Winter break is great. I get two weeks to sleep in and not think about alarms or Google Classroom. However, the moment we return, the relaxation disappears almost instantly. Students are expected to transition immediately back into academic mode and be fully prepared for midterms with almost no adjustment time. Ideally, something as simple as light review should begin before break so we aren’t starting from scratch in January.
Some classes are especially rushed. In my APUSH class, we have exactly three days between coming back from winter break and taking our midterm. Three days isn’t enough time to mentally or academically prepare for an exam that covers the first half of U.S history in short answer form. The amount of content we have can’t be effectively reviewed in such a short timeframe.
I appreciate the 10-day break, and I realize it’s more time off than we’ve had in most years. However, the calendar just doesn’t create enough time to take eight midterms with only a few days to review. Instead, it leaves students with an overwhelming workload as soon as they return (unless they spend part of their break reviewing notes). A break is meant to be relaxing, but when students feel like they have to spend it studying for midterms, it’s purpose is defeated.
Allowing a buffer period of a few days would make a huge difference. It would give students the chance to re-adjust and approach midterms with more preparation. Another solution would be for midterms to be spread over a longer period rather than squeezing them into the first week back. Teachers could also begin to review before break so students don’t have to relearn everything when they return. And the less popular but possibly more practical answer is to shift midterms to the week before break in order to allow students to enjoy time off without worrying about what academic pressure will come immediately after.
Three days isn’t enough to prepare for an exam covering everything from Christopher Columbus to Reconstruction. Adjusting the schedule or creating more review time would lead to less stress and better performance for all students.
