Winter Break 2022

 

Have a Wonderful Winter Break.

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

November 2022

 

As November comes to a close, 

having recently given thanks, 

preparing to transition from autumn to winter, 

and with 2022 nearing its last month,

take time to look back and reflect on the path taken through the educational journey experienced thus far.

Education is now in the transitional period between Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break.  Teachers have designed, developed, and began to deploy lesson plans for this transition period.

Why leaves change color, snowflake formation and crystallization, budgeting and saving, winter decorations, celebrations, traditions, and customs, creative crafting ideas, team projects and research, specialized skill development, knowledge understanding and assessment, and many more.

Attention may be difficult to maintain for some as the well deserved winter break is just over the horizon, but there is much work to do to continue improving learning, studying and teaching.  There is also time available to allow creativity and knowledge to flourish and flow.

Students, teachers, parents, administrators, support staff, every education stakeholder, advocate, and supporter, can contribute to finish 2022 guiding education forward and onward into 2023.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Winter Break 2021

Have A Wonderful Winter Break!!!

Enjoy The Holidays.

Happy New Year!!!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Winter Break Education Guide 2021

Thanksgiving Break has come to an end and now education resumes its course towards the end of the year before signing off for the Winter Break.  This is a great time for schools and educators to develop a Winter Break Education Guide that students and parents can use to continue to close the void created by COVID.  The following is a list of items that could be included in your Winter Break Education Guide.  Each classroom and student's needs are unique, so be flexible in adapting and modifying these items as to fit the needs.

Winter Break Education Guide 2021

-Research What Interests You

A great way to reach a student is by having them research their interests further.  Sports, Art, Space, Science, Historical Events, can all be tied back to classroom curriculum if students can make links by furthering their knowledge of such.  Students can then write a report, create a video presentation, make a list of sources that were useful, even those that were not.  This has the added benefit to give an insight into what students are into.

-Provide Students With Topics to Research

It is always useful to have a list of topics provided as for some students picking an interest could be quite challenging.  This list of topics can be linked to classroom material that has been covered or will be cover in class.  Students can then have a second go at it or be prepared ahead of time for when such topic is covered.

 -Encourage Social Outreach

If distance learning taught us one thing is that we have the technology through which we can communicate and stay in touch.  Things can happen as we are away from school and some students may not have the social safety net at home to reach out for support.  Encouraging students to reach out to each other over the Winter Break can provide the means through which one can ask for help or advice in case of a tough time during the break.

-Rest & Recreation

It is a break after all.  Rest is the best way for the body and mind to recuperate from the many stresses that have transpired in 2021.  Recreation is a great way to free the spirit from the restrains of lockdowns, school, and social isolation.  It can also reinvigorate creativity and refuel our imagination.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Returning from Fall Break

It is the final weekend before returning to education from the Fall Break.
Educators became rested and recharged as Thanksgiving was celebrated.
Teachers and students come back to school prepared for the winter that is to come.

After the Fall Break education goes through an adjustment period of limited time that allows for maintenance to be performed heading into the Winter Break.  Students, Teachers, Administrators, and Parents, have been collaborating since returning from Summer break on that first day of school.  Before the Winter Break arrives it is a good time for all stakeholders in education to prepare for the second half of school, that last day of class.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2019.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Christmas 2018

Happy Holidays. 2018.

Happy Holidays!

To all who visit our education blog and follow us on Twitter, we want to wish you a Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas.

and to all Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators, and all school faculty, staff, and education advocates: Enjoy the Winter Break.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

December 2018

Winter is Here.

We have reached the end.

The end of 2018, and what a year it has been.

It is time to look back upon the memories that we have made throughout the year; going back to that Monday on January 1st, when we rang in the new year with wishes of happiness and hope.

December not only bring s with it the end of the year, but in education it provides the opportunity to take a break during Winter and make an assessment that allows for corrections and adjustments in a student's educational path and , if needed, create new learning opportunities to meet set goals to be achieved by the end of the school year.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Preparing for Winter Break

Winter Break is near.

It is time to reflect on what a year it has been.

Schools prepare to take a winter break as people celebrate holidays and welcome in the new year.

Students need breaks from school to rest and recharge, but taking a break from learning can result in the widening of the academic performance gap.  Students can fall behind in education if they do not continue to maintain a minimum level of learning while they are on break.

Students can use the upcoming Winter Break to close this achievement gap by creating projects that help in the development of specific academic skills and/or knowledge & understanding.

Parents, Teachers, and Students can collaborate in the development of projects, establish a support network, and set reasonable goals; while also allowing for an enjoyable Winter Break.

Projects can be as simple as watching a series of pre-selected videos online and preparing reports on them, or as complex as attempting to solve a real-life problem that is currently making a significant impact on society.

During the time that remains between now and the beginning of Winter Break, educators should work with students and parents to develop Winter Break Education Projects (WBEP).  Through early planning, and the setting of clear assessments goals for WBEP's, students, parents, and teachers can help close achievement gaps in education.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

December 2017

The final month of the year is here!
The arrival of December marks the end of 2017.
Educators prepare the last student lessons of the year as the winter break approaches.
December is the last chance that for students to end the year with a positive learning drive and to recharge the desire to continue to study for when they return next year.
Teachers and administrators take stock and reflect on all that has been accomplish in the classroom and at school while looking and planning ahead for what remains to achieve in the upcoming year.

We are at the most significant transition point in time of the academic school year where many changes and transformation can still take place, if we want to achieve the goals set at the beginning of the school year.
The journey that students, teachers, parents, administrators, and all school and education stakeholders have embarked upon has reached its unofficial midpoint.
As the countdown of the year approaches, it would be good to take time to reflect and focus on some key core principles that will aid in the development of education:

-Look back at what has been accomplished since the beginning of the year.

-What are the educational goals that were set, and how are they becoming a reality?

-Reflect on those memorable lessons and class projects. What made them become so?

-What relationships have we develop with classmates and staff to help us grow?

-How have we collaborated with others and can we do more to reach out and support them even further? 

-What is our educational vision for when we return to school after winter break?


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2017.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

October 2016

"Pumpkin Patch" (Illustration by the author)

October is here and with it comes the changing of the color in the foliage.

Autumn marks its return as the leaves fall down from the branches of the tree to be carried in the wind.

Harvest season is upon us and serves as a reminder, that if we have not started to make preparations for the winter, there's not much time left.

October also brings changes to education for which we must prepare.

A look at the calendar, from now to the end of the year, reveals all the holidays and events that create breaks.

These breaks are good, and much needed, but they could turn bad if we do not take the time to properly schedule school projects, assignments, presentations, etc.

By planning a new schedule from now to the end of the year, educators can prepare their lessons and incorporate these series of breaks into learning experiences.

Educators should encourage students to pursuit further learning on their own, outside of the school and classroom setting.

And if you already have a plan, take the time to review it too, it is always better to be prepared and prudent.

Educators should also reach out and help other educators who may be struggling at the start of the year, or may have joined our schools after the school year started.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2016.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Happy Holidays 2014

MRCR Education would like to wish you

Happy Holidays for this Winter Break.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Winter Break

Winter break can bring to mind some of the following:

• The end of 2014.
• Last school week of the year.
• Last school day of 2014.
• Time off.
• Special time.

People get tired.  Fatigue begins to build up over time.  It accumulates until the point of exhaustion is reached.  Once this point is crossed, complete collapse is, perhaps, the most probable outcome for a person.

This is why people need breaks.  To recharge, to recuperate, to review, to rest.  Breaks are a part of the education process.  The education process, however, does not take a break.  There is great potential for learning, studying, teaching, and becoming further educated during breaks.

This winter break, while resting from being tired, as learners, students, and teachers, continue, as best as possible, the ongoing educational process.  This winter break it is up to the individual to determine how much further to continue along the path to education.


Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Winter Break

Year End Review

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Approaching Winter Break

  As we approach the winter break in most of our schools, it is a good time to take a look back at what has been accomplished since the school year started back in August. We have gone from the first day of school, to thanksgiving day, to the soon up coming winter festivities.  We have had our students for three months during which we have tried our best to educate them.  There have been lesson plans and homework that has been handed out and turned in.  There have also been quizzes, tests, and assignments that have been graded using the designated rubric.  By now we should be able to know where our students stand, and where they are going to go if they stay the course.

Year End Evaluation

  A good evaluation for the end of the year must take into account that it is not the end of the school year, but rather the end to the year.  This has the advantage of taking place before the half way mark to the actual school year.  Each student began the year at a different starting point.  Part of our responsibility as educators is to get them going at the same level and pace as the classroom as a whole.  As we close the year, and look back on three months of education, we should take the time to do a proper evaluation.  This evaluation should be done at the student, classroom, and curriculum level.

Preparing for the New Year

  This is a time to look forward toward the new year.  A time to look ahead to what our students still have to learn.  As we approach this winter break, we must approach the beginning of the new year as a time to press on with our educational goals.  Our students depend on us to instruct them properly and help them to plan their educational paths.  By preparing for the new year we can demonstrate to our students that, although we must make adjustments along the path, the overall goal is still the same.  Our goal is to educate, and to provide the best education for our students that we can offer them.

 

Copyright 2012.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.