Lesson Plan for First Week Back to School After Winter Break

OBJECTIVE: Get students inspired in the habit of learning again after a lot of time off. Oh sure, they've been hitting the books for their own independent studies over winter break, but a little pedagogical focus will do them good.

ACTIVITIES: First, the night before, brainstorm a list of adjectives that come to mind as you look back on the final essays you graded in a frenzy before ending the semester. Actually, never mind, I'll do it for you:

Dispiriting
Uninspiring
Ill-conceived
Banal
Superficial
Irrelevant

Next, supply students with colored pencils, markers and drawing paper. Tell them to illustrate the terms as listed with vibrancy and imagery.

Then post these images all over the classroom walls. Throughout the week, whenever a student says something idiotic or irrelevant, point to the appropriate illustration. Shake your head sadly. Repeat as necessary.

ASSESSMENT: How much booze did you have to consume to disinfect yourself each day? How many times did you have to point and shake your head? Was it more times, or fewer times than your colleagues'? Get some kind of pool going. Don't do this alone; don't try to be a hero.