>My students have sugarplums dancing in their heads instead of math facts. They’re dreaming of a white Christmas instead reading strategies. They’re more concerned about getting their snow pants and boots on quickly than finding their homework. If I were a Disney dwarf, I’d be Grumpy.
Maybe.
But it’s hard to be Grumpy when I’m setting myself up for my own holiday Zen, the simple mood-altering atmosphere that gets me in my own Teacher zone and helps me tolerate the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise! — as the Grinch might put it.

Ingredients:
1 cup (okay, 16 oz., technically two cups) of hot liquid with caffeine
(can be Hazelnut, Peppermint Mocha, or simply the Folgers from the school office)
1 boom box on the table near my desk
1 set of fabulous and unique holiday music CDs
(And when I say unique, I mean it.)

Directions:
Sip lovely liquid.
Revel in taste and warmth.
Turn on lovely and unique tunes.
Take a deep breath (preferably over the mug of tasty fluid).
Then, and only then, turn on computer, check email, and begin to correct papers and finalize lesson plans.
Serves one teacher, well.

And if you’re looking for a little unique holiday music right now, in your cubicle or home office, try this.
The Twelve Days…and more

On a different “note,” my guest post is up at workitmom. You can find it here.