I am glad that through my profession I can experience the joy and enthusiasm of the magic of Christmas not only in my family circle, but that it is also multiplied in our classroom environment. Not only classroom Advent is a beautiful and magical time that can strengthen class relationships beautifully.

Classroom magic of Christmas

As a teacher, I love to watch and be carried away by the "classroom magic of Christmas" that creeps into our classroom during Advent and it makes me happy to see and hear that even today's children know that the holidays are not just about the number of presents, which we as adults often seem to lure them into when a catalogue from a toy store is placed in front of them and they have to put together a list for Santa Claus. Sometimes I get chills and tears in my eyes when I hear their heartfelt wishes for each other and see their open sparkling eyes and hearts. The words, hugs and warmth in the catalogue of goods to order will never be and is priceless. I am glad to be the one to reinforce in the children the values of mutual trust, tolerance, openness, honesty, love, friendship, willingness to help and listen to each other, being close and knowing that we are there for each other and safe and that it is not enough, on the contrary.

We are all looking forward to class advent and the Christmas season. We start by decorating the classroom windows together, putting up angel stockings, completing St. Nicholas and Christmas tasks in various subjects, drawing lots for a friend for whom we choose and wrap a gift. (Last year, what happened was that the children sat next to each other on the carpet before the draw and each drew a classmate sitting next to them. It was truly magical).

Note: If you have a new class and want to include a Christmas reciprocal gift, it's good to know "what class" you have and what you can afford. There have been several times when I have been discouraged from this activity by some of my colleagues or by others' experiences. But in 15 years, I have never experienced anyone crying and being disappointed at a gift-giving event... I only experienced it in my role as a 5th grade student when a classmate received an anonymous gift and there was an unwrapped lollipop and an unsharpened pencil. Yes, it can happen. 🙁 And I cite this as a "deterrent" case as well. Because no one wants to experience disappointment and sadness at the tree, but to have the joy of making someone happy. But that's why I first discuss with the class - children and parents - whether it will be a raffle of a certain price or an address drawing. Both are possible, I apply both. In previous years, it was more often a raffle, sometimes with an indication of whether it was a girl's or boy's gift. Now, after returning from maternity leave, we have a classroom raffle for the second year and a set amount of 150,- CZK (or €, $ equivalent) with the parents. If someone wants to gift some other friend, quite naturally they do.

Activities for classroom advent

During Advent I arrange a Christmas lesson in the library, a Christmas exhibition, a talk or an exposition in a museum or in the neighbourhood. We make cards and small surprises for the parents, but we don't forget about the nearby staff - the children usually decide who else they will prepare something for (e.g. the librarian, the cleaning lady, the dining room or the concierge). Last year we managed to make it to the cinema with a fairy tale and this year to the theatre. We are preparing an afternoon meeting with parents, we have a class Christmas clean-up, a final class day with traditions, story reading, tea, sweets and presents. We listen to carols at this time of year, we sing (this year we have a flute and trumpet playing through the classroom in the hands of the class musicians),and sometimes we smell gingerbread or beeswax while making candles.

Previously, we opened a chocolate advent calendar, last year we each colored our own one at a time, and this year we opened one together and read the Christmas story on each day.

Enjoy Advent and then move from the classroom Christmas atmosphere to the family one, which is undoubtedly always influenced by the school one, because we teachers often connect them more or less.

Have a wonderful holiday. And all the best in the new year. Kate.