after break. The sleeping in, the no schedule, the late nights with Netflix could all happily become a new way of life for me. And as much as I feel sad (make that all-out-depressed) to go back to work, it’s important that our students don’t see this sadness. As I attempt to gather my sleepy, red eyes and tired body for the day,  what they’ll hear from me instead is this:  that I missed them, that I’m so excited to see them again and that I can’t wait begin a brand new year with them.

You see, for some of our students, the New Year needs to be emphasized. A brand new start, a change for the better, a new beginning. I love this quote from Edith Lovejoy Pierce:

For some of my students, Monday can and may mark a “new beginning” and we should celebrate this. With our encouragement that this date is a blank page, some students may try harder (or even start trying). Others may change their attitudes about school or reach out to find a friend this year. For us SLPs, it may mean we set new resolutions, try new therapy techniques or step out of our comfort zone a little more in 2016. So…as we once again set the alarm tonight and try to mentally prepare for a week back to work, remember that Monday can also perhaps be a glorious date to celebrate.

One activity that I’m excited to do with my students this week are our Time Capsules.

I use this fun worksheet from my Prediction Pack (great for New Year’s or anytime!)

And then we make these simple time capsules.

And when I say simple, I mean simple. It’s just a piece of paper crinkled at both ends tied with a ribbon. We fill out a few favorites on a half piece of paper and I tell my students to put a few things in at home that represent this past year. For me, this is how I’m telling my students that I’m expecting another baby so I’m pretty excited about it! I also put in a family picture, a Dove chocolate (yum!) and a yellow crayon because I LOVE anything yellow 🙂

As we reflect upon 2015 and capture it’s memories, let’s not also forget to encourage our students that 2016 is a blank page upon anything can be written. Happy New Year 🙂